stephen R Harrison

How many of your prayers to the Lord are for Him to intervene on your behalf and judge those who are doing you wrong? Of all the Psalms, about 10% (14 out of 150) are imprecatory in nature. That means they are psalms asking God to judge those who are against Him and His people. They are not prayers of personal vengeance that ask God for permission to get even with others who have wronged them. They are simply prayers that ask God to bring the wicked to His divine justice. While we should be concerned if most of our prayers are focused on enacting the vengeance of the Lord, it is worth remembering these psalms are not emotional outbursts of out-of-control people. They are calculated prayers of those who have fasted, been patient, and endured much. These prayers are based upon the promises, provision, and protection of the Lord. Even some of the New Testament writers used imprecatory language (e.g. Luke 10:10-16; Galatians 1:8; 5:12; 1 Corinthians 16:21-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2 Timothy 4:14; Revelation 6:10; 19:1-2). Jesus Himself used imprecatory words in Matthew 23.

In Psalm 109, David was not asking the Lord to allow him to pay back his enemies with personal retribution. Psalm 109 was a prayer of trust that God would deal severely with those who were against the Lord and His followers. An attack on God’s people is an attack on God Himself. There is divine judgment coming for those who do not follow the Lord. The imprecatory Psalms, including probably the harshest sounding of Psalm 109, almost serve as a warning of what will happen if the wicked do not turn to the Lord in heartfelt repentance. While we are to pray for our enemies, there is a time coming when God will remove His hand of protection from those who remain unrepentant, defiant, and incessant upon wickedness (See Romans 1). David began Psalm 109 with “praise to My God” in petition for Him to move against his enemies (v. 1). These people were wicked, deceitful, slanderous, and liars. Their words and actions were evil while David was a man of prayer who attempted friendship (v. 4).

David pleaded, “Sovereign Lord, help me for Your name’s sake. Out of the goodness of Your love, deliver me” (v. 21). David had fasted over these situations (v. 24), showing us this psalm was not written in the heat of the moment of anger. David prayed for help from the Lord’s unfailing love (v. 26). While under what is likely the worst attack from the foulest of people, David remained worshipful and trusting in the Lord. He ended Psalm 109 with, “With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord. In the great throng of worshipers, I will praise Him. For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them” (vv. 30-31). As we pray for the Lord’s intervention and justice while under attack, accusation, slander, and malice, may our hearts remain pure and full of worship and trust the Lord to fight our battles.

Questions:

1. Are your prayers for the Lord’s vengeance or personal retaliation?

2. Are you consumed with your enemy or the Lord?

3. Do you remain worshipful in the middle of attack?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust You. You will repay evil according to Your holiness and divine justice. May sinners repent and turn to You! May the sense Your approaching wrath and turn from wickedness. Search my heart and show me if I am seeking personal vengeance while under attack. Teach me to pray for my enemies and bless those who persecute me (Matthew 5:44). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.