2:30-32). Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning. As long as we retain in Christian worship material which breathes a spirit of aggression, self-assertion and vengeance, we are contradicting our faith. Kittel, above, fn. We are thus judging the whole by one part. Prayers of imprecation for the destruction of the wicked are to be found throughout the entire Word of God. Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered. The Lord does not give up on the wicked. 21:24; Lev. Technically, "no rest for the wicked" doesn't appear in the Bible. 18b-19). My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them., But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.. The imprecation was based upon the promises of God and upon the evil practices of those who opposed David. 5:5; 2 Cor. Verses 6-20 spell out the form which David believes this punishment should take. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. And the Lord said to him, Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. They are not to be compared with the self-complacency of the Pharisee, who prides himself on his superiority to the rest of the world, but with St Pauls assertions of conscious rectitude (Acts xx. Our greatest problem with imprecatory psalms is that the psalmist takes sin much more seriously than we do. Let all who would accuse David stand accused before God (v. 20). vv. ", "Woe to you, Chorazin! Deut. 191 The word accuser, or adversary (satan), is prominent in the psalm, coming again in verses 20 and 29, while the corresponding verb has already appeared in verse 4. Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them,But when they cried to You in the time of their distress,You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassionYou gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. Matthew 5:45. We cannot hope thus to make our doctrine clear to the world. 3:16) and therefore these prayers have a lesson for us to learn. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind. read more. 1:20) as he did the man living with his fathers wife (1 Cor. "Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. June 09, 2022 You may have heard the saying, "There's no rest for the wicked." Perhaps you're even aware that it's vaguely biblical in origin. Do not be conceited, but fear; For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. Wednesday Night Live Stream Service with Pastor Colton Moore | pastor Shalom was used as both a greeting and farewell. ). 188 Even in verse 16 it would seem that the afflicted and needy man is really the psalmist himself. (2) The Old Testament saint had a dim picture of the afterlife, thus he was less informed concerning the judgment which will occur after death both for the saved (2 Cor. 199 A quote by Earle Bennett Cross, Modern Worship and the Psalter (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1932), p. 29, as cited by Rupe Simms in an unpublished article entitled, The Imprecatory Literature of the Psalms: A Study in Moral, Biblical and Theological Tensions.. Moses (the meekest man on the face of the earth, Num. The basis for Davids petition is then given in verses 2-5. Not only did David ask justice for his foes, he now asks mercy for himself. Then He will also say to those on His left, Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; Say to them, As I live! declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Matt. However, His wrath isnt without bounds. for the sudden transition lv. And what does it mean? He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,And the rod of his fury will perish. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;I will guide them and restore comfort to Israels mourners,creating praise on their lips (Isaiah 57:16-19). For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Davids imprecation is certainly fierce and forthright, but I believe that it is not excessive. 69:27-28). Verses 8 and 9 petition God to shorten the life of Davids enemy. Exod. ; xxii. When they were afflicted, he fasted and prayed for them (vv. The spirit of Jesus spoke of forgiveness even upon those who did him to death. Therefore we respond by going easy on others, hoping our laxity will make things easier on us. He will praise God for His deliverance in the midst of the congregation (v. 30). Wait for the Lord and keep His way,And He will exalt you to inherit the land;When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org, Thus I will punish the world for its evil, I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud. He will repay him according to his deeds. But the free gift is not like the transgression. 12:19; Deut. 137:7-9). 1:15). 14:18; Ps. 16). Joseph Hammond entitled An Apology for the Vindictive Psalm, contained in the Expositor, vol. The GNT says, There is no safety for sinners, while the NIRV says, There is no peace for those who are evil.. Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Because of this two-fold purpose, our exposition of Psalm 109 will be more general to allow space for addressing the broader issues involved. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.. Then the angel of the Lord said, O Lord of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?. Because they have cursed David, they will be put to shame if God blesses him (v. 28). Psalm 55:15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 1ff.). Is There Really "No Rest for the Wicked" in the Bible. Also, I will have no compassion on her children,Because they are children of harlotry. They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. Chapter 56 starts out with God reassuring foreigners (non-Jews) who pledge themselves to the Lord that they will not be cut off from His coming blessing. There are good reasons for this. 3ff. When its limbs are dry, they are broken off;Women come and make a fire with them,For they are not a people of discernment,Therefore their Maker will not have compassion on them.And their Creator will not be gracious to them. While the psalmist is innocent, his enemies are not. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction, and makes his families like a flock. All of the above observations lead me to the conclusion that the imprecatory psalms are far more relevant and applicable to Christians today than we would like to admit. A final reason is given for Gods intervening on Davids behalf. But where does the phrase really come from? Shalom might be called the peace of the Lord. 5:7; James 2:13). He dares not petition his God apart from being a man given to the praise of God (v. 1). The psalmist pleads with God to act on the basis of His character (just and righteous), His covenant promises (e.g. I will also bring upon you a sword which will execute, "Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you. Let us not be quick to criticize those who have tasted the kind of opposition and oppression which David did. Woe to the wicked! Thebook of Isaiah covers a broad timespan and topics from the fall of Israel, to prophecies against the nations, to a foretelling of the Babylonian captivity, to the most comprehensive Old Testament prophecy about Christ. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. esp. Let us not strive so hard to separate the sin from the sinner as to separate the sin from our attitudes and actions toward the sinner. And it points to eternity; the wicked will not pass on to eternal shalom. 16, cf. 20:5; Deut. 31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul. He continues in Isaiah 57:18-19, I will guide them and restore comfort to Israels mourners, creating praise on their lips. Imprecations such as those found in Psalm 109 have caused some Christians to question the value of the imprecatory prayers of the Bible for New Testament believers: It is surely a debatable question as to whether the church should retain the whole Psalter in its worship, including these troublesome passages, or whether the Psalter should be censored at those points which seem to be inconsistent with Gods revelation in Jesus Christ. Surely there is nothing in such an explanation which in the smallest degree impugns the Divine authority of the earlier Scriptures. 5:9). Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." New Living Translation "But there is no peace for the wicked," says the LORD. In addition we must remember that all the psalms were recorded and preserved for public worship. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. You will be brought down to Hades! read more. Punishment and vengeance belong to God. How they are destroyed in a moment! Davids petition is for Gods grace. It's a corruption of a phrase in Isaiah 57:20-21, which reads: "But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest,. In view of all this, should I relent?You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;there you went up to offer your sacrifices. A Psalm of David. 18:17-20) so that he may be severely chastened, with the goal of his repentance and restoration (cf. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 26ff. 60-67) are excellent. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rather than inspire pity from his accusers, they despise him and wag their heads in contempt (v. 25). (2) David wrote this psalm but in a carnal state of mind (cf. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, A Psalm for All Seasons: Studies in the Book of Psalms. Continuing into chapter 57, He says, When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! (Isaiah 57:13). 69:7-9). 2 For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. (5) The expressions used are poetic and figurative, and not to be taken literally. The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. 21,26). 10 Let his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes. No one who places his trust in the solution to sinthe Savior, Jesus Christneed suffer the consequences of sin. I will not show pity nor be sorry nor have compassion so as not to destroy them., For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the Lord!, Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. wicked transgressors. Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. Selah King James Bible Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?Shall I redeem them from death?O Death, where are your thorns?O Sheol, where is your sting?Compassion will be hidden from My sight. She is the co-author ofDear Hero and has 200+ bylines in publications ranging fromThe Christian Communicator toKeys for Kids. A God whose very nature is to take pity on the afflicted can certainly be expected to hear the plea of the psalmist, since he is spiritually and physically miserable. And the, For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land, declares the, I will dash them against each other, both the fathers and the sons together, declares the, For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the. Rom. 19 Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself. So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His. First, the psalmist is committing the wicked to Gods judgment, not mans. Verse Concepts Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Some have suggested that the person singled out in these verses is the leader of Davids opposition.193. Their children also will be as formerly,And their congregation shall be established before Me;And I will punish all their oppressors. For what he deserves will be done to him. Deuteronomy 25:12 Verse Concepts Gods blessing included both material gains and a posterity to benefit from the prosperity He gave (cf. 12-13) of his enemy. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 225-360, in which that writer attempts (convincingly, in Perownes mind) to show that Shimei is the one referred to in Psalm 109. In so doing each individual was reminded of the seriousness of sin and the dire consequences which accompany it. Proverbs 21:10 The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. 3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause. We will seek to understand the message of Psalm 109, both as it related to the saints of old and as it applies to men today. . A mans sins not only have dire consequences for him personally; they also adversely affect his family (cf. 27 And let them know that this is Thy hand; Thou, LORD, hast done it. Saul also received much for which David prayed. As such, it can only be attained by submitting ourselves completely and fully to Him, giving up everything we worship instead of Him. Psalm 109 is a similarly unpleasant passage for many. The indignation is not that of a quick, volatile explosion but that of a smoldering fire. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. For some it may be smoking, drinking, dancing, going to movies, cursing, or perhaps (though less frequently) immorality. Andersons words here do not reflect his position, but are intended to bring the problem of the imprecatory prayers of the Bible into focus. Secondly, Gods lovingkindness causes Him to be especially touched by the pitiable condition of those who trust in Him and are afflicted. (9) While the prayers of David are severe, his personal actions toward his enemies was gracious and kind. 10:35). His own iniquities will capture the wicked,And he will be held with the cords of his sin. "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. David asks that a wicked man be set over his foe and that an adversary accuse him (v. 6). You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. God of Israel.--This is added so emphatically because of the "heathen," against whom aid is invoked. 28), His conduct (e.g., in the destruction of Korah and his entire family, Num. (NASB). Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Psalm 9:15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. (2) Those against whom imprecations are effective are those who are truly wicked, those who are not just our enemies, but Gods enemies. It is rightly based on several truths concerning Gods character. A brief word should be said about the identity of the wicked. While it may seem unnecessarily severe for David to pray for his enemys untimely death and for his family to suffer for his sins, Davids petition is based upon the principles and practices of the Old Testament. The Old and New Testaments teach the same truths. Remember how I stood before Thee to speak good on their behalf, so as to turn away Thy wrath from them. Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness. (NASB). As Paul put it, let us consider the goodness and the severity of God (Rom. B. Payne, The Book of Psalms, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975, 1976), vol. Verses 6-13 concentrate on the consequences for sin which are sought both for the man and his family. Their sword will enter their own heart,And their bows will be broken. We want to think that God hates the sin, but He loves the sinner. Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 28:1; 35:22; 83:1). To be hard on sin is to hinder its growth, not only in the lives of others but in our own as well. But in general, the wicked are those who worship anythingidols, money, power, relationships, careersover God. Here is what God has to say about them in Isaiah 57:4-8: Are you not a brood of rebels,the offspring of liars?You burn with lust among the oaksand under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravinesand under the overhanging crags. - Basic English . read more. Either the psalmist is self-deceived, a hypocrite or a liar. The first important thing to note is that the phrase "no rest for the wicked" is not actually in the Bible. Psalm 109 is vastly different from a voodoo curse. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, I will first doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable idols and with their abominations.. Justice was based on the principle of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth (Exod. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death., He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 189 Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150 (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1975), p. 388. 24 My knees are weak from fasting; And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness. If the enemies of David have appealed to his suffering as the proof of his guilt, then let God come to his rescue and lift him up. Who is wise? ', Sinners in Zion are terrified;Trembling has seized the godless.Who among us can live with the consuming fire?Who among us can live with continual burning?. In Zechariah 3:1 he is seen standing at the right hand of the man on trial, as the accuser does here Kidner, Psalms 73-150, pp. We will strive to understand the purpose of such prayers, and the principles which underly them, that apply equally to the saints today. In verses 1-5 his enemies are described as a group, but in verse 6 and following the punishment for which David prays is viewed as occurring individually. I believe that David responded as he did to his enemies because he was a man after Gods own heart. Our problem is that we look at sin and sinners more from a human viewpoint than from the divine. Ps. 15-16). Acts 1:20). The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. And those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The soul who sins will die. In the previous verses (6-20) David has made an imprecation against his enemies. The wicked is a ransom for the righteous. 10:21; Jer. Godly men and women prayed to God about their enemies, and they specified (on the basis of Gods word) what they felt should happen to them. This is not the solution to our problem. Though all of us will fall short from time to time, those who submit to Christ are not called wicked, but rather the children of God (John 1:12). May an outcry be heard from their houses, when Thou suddenly bringest raiders upon them; for they have dug a pit to capture me and hidden snares for my feet. Ephesians 6:10-12ff.) Many of the Psalms reflect this aspect of Gods compassion for the afflicted and needy (v. 22), and appeal is often made to God based upon His concern for those in such straits: When they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, misery, and sorrow, He pours contempt upon princes, and makes them wander in a pathless waste. Some of the most frequently used are: (1) David didnt write Psalm 109. The Lord also has a dispute with Judah,And will punish Jacob according to his ways;He will repay him according to his deeds. Read Proverbs (GW) Read Proverbs 21:10 (GW) in Parallel 5:10) and the unsaved (Rev. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,you climbed into it and opened it wide;you made a pact with those whose beds you love,and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? . Apparently as skinny as a shadow (v. 23), the psalmist also describes himself as one who is brushed aside as worthless, like a locust is shaken from a garment. In both cases, the declaration follows the Lord's denouncements of evil nations and wicked practices. And those who plunder you will be for plunder. 9:13in some sense, at least, God hated Esau). No matter how perplexing the problem of imprecatory psalms may be, we cannot easily dismiss them. 184 J. J. Stewart Perowne, The Book of Psalms (Grand Rapids: Zondervan [reprint], 1976), I, p. 305. May they be blotted out of the book of life, and may they not be recorded with the righteous (Ps. How Does the Book of Ecclesiastes Point Us to Christ? Alyssa Roatstudied writing, theology, and the Bible at Taylor University. In those verses he is the enemys man; so this prayer wishes the enemy a taste of his own medicine. All rights reserved. In Psalm 139 while David prayed that God would slay the wicked (v. 19), he immediately opens his own heart to God, so that he may have his sins exposed and cleansed: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way (Ps. 25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head. 18-20; 763-765; J. 13-14), but when he was afflicted they rejoiced, smiting and slandering him (vv. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Since the wicked love to curse, let cursing come to them (v. 17a). 32:5; 51:5). Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation." New Living Translation Proud member . Other Psalms contain similar prayers for the punishment of evildoers: Do Thou add iniquity to their iniquity, and may they not come into Thy righteousness. Others like Psalm 91 are comforting. also 1 Sam. (3) Whatever problems we may have with the imprecations of the Old Testament, the tension between justice and mercy, love and hate, is not a matter of law versus grace or Old Testament versus New Testament. ; 15:15ff. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY." Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, so that you will not die at our hand"; therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, I am about to punish them! Let me tell you it must have been some experience to gather as a congregation in days of old and sing Psalm 109. Cursing was like a garment to the wicked (v. 18a), so let it become his only clothing (vv. ); others are general professions of purity of purpose and single-hearted devotion to God (xvii. How (and Why) Do We Receive Power from the Holy Spirit? He has brought back their wickedness upon themAnd will destroy them in their evil;The Lord our God will destroy them. 1 Cor. The wicked will return to Sheol,Even all the nations who forget God. David asks God to look upon the prayers of his enemies as sin (v. 7b). She is a literary agent atC.Y.L.E., the publicity manager atMountain Brook Ink, and a freelance editor withSherpa Editing Services. 185 Bernhard W. Anderson, Out of the Depths: The Psalms Speak for Us Today (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1974), pp. Verses 23-25 move from the wounded spirit (v. 22) of the psalmist to his pathetic physical condition, which is a result of oppression at the hand of his enemies. I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite (Isaiah 57:15). But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Therefore all who devour you will be devoured;And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity;And those who plunder you will be for plunder,And all who prey upon you I will give for prey. Paul delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan (1 Tim. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Further, you will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you will eat. If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,How much more the wicked and the sinner! I am not trying to challenge here any of the items which may be on your particular list (though they made need challenging!). The phrase does originate from the Bible, specifically Isaiah 57:21. (8) When David or any other biblical character prays an imprecation, you will observe that the matter is left entirely with God. read more. By giving up vengeance we free ourselves to love and to forgive in a way that we cannot produce in and of ourselves. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? The God who is the object of his praise (v. 1; cf. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount he was not teaching a new law, but was reiterating what the law had always taught. 69:4). For instance, the New Testament has much to say about judgment, justice and condemnation. Why isnt hell a terrible place of torment for Satan and his angels and sin? 12 Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children. Selah. By extension, humanity as a whole was desperately wicked, yet the Father sent Jesus the Son to die in our stead. For they have dug a pit for me. Most of us know that we are not O.K. No peace for the wicked gives the bigger picture. 147:6; cf. Third, since the psalms were intended for general use, David did not identify his enemies so that the righteous could supply the names of their adversaries, so to speak.192. Shalom comes from a right relationship with the Lord, a gift He offers to those who put our trust in Him. 186 In Psalm 35 David illustrates the wickedness of his enemies by contrasting his mercy with their cruelty. But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! It is true, I suspect, that Perowne is correct when he writes, In the awfulness of its anathemas, the Psalm [109] surpasses everything of the kind in the Old Testament.196 Because of its fierceness, some scholars such as Kittel have gone so far as to speak of this psalm as containing utterly repulsive maledictions inspired by the wildest form of vengeance, which make this one of the most questionable hymns of cursing.197 Kittel therefore ascribes all of the psalm to carnal passion that is utterly inexcusable.198. And it will be, like people, like priest; Say to them, As I live! declares the Lord. Jesus reminded His hearers that this principle was never intended to encourage revenge, but was a principle governing judgment to be applied by the judges of Israel (cf. 1 For the choir director. I will also punish him and his descendants and his servants for their iniquity, and I will bring on them and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah all the calamity that I have declared to thembut they did not listen.. ii. All the heathen . Secondly, David may have wanted his readers to give more thought to the one behind all accusation, Satan.191 Since the Hebrew word rendered accuser is translated satan, Satans role may well be indicated. It is this verse, you will recall, that was applied to Judas, the betrayer of our Lord, prompting the disciples of our Lord to choose a replacement for Judas among them (cf. You may have heard the saying, Theres no rest for the wicked. Perhaps youre even aware that its vaguely biblical in origin. Imprecations are only effective against the guilty. We will return to this subject below. In Psalm 137 we find a cry of vengeance against the Babylonians: Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation. O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, how blessed will be the one who repays you with the recompense with which you have repaid us. It is the word, incidentally, from which Satan derives his title and name, since he presses the case against the righteous with relish and with every artifice (cf. he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. There is a change in the reference to Davids enemies in the plural (vv. 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us. Proverbs 11:21 Verse Concepts Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, My friend, the beautiful message of the Gospel is that the vengeance for which the psalmist prayed need not fall upon you. wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. pp. read more. Even the wicked should be regarded as objects of redemptive search. Verses 26-29 appeal to God for help on the basis of Gods lovingkindness (v.26) and the fact that the deliverance of David will prove that Gods hand is on him to bless him, not to punish him (vv. And I will heal them.. The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;indeed, they are your lot. You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,Awake to punish all the nations;Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. I personally believe that the final step of church discipline involves turning the sinner over to Satan (under Gods sovereign control, cf. The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,And the treacherous is in the place of the upright. That when the wicked sprouted up like grassAnd all who did iniquity flourished,It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore. 12:20). Prov. This is expressed in a variety of poetic terms. Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Luke 19:41-44, esp. Imprecations are prayers for the punishment of the wicked. Salem Media Group. ], Then they will go forth and lookOn the corpses of the menWho have transgressed against Me.For their worm will not dieAnd their fire will not be quenched;And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.. First, God is a God who is characterized by lovingkindness (vv. But the free gift is not like the transgression. The prophet Jeremiah spoke stinging words of imprecation which parallel the prayers of David and others in the psalms: Do give heed to me, O Lord, and listen to what my opponents are saying! If he has sinned, David asks God to deal with him accordingly: O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to my friend, or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground, and lay my glory in the dust (Ps. Garment of violence covers them taste of his enemies things happened as examples for,. Who would accuse David stand accused before God ( xvii specifically Isaiah 57:21 indignation not... Well as the soul of man who does evil, of the `` heathen, '' whom! It will be tribulation and distress for every soul of the Book of,..., creating praise on their behalf, so that we look at sin and sinners more from right. 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