Psalms that curse enemies (Psalm 83; Mathew 5v43-48) by Stephen Coffin

Curse: invoking supernatural power against enemies

• e.g. Psalms 35, 58, 68, 69, 79, 109, 137, 139
• One survey said 84 psalms were "not fit for Christians to sing!"
• e.g. Psalm 137v9 "Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks."//

Contrast Jesus words: "Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"

• In what sense can we say of today's psalm & others that curse, "this is the word of the Lord"?

Learning from the "cursing" psalms

• We can & should express our true feelings to God (even if they are negative)
• Commit our vengeful & other negative feelings to God, rather than acting on them
  • "Do not take revenge… but leave room for God's wrath… 'It is mine to avenge, I will repay,'says the Lord." (Romans 12v9, quoting Deuteronomy 32v35)
• There is a place for righteous anger
  • "Be angry but do not sin." (Ephesians 4v26, quoting Psalm 4v4)
  • "Hate what is evil." (Romans 12v9, quoting Amos 5v15)
• The psalmists see in black & white those who oppose God (their enemies), and those seeking to serve God 'even if imperfectly).
  • In Psalm 83 it's people seeking the extermination of Israel. (Perhaps if we were persecuted to extinction we'd understand better the psalmists' viewpoint. Compare the situation of Christians in Iraq….)
• Moses, Isaiah, Paul, Jesus also denouce evil-doers.
  • "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25v41)
• "Your kingdom come" implies the destruction of all opposing kingdoms.
• Retribution, the punishment of evil, is an integral part of God's rule – 'the punishment must fit the crime'.
• The New Testament quotes the "cursing" psalms.
  • e.g. 69v4 – John 15v25; 69v9 – John 2v17; 69v22-23 – Romans 11v9-10; 69v25 – Acts 1v20

A painful, but wonderful truth

• God's ultimate plan is to unite all things in heaven & earth in Jesus (Ephesians 1v10)
  • Only thus can there be peace, love, joy, freedom from pain, fulfilment for all
  • This means that all that refuses to come under Jesus' authority must be done away with
  • Revelation 19v20, 20v10, 20v14-15
  • The beast & the false prophet, death & the grave, anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire
  • Any earthly punishment which makes us turn from evil, and so avoid this ultimate punishment, is preferable.
  • Psalm 83v17-18 "Make them failures in everything they do, until they learn that you alone are called the Lord…"
  • Remember that it is Jesus who speaks most frequently of the dreadful reality of hell

A danger to avoid

• "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God's sight." (James 1v19-20)
• "But I say, love your enemies." (Matthew 5v44)
• "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." (Matthew 7v1)
• "Christ, who suffered for you, is your example… He did not retaliate when he was insulted… He did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges justly." (1 Peter 2v21-23)
• Examples in the bible are sometimes there for us to avoid!
• The culture of the day sometimes affected bible writers too, so we must beware of modelling behaviour on verses without relating them to the rest of scripture.
  • e.g. the treatment of women – 1 Corinthians 11v5; 14v34 contrast with Galatians 3v28

Conclusion

• Recognise the reality of the conflict between good & evil – we must take sides!
• Be angry about the right things, those that anger God
• Hate sin, but love sinners
• Be honest but humble, with God & others
• Love, as God loves us, despite our failures & sins
• Read these psalms, and all other scripture, in the light of Jesus' words & life