I understand that it’s a tough issue, that there is something a bit disconcerting to have the Holy Spirit inspiring a prayer from a man asking God to dash his enemies’ heads against the rocks. That though is just what we find in what are called “imprecatory Psalms.” These are Psalms wherein one man beseeches God to destroy other men, and even children. C.S. Lewis had one of his major trips over this issue, going so far as to call these texts “sinful.” Others have taken these texts as license to virtually cast evil spells on others they disapprove of. How do we embrace these Psalms for what they are, the Word of God, without embracing an ethic that would be repugnant to Jesus?
By understanding the nature of the gospel. Specifically, we must come to understand the cauldron of violence inherent in the gospel. How easily we misunderstand what God has done for us. We see ourselves like little children, lost, and alone, but basically good. Jesus came here to find us, take us by the hand and lead us to heaven. We think Jesus is the Great Hero and we the damsel in distress. The truth is we are by nature the enemies of God, little dragons taking instruction from the Great Dragon. We are not the damsel in distress but the evil witch. And Jesus does not take our hand to lead us. No He takes His hand, plunges it into our chest and rips out our hearts. Before giving us new ones.
Our salvation is less moving from being lost to being found, more moving from being His dead enemies to being His living brothers and sisters. It begins with destruction, violent, earth-shattering destruction. If that’s not enough violence, remember that our salvation is built on the violence that scourged our Lord, that it pleased the Father to bruise Him, that by His stripes we are healed.
Which helps us understand precisely how and why we not only can but should pray imprecatory prayers on God’s enemies. First, our God is the God who lifts up the lowly and brings down the mighty. The Day of the Lord is darkness for some, glorious deliverance for others. But second, our God is the God who brings down the mighty, sometimes that He might lift them up. He destroys that He might rebuild, kills that He might give life. When I pray against him who daily seeks my harm, against him who spurns His grace, who rails against the body of Christ, I do so asking that God would destroy him. Should He determine to destroy him through crucifying him with Christ, and raising him with Him, I have gained a brother, mercy has been made known and justice has been served. Should He determine to destroy him in the fire that never dies, justice has been served. Should I complain if God chooses the former, I show myself to fail to understand my own need for His grace.
God’s judgment is a beautiful thing, not something anyone needs to be ashamed of. His mercy is a sublime thing, not something anyone ought to be proud of. Pray for His judgment, and pray in thanksgiving should His judgment pass over your foes. Pray always knowing such once were we.
Greatly helpful insights for thinking about this issue many of us have grappled with. Only God knows on which side the gavel will fall, yet can always present our hope to Him that such an enemy may be made a into brother (Not that it would change what He’s already determined concerning the elect). The last 2 sentences of the 2nd ¶ was the perfect shock—like a graphically memorable truth-bomb. Thank you for further inculcating us with greater understandings of God’s word. ♥