Imprecatory Prayers (Part 2) - The Psalms (Part A)

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Imprecatory Prayers (Part 2) - The Psalms (Part A) I. Other examples of imprecatory prayers or statements in the Bible 1. The psalms include imprecatory prayers or statements such as the following: A. Psalm 5 i. David asked the Lord to destroy the wicked and for Him to let them fall by their own counsels (Psa 5:10a). ii. This was a prayer in accord with the word of God (Job 5:13; Psa 9:15-16; Pro 1:31; Pro 26:27). iii. He asked God to cast out the wicked in the multitude of their sins (Psa 5:10b). iv. David’s reason for this imprecation against the wicked was that they rebelled against God (Psa 5:10c). v. If we are to imprecate against the wicked, let it be because they have rebelled against God, rather than because they simply offended us. B. Psalm 7 i. David prayed that God would execute the judgment upon his enemies which He had commanded (Psa 7:6). ii. This is an imprecatory prayer which is according to the word of God. C. Psalm 10 i. The psalmist prayed that the wicked who persecute the poor would be taken in their own devices (Psa 10:2). ii. As was shown from Psalm 5, this is a Biblical prayer. iii. The psalmist appeals to the fact that the wicked had contemned God (Psa 10:13). iv. This is a good reason for imprecating against the wicked. v. The Psalmist prays that God will destroy the wicked (Psa 10:15). vi. He pleads on behalf of the humble, fatherless, and oppressed (Psa 10:17-18). vii. Pleading on behalf of others who are suffering at the hands of the wicked is a just cause for imprecation. D. Psalm 17 i. David prayed that God would disappoint and cast down his enemies (Psa 17:13). ii. He was not praying this imprecatory prayer to get vengeance on his enemies, but rather in order to be delivered from them (Psa 17:7-9). iii. He begins his prayer by expressing to God that he is coming before Him in righteousness, that he is purposed to not sin against Him, and that he needs God’s help to continue walking in His ways (Psa 17:1-6). iv. Remember that before imprecating against the wicked, make sure that you have confessed your own sins and are doing your best to live a righteous life. E. Psalm 28 i. David prayed that God would judge the workers of iniquity according to their works (Psa 28:4). ii. This imprecation is a prayer for God to do what He has promised to do in His word (Rom 2:6; Mat 16:27; Rev 20:13). iii. Praying that God will judge the wicked according to their works is a safe imprecatory prayer to pray. F. Psalm 31 i. David prayed that God would let the wicked be ashamed and silent in the grave (Psa 31:17; see also Psa 70:2). ii. He prayed that God would let lying lips be put to silence which spoke grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous (Psa 31:18). iii. These prayers are in accord with the will of God, in that He hates lying lips and pride (Pro 6:16-17). G. Psalm 35 i. David prayed that God would fight against them that fought against him (Psa 35:1-2). a. The LORD has promised to fight for His people (Deut 20:4; Jer 1:19; Jer 15:20). b. This prayer was according to the will of God. ii. David prayed that God would stop his persecutors (Psa 35:3); confound them, put them to shame, and bring them to confusion (Psa 35:4, 26; Psa 40:14-15); chase them with His angel (Psa 35:5); make their way dark and slippery and persecute them with His angel (Psa 35:6); and destroy them in their own net that they laid for him (Psa 35:7-8). iii. As has been shown above, these prayers are all according to the will of God revealed in His word. H. Psalm 55 i. David prayed that God would destroy the wicked in the city (Psa 55:9-11). ii. He prayed that death would seize upon them and that they would go to hell (Psa 55:15). iii. As harsh as this sounds, this prayer is according the revealed will of God who has declared that the wicked will be turned into hell (Psa 9:17). I. Psalm 58 i. David imprecated against the wicked who feigned righteousness (Psa 58:1- 5). a. He prayed that the Lord would break the teeth of the wicked whom he likened unto young lions (Psa 58:6). (i) God will break the wicked who oppose Him (Psa 2:9). (ii) God will break the arms of the wicked who plot against His people (Psa 37:12-14, 17).  (iii)This imprecatory prayer is in keeping with the word of God. b. He prayed that they would melt away like water and be cut in pieces (Psa 58:7). c. He prayed that they would melt like a snail and pass away like a still- born child (Psa 58:8). (i) God will melt the wicked (Psa 112:10; Eze 22:18-22). (ii) He will melt the earth at the final judgment (Psa 46:6; 2Pe 3:10-12; Nah 1:5). (iii)This imprecatory prayer is in keeping with the word of God. ii. David then prophesied that God will take away the wicked in wrath while they live (Psa 58:9) and that the righteous will see it, rejoice in it, and praise God for His judgment (Psa 58:10-11). iii. David’s imprecatory prayers are in accord with the word of God.