All Scripture isProfitable 2 Timothy 3 16 Imprecatory

“All Scripture is…Profitable” 2 Timothy 3: 16

Imprecatory Psalms where the author calls upon God to bring judgment/calamity/curses upon his enemies

Psalm 35 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away! Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

Psalm 58 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

Psalm 69 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. … Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

Psalm 83 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,

Psalm 109 Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin! May his days be few; may another take his office! May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow! May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit! May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil! Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children! May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation!

Psalm 140 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!

Common Explanations • The authors are just speaking prophetically about what would happen to these enemies • In the Old Testament, He’s a God of justice. In the New Testament, He’s a God of mercy. • Those human authors had a lower moral standard/spiritual level • That’s just for the Old Testament/Old Covenant “…the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. ” -2 Tim. 3: 15 -17

Common Explanations • The authors are just speaking prophetically about what would happen to these enemies • In the Old Testament, He’s a God of justice. In the New Testament, He’s a God of mercy. • Those human authors had a lower moral standard/spiritual level • That’s just for the Old Testament/Old Covenant “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ” -Romans 15: 4

Common Explanations • The authors are just speaking prophetically about what would happen to these enemies • In the Old Testament, He’s a God of justice. In the New Testament, He’s a God of mercy. • Those human authors had a lower moral standard/spiritual level • That’s just for the Old Testament/Old Covenant

What’s the context? • God’s covenant people • Being persecuted • Praying to God as the judge • To bring judgment on unrepentant sinners • Because He said He would Genesis 12: 3 - “…he who dishonors you I will curse. ” Exodus 23: 22 - “I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. ” Deuteronomy 28 - Curses

What’s the context? • God’s covenant people • Being persecuted • Praying to God as the judge • To bring judgment on unrepentant sinners • Because He said He would 1. ) Are the Psalmists taking their own vengeance? 2. ) Do the Psalmists lack mercy and love toward their enemies? 3. ) Are the Psalmists trying to hide their emotions or requests? 4. ) Are the requests only motivated by self-interest?

Psalm 35: 27 Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” Psalm 58: 11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth. ” Psalm 69 Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts;

Psalm 83 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 59 consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth.

The New Testament quotes them: Acts 1 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers…and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry… For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; [Psalm 69] and “‘Let another take his office. ’ [Psalm 109]

The New Testament quotes them: Romans 3 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. ” [Psalm 5] “The venom of asps is under their lips. ” [Psalm 140] “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. ” [Psalm 10]

The New Testament quotes them: Romans 11 The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened … And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever. ” [Psalm 69]

The New Testament quotes them: John 15: 24 -25 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause. ’ [Psalm 35: 19; 69: 4]

Imprecatory Psalms: • 58 • 59 • 83 • 109 • 137 • 140