What are the imprecatory psalms?

Answer

The book of Psalms is abundant in poetry, praise, joy, sorrow, and more. It was authored by various writers, including King David. This book contains seven main types of psalms: lament psalms, thanksgiving psalms, enthronement psalms, pilgrimage psalms, royal psalms, wisdom psalms, and imprecatory psalms.

An imprecation is a curse that invokes misfortune upon someone. Imprecatory psalms are those in which the author calls down calamity, destruction, and God’s anger and judgment on his enemies. This category of psalm is present throughout the book. The principal imprecatory psalms include Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, and 140. Here are a few examples of the imprecatory language extracted from these psalms:

“Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you” «Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. », (Psalm 5:10).

“Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked” «Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: », (Psalm 17:13).

“Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland” (Psalm 79:6-7).

“Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks” «Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the stones.», (Psalm 137:9).

When examining the imprecatory psalms, it is crucial to understand that these psalms were not composed out of vindictiveness or a desire for personal revenge. Instead, they are prayers that reflect God’s justice, sovereignty, and protection. God’s people had endured significant suffering at the hands of their adversaries, including the Hittites, Amorites, Philistines, and Babylonians (the focus of Psalm 137). These groups were not only foes of Israel but also adversaries of God; they were corrupt and merciless conquerors who had persistently attempted and failed to annihilate the Lord’s chosen people. In crafting the imprecatory psalms, the writers sought vindication on God’s behalf as much as they sought their own.

While Jesus Himself referenced certain imprecatory psalms (John 2:17; John 15:25), He also instructed us to love our enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:44-48; Luke 6:27-38). The New Testament emphasizes that our enemy is spiritual, not physical «For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. », (Ephesians 6:12). It is not wrong to pray the imprecatory psalms against our spiritual adversaries, but we should also pray with compassion, love, and even thanksgiving for individuals influenced by the devil «I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; », (1 Timothy 2:1). We should desire their salvation. Ultimately, God “is patient . . . noTo avoid anyone perishing, but for all to come to repentance” «The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward us, not desiring any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. », (2 Peter 3:9). Above all, we should seek God’s will in all we do and, when we are wronged, entrust the final outcome to the Lord «Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. », (Romans 12:19).

In essence, the imprecatory psalms express a profound longing for justice, written from the perspective of those who had been severely oppressed. God’s people are assured of divine retribution: “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7-8;cf: Revelation 19:2).