judg·ment - noun
- the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
- a misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment. "the crash had been a judgment on the parents for wickedness" Similar: punishment, retribution, penalty.
Pray The Imprecatory Psalms
5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, 140
The so-called Imprecatory psalms are prayers from King David asking God to protect him from his enemies. Some Christians believe that we should not pray the Imprecatory psalms. What would be the reasons to not pray to God for protection from our enemies? Would a reason be that we are called to endure abuse as a part of our Christian witness? Over the centuries of Christian history believers have been in danger of being abused by their enemies. To suffer needless abuse for ourselves and our loved ones for no reason is not always something a thing we must endure. Our heavenly father loves us and what earthy father is willing to let his wife and children suffer because of a bully.
To be persecuted because we will not deny Christ is quite another thing. To be martyred for Christ is quite another thing. Would a reason be that we always have to be loving to our enemies as well as to our friends? Loving sometimes means standing up to someone. Do we have to always be “nice?” Jesus was often not nice. Merely nice Christians are often without a witness to others. Merely nice people without convictions are useless. Would a reason be that in the New Testament, “He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6 NASB) What does “better” mean. Is it synonymous with “weak?” No, “better” here refers to the magnificent scope and overwhelming greatness of the Gospel.
Also, these Psalms are prayers. The believer is asking God for something. It is up to God to grant the request or not. In this vein, the words in these prayers are not a psychic or occult chant to be imposed by humans on another. This is psychic prayer which is not honored by The Holy Spirit, although some other wandering spirits (demons) are always ready to try to bring about an answer to the psychic chant of a human being. Even Christians sometimes become so involved.
There are numerous instances where the Bible says that evil actions sown will reap evil results. (Ps.22: 8, Gal.6: 7-8) Yes, we should carefully petition God using these Psalms in order to bring evil men and women into accountability with God’s clear will while at the same time praying for their salvation.
David J Keyser
