29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. In the sermon on the plain in Luke 6:27-31 Jesus said,Ģ7 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. For example: What did Jesus teach us about praying for our enemies? This would be very helpful information when trying to interpret the Imprecatory Psalms. It is good to study what godly and brilliant theologians have written, but it is also important to analyze what other passages in the Bible say about this same issue. The majority of our time we will spend looking at these guidelines, but we will also look at parts of Psalm 35 and see how it might relate to our own prayers.įirstly, when trying to interpret hard to understand passages in the Bible, it is important to see scripture as the best commentary on scripture. We also learn it is more than ok to bring our deep unfiltered sadness to God.ĭo you think it is ever appropriate to pray curses on someone? To fully address this question I want us to look at some principles about interpreting God’s word. For generations the demonic has hated the Jewish people. One of the things we learn from these Imprecatory Psalms is that antisemitism is nothing new. And, from America’s place of safety and security these Psalms can be very disturbing for us to read. It is important to remember that these Imprecatory Psalms were prayerful poetry written during some of the harshest times in Israel’s history, when nations and individuals were coming against God’s people. The Imprecatory Psalms are some of the hardest passages in scripture to interpret because they appear to invoke judgement, calamity or curses on our enemies or on those who we perceive to be the enemies of God. Have you ever had an anger so deep you could not filter your tongue? Have you ever cried for days not knowing how to wade through your grief? If you can answer yes to either one of these questions, I think you would be blessed and comforted to read the Imprecatory Psalms. Her heartache was crushing, and I was searching to find words that might somehow comfort her. In so doing, and by seeking Him first, your faith is on full display - trusting in the Lord alone for help and deliverance - and that faith not only pleases Him, but moves Him to act on your behalf.As I listened to my friend speak in anguish of her helplessness to stop her husband’s infidelity, my anger began to boil. Spend some time prayerfully reciting His own Words to Him (this psalm). If you are being wrongfully persecuted or unfairly treated today, do as King David did and cry out to the Lord. He knew above all else that he could do nothing apart from God and His will. Instead, he sought the Lord’s intervention. When the psalmist was under attack, he did not rely on his own strength nor did he retreat to his own defenses. Psalm 17 is a powerful prayer to be recited during times of unjust attacks and persecution. When I awake, let me be filled with Your presence.” Their bellies are being filled with Your friends įor they share what is left with their young. Snatch them from the world in their prime. Rise, O Lord, confront and cast them down They watch closely, keeping low to the ground, They fill their mouths with proud roaring. Powerful Prayer for Rescue from Enemies - Psalm 17
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