Ask Ligonier How Should Christians View the Imprecatory Psalms?
How Christians Can Understand and Apply the Imprecatory Psalms Today
The imprecatory psalms, which pray for God's curse on His enemies, raise challenging questions about their place in Christian life under the New Covenant. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey explains that these psalms do not encourage Christians to curse personal enemies but rather to pray against God's enemies—those opposing His purposes and covenant people.
He stresses that imprecations are balanced with prayers for repentance, and curses are reserved for those who refuse to repent. Importantly, loving enemies in Christian ethics does not eliminate divine judgment, as seen in Romans where love results in more coals on the enemy's head, emphasizing that justice must be upheld.
Moreover, even prayers like "Come Lord Jesus" implicitly contain imprecations because Christ's coming involves judgment on the wicked. Godfrey highlights the necessity of understanding imprecations in their covenant context and the ultimate righteous judgment that protects the community of God.
Psalms' Role in Christian Life
- The Psalms remain essential for Christians and their spiritual life, as shown by the New Testament usage and apostles' example.
- The imprecatory Psalms pray for God's enemies, not our personal enemies, aligning with divine justice and not personal vengeance.
Imprecations within Christian Prayer
- Loving enemies does not negate God's judgment but means justice must still be maintained.
- Even prayers like "Come Lord Jesus" imply judgment on the wicked, showing imprecatory elements remain implicit in Christian prayers.