Ethical Problem of the Imprecatory Psalms
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The Imprecatory Psalms
The imprecatory Psalms Although the Psalms were written many years ago, in an age and culture very different from ours, they still speak to Christians today. The Psalms are timeless, for they express the whole range of human feelings and experiences — from dark doubts and deep depression to exuberant joy and thankful praise. Today, Christians' experience the same emotions. They are puzzled by the same problems of life, cry out in great need, and delight in praise and worship to the same God. We can identify with the poets of the Psalms in many ways. Yet, there are certain themes in the Psalms which cause many people, even sincere Christians, great problems. The imprecatory character of some of the Psalms, where the author requests God to punish and pour out His wrath against evildoers, poses problems which are not easily solved. Problem Psalms Of the one hundred and fifty Psalms, six are commonly classified as "imprecatory" Psalms. These are the 55th, 59th, 69th, 79th, 109th and 137th Psalms. Besides these Psalms, there are portions of other Psalms which include statements, calling for God's wrath and punishment to be executed upon the wicked. Some examples are Psalms 17:13-14, 35:4-6, 24-26, 58:6-11, 68:1, 71:13, 83:13-17, 94:1-7, 129:5-8, 140:9-11, 143:12, etc. How can we account for the petitions raised to God in regard for curses upon the wicked? "Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell" (Psalms 55:15), or "Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth" (Psalms 58:6), "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living?" (Psalms 69:28), "Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen" (Psalms 79:6), are some of the awesome curses the Psalmists wish upon their enemies. -
Is Psalm 110 a Messianic Psalm?
BIBLIOTHECA SACRA 157 (April–June 2000): 160–73 Copyright © 2000 by Dallas Theological Seminary. Cited with permission. IS PSALM 110 A MESSIANIC PSALM? Barry C. Davis DID THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS violate the intent of the author of Psalm 110 when they identified the undesig- nated ynidoxE ("my Lord") of Psalm 110:1 (and hence the fo- cus of the entire psalm) as the Messiah, that is, Jesus Christ?1 This article investigates the legitimacy of the messianic inter- pretation of Psalm 110. Before addressing the issue at hand, brief mention of two de- bated topics surrounding the understanding of Psalm 110 must be made.2 The first issue is the time when this psalm was written, and the second concerns the identification of the author of the psalm. Most commentators hold one of three views about the date of the writing: pre-Israelite Canaanite origins,3 postexilic Israel- Barry C. Davis is Assistant Professor of Bible and Hebrew, Multnomah Biblical Seminary, Portland, Oregon. 1 Psalm 110 is the most frequently quoted or referenced psalm in the New Testa- ment. New Testament authors directly cite Psalm 110:1, regarding ynidoxE (my Lord) sitting at the right hand of hvhy (the LORD) in Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 1:13; and they allude to it in Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; and Hebrews 8:1. Also the author of the Book of Hebrews quoted Psalm 110:4 in affirming that is of the priestly order of Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:6; 7:17; and he made general reference to the psalm in Hebrews 5:10; 6:20; and 7:11, 15. -
Psalms Psalm
Cultivate - PSALMS PSALM 126: We now come to the seventh of the "Songs of Ascent," a lovely group of Psalms that God's people would sing and pray together as they journeyed up to Jerusalem. Here in this Psalm they are praying for the day when the Lord would "restore the fortunes" of God's people (vs.1,4). 126 is a prayer for spiritual revival and reawakening. The first half is all happiness and joy, remembering how God answered this prayer once. But now that's just a memory... like a dream. They need to be renewed again. So they call out to God once more: transform, restore, deliver us again. Don't you think this is a prayer that God's people could stand to sing and pray today? Pray it this week. We'll pray it together on Sunday. God is here inviting such prayer; he's even putting the very words in our mouths. PSALM 127: This is now the eighth of the "Songs of Ascent," which God's people would sing on their procession up to the temple. We've seen that Zion / Jerusalem / The House of the Lord are all common themes in these Psalms. But the "house" that Psalm 127 refers to (in v.1) is that of a dwelling for a family. 127 speaks plainly and clearly to our anxiety-ridden thirst for success. How can anything be strong or successful or sufficient or secure... if it does not come from the Lord? Without the blessing of the Lord, our lives will come to nothing. -
Reflecting on Psalm 109 with Jesus 36. Psalms 109-110
36. Psalms 109-110 Reflecting on Psalm 109 with Jesus Psalm 109 is not used in the Church’s liturgy, possibly because of the length of the section in which the psalmist speaks of the terrible way he is being treated, and possibly because verse 20 does not fit with Jesus’ injunction that we love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). However, it has many verses that are quite moving. Part 1. verses 1-19 The terrible way the psalmist is being treated .to whom I pray, be not silent (אֱלהֵ֥י) 1God 2For wicked and deceitful voices speak out against me, pursuing me with lies. 3They beset me with words full of hate; they attack me without cause. 4I treat them with love, but they still accuse me, even while I pray for them. 5They return evil for good, and hatred for my love. 6They say: ‘Appoint a crooked judge, and have an accuser close by. 7When he is tried, let him be found guilty; may his pleading be reckoned as sinful. 8May his days be few. May others fill his place. 9May his children be orphans, and his wife a widow. 10May they wander about and beg; may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit. 11May the creditor seize all that he has. May strangers plunder the fruits of his toil. 12May there be no one to do him a kindness, nor anyone to pity his orphaned children. 13May his line end; may his name be blotted out in the second generation. 14May the guilt of his father be remembered before GOD. -
The Imprecatory Psalms KJV 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, 140 Psalm 5 1 Give Ear to My Words, O LORD
The Imprecatory Psalms KJV 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 137, 140 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: Psalm 5 his eyes are privily set against the poor. 1 9 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he meditation. lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and poor, when he draweth him into his net. my God: for unto thee will I pray. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: unto thee, and will look up. he hideth his face; he will never see it. 4 12 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. not the humble. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hatest all workers of iniquity. hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. -
Mcdaniel's Article on Psalm
X PSALM 109 A WOMAN’S LAMENT Psalm 109:4b, 28, 31 The proper interpretation of Psalm 109 as a whole is depen- dent upon the correct understanding of the hL'pit. ynIa]w: in v. 4. As pointed in the MT, these two words are the conjunction + pronoun subject and a noun predicate, meaning “And I (am) a prayer.” Because this literal meaning is senseless, it has been paraphrased as • evgw. de. proseuco,mhn “but I continue to pray” (Septuagint), • ego autem orabam “but I pray” (Vulgate), • nwHI\` +iwh A|c# A[)w “but I have prayed for them” (Peshitta), • “but I give myself unto prayer” (KJV), • “but I am a man of prayer” (NIV, NIB), • “even while I make prayer for them” (NRS), • “and all I can do is pray!” (NJB), • “even me. My prayer . .” (Dahood (1970: 97). But the hlpt in this verse is not the same as the hL'piT. found in 109:7, which is the noun “prayer” from the stem ll;P' (BDB 813; Jastrow 1182–1183). The initial t of the hlpt in 109:4 is not a noun prefix but the first letter of the stem lp;T' “to be unseemly, to be indecent.” Thus, this hL'piT. “prayer” should be pointed as (1) hl'p.Ti “impropriety, inde- cency,” the abstract of which is tWlp.Ti “obscenity, triviality, PSALM 109: A WOMAN’S LAMENT 147 frivolity” (Castell 1669: 3932; BDB 1074; Jastrow 1903: 1686–1687), or as (2) hl'peTo, a feminine singular participle (GKC 84as), meaning “an indecent /obscene (woman).” The noun hl'p.Ti appears in Jer 23:13 !Arm.vo yaeybin>biW hl'p.ti ytiyair", which the Septuagint appropriately translated as kai. -
LESSON on PSALMS 107-129 September 18, 2019 Book Psalms
LESSON ON PSALMS 107-129 September 18, 2019 Book Psalms for Praying An Invitation to Wholeness by Nan C. Merrill History Israel understood its history to be a life of co-existence with God. It was a partnership with God centered on a historical event (the Exodus). At that time, God entered into a binding covenant relationship with the Israelites. In the course of time, God initiated something new when he made David to be their king. In Scripture we see how historical events (stories) showed God’s continual active presence. Most catastrophic event (end of Israel as a nation) was seen as God coming to judge. It was also interpreted as God coming to renew the people even through their suffering. Israelites were the first to discover the meaning of history as the epiphany of God. Israel was to be a partner with God in these events and to respond to his presence and activity. Emphasis was primarily on the actions of God. Old Testament showed that Israel did not keep silent about the mighty acts of God. People recalled the acts in historical writings and addressed God in a very personal way. People raised hymns of praise, boldly asked questions, and complained in the depths of distress. In this covenant relationship, Israel could converse with God. Finest example we have of this conversation with God is the Book of Psalms. It is a condensed account of the whole drama of the history of Israel. We have already noted that it is impossible to put them in their proper historical periods. -
The Imprecatory Psalms: an Interpretive Guide
THE IMPRECATORY PSALMS: AN INTERPRETIVE GUIDE The imprecatory psalms are some of the most shocking words in the Bible. Take Psalm 137:9: “Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” It is hard to imagine cross-stitching that passage on a pillow, and yet these are inspired words of God. How should we understand them? A Christ-Centered Interpretation Due to the shocking nature of many of these imprecatory psalms, three primary interpretive responses have been proffered. Some have attempted to dismiss the imprecatory psalms as vengeful cries from a primitive people. Unfortunately, in making this assertion they disregard Scripture’s unity and authority, and they make themselves self-sufficient arbiters of God’s Word. A second approach is similar. In the progress of redemption and revelation, the New Testament imperative to love your enemies has trumped this Old Testament ethic of retribution. While acknowledging the place of these psalms in history, they make them out to be obsolete. The problem again is that this method disjoints the Bible, when in fact the NT interprets these psalms in light of Christ. A third approach is to read these imprecations in the light of Christ. As we put these Davidic words in Jesus’ mouth, we begin to understand his pleas from the cross. Likewise, we better understand the purpose of these troubled psalms. On this side of the cross, we can read these psalms fearfully as we consider the eschatological retribution that will be poured out on Christ’s aggressors, who have not trusted in his own wrath-bearing atonement. -
An Overview of the Study of Imprecatory Psalms: Reformed and Evangelical Approaches to the Interpretation of Imprecatory Psalms
Simango and Krüger, “Imprecatory Psalms,” OTE 29/2 (2016): 581-600 581 An Overview of the Study of Imprecatory Psalms: Reformed and Evangelical Approaches to the Interpretation of Imprecatory Psalms DANIEL SIMANGO & P. PAUL KRÜGER (NWU) ABSTRACT This article looks at some interpretive issues regarding the so-called imprecatory psalms, focusing on the debate within reformed and evangelical circles. Introductory issues regarding these psalms abound, such as their definition and scope and the question whether they constitute a specific genre or subgenre within the Psalter. More important are hermeneutical issues regarding the rationale or motivation behind these psalms, namely the reasons why they were written in the first place. These issues also inform the relevance for the present day reader, specifically the New Testament reader, or vice versa: the perceived relevance informs the interpreter's stance on the rationale of these psalms. The article argues that reformed and evangelical scholars’ interpretations of imprecation Psalms are largely led by their presuppositions about the relation between the Old and New Testament. The article concludes by suggesting that the deadlock in approaches could be resolved by an in-depth exegesis of the specific psalms taking into account the divergent presuppositions of contemporary interpreters. KEYWORDS: Imprecatory Psalms; Evangelical Approach; Reformed Approach; Covenant; Prophetic Books. A INTRODUCTION The book of the Psalms is one of the most read and most popular books of the Bible in the church. It is often used for devotional readings in the life of the church and believers. Despite its popularity, the study of the Psalter is problematic in academic circles because of the numerous questions surrounding authorship, setting, composition, interpretation, theology, and application.1 Not least of all is the * Article submitted: 29/04/2016; accepted: 22/06/2016. -
A Trial Lawyer Sings Psalms
A Trial Lawyer Sings Psalms Published in Litigation, The Journal of the Section of Litigation, American Bar Association, Summer 1997 By Patrick A. Malone Save this one for later. Pick it up again in that idle, restless hour at the end of the day, in that place where trial lawyers find themselves too often. You are out of town, again. Another unfamiliar hotel room dominated by the oversized bed and, just opposite, the mini-bar/entertainment console. Your dinner was sumptuous, the wine silken, the phone call to home satisfactory, and now the empty night stretches ahead. A perfect time to dictate a deposition digest, or watch a bit of TV. If you're highbrow enough, you could flick the channels for a few minutes and curse the mindless babble of modern culture. Or you could try this instead. Slide open the drawer of the bedside nightstand. In it, alone, you will find the Gideon Bible. (If you're in certain hotels in Cleveland, you will also find a copy of the Koran, but that's another story.) Take out the Gideon and crack it open precisely in the middle. There you will see the Book of Psalms. Now read one or two, from start to end straight through. Note the poetry, the music, in these ancient words. But there is nothing delicate here. The psalms seeth with passions that almost leap off the Gideon's onion- skin paper. "Tears drench my bed." (Psalm 6). Enemies "fill their mouths with proud roaring." (17) Traitors "prowl the city, growling like dogs." (59) In the end, things work out for the best: The wicked grind their teeth at the just (Psalm 37), enemies are made into footstools for the righteous (109), crooked paths become straight (139), "the hills are robed with joy." (65). -
Psalms C.Pdf
PSALMS LESSON 99 We will begin this lesson by giving the 101st Psalm in metre. THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE Chapter 101 Verse 1 "I MERCY will and judgment sing,Lord, I will sing to thee. With wisdom in a perfect way shall my behavior be." Verse 2 "O when, in kindness unto me, Wilt thou be pleased to come? I with a perfect heart will walk Within my house at home." Verse 3 "I Will endure no wicked thing before mine eyes to be; I hate their work that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me." Verse 4 "A stubborn and a froward heart Depart quite from me shall; A person giv'n to wickedness I will not know at all." Verse 5 "I'll cut him off that slandereth His neighbor privily: The haughty heart I will not bear, Nor him whose looks are high." Verse 6 "Upon the faithful of the land Mine eyes shall be, that they May dwell with me; he shall me serve Who walks my perfect way.” Verse 7 "Who of deceit a worker is In my house shall not dwell; Nor in my presence shall remain The man that lies doth tell." Verse 8 "Yea, all the wicked of the land I early will destroy; And from God's city cut them off That work iniquity. We will now begin the verse by verse study of the 101st Psalm. Psalms 101:1 "{A Psalm of David.} I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing." We see a Psalm now from David as he takes the office of king. -
The New Testament Κύριος Problem and How the Old Testament Speeches Can Help Solve It
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies ISSN: (Online) 2072-8050, (Print) 0259-9422 Page 1 of 14 Original Research The New Testament κύριος problem and how the Old Testament speeches can help solve it Author: The New Testament (NT) κύριος problem forms part of a larger interconnected network of 1 Peter Nagel challenges, which has the divine name Yhwh as the epicentre. To put it plainly, if the term Affiliation: κύριος is an equivalent for the divine name Yhwh and if the term κύριος in the Yhwh sense is 1Department of Old and New applied to Jesus, the implication is that Jesus is put on par with Yhwh. This problem therefore, Testament, Faculty of forms part of a matrix of interconnected issues in a constant push and pull relation. There is no Theology, Stellenbosch easy way to address this problem, but one must start somewhere. This study will attempt to University, Stellenbosch, South Africa introduce, illustrate and explain the complexity of the NT κύριος problem to contribute to a deeper understanding of the problem and to appreciate its intricacies. The aim is therefore to Corresponding author: illustrate the intricacy of the problem by showing where the NT κύριος problem might have Peter Nagel, originated and how it evolved. These intricacies will then be pulled into a singular focus made [email protected] possible by the explicit κύριος citations. These citations, in turn, will be categorised as Theos, Dates: Davidic and Jesus speeches and analysed in an attempt to contribute to a possible solution. Received: 18 May 2020 Accepted: 16 June 2020 Contribution: This article fits in well with the contestation of ‘historical thought’ and ‘source Published: 30 Oct.