Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Imprecatory prayer derives from the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:1-3), the passage where God himself tells Abraham that he will curse anyone who curses him and his descendants (God’s children). When the psalmist or anyone else prays for God to judge people (even killing them), the basis is that the person praying is, in effect, asking God to remember this covenantal promise.
The one praying is asking God to settle scores and judge evil oppressors. In other words, rather than taking matters into his own hands, the one praying leaves it to God to remember his promise. Jesus would not have asked David or another psalmist to repent for such a prayer, since the basis was God’s own covenant promise to avenge those who sought the harm of His own children.
Since Christians are the inheritors of the Abrahamic covenant, which is explicitly stated in Galatians 3, it stands to reason we can ask God to judge our enemies as well. While we must avoid taking matters into our own hands, being willing instead to suffer, we can pray for God to judge our enemies and leave the matter in His hands. Who else would we ask? It is up to God as to how He will remove and judge those who oppress and curse his children. It may be something mild, or God may take the person’s life. Or God might say no. This is up to God, and we cannot judge God’s decisions. We accept them either way.
Learn more about this topic: drmsh.com/etssbl-musings-part-1-imprecatory-prayer
#heiser #theology #biblestudy #oldtestament #prayerlifestyle
Imprecatory prayer derives from the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:1-3), the passage where God himself tells Abraham that he will curse anyone who curses him and his descendants (God’s children). When the psalmist or anyone else prays for God to judge people (even killing them), the basis is that the person praying is, in effect, asking God to remember this covenantal promise.
The one praying is asking God to settle scores and judge evil oppressors. In other words, rather than taking matters into his own hands, the one praying leaves it to God to remember his promise. Jesus would not have asked David or another psalmist to repent for such a prayer, since the basis was God’s own covenant promise to avenge those who sought the harm of His own children.
Since Christians are the inheritors of the Abrahamic covenant, which is explicitly stated in Galatians 3, it stands to reason we can ask God to judge our enemies as well. While we must avoid taking matters into our own hands, being willing instead to suffer, we can pray for God to judge our enemies and leave the matter in His hands. Who else would we ask? It is up to God as to how He will remove and judge those who oppress and curse his children. It may be something mild, or God may take the person’s life. Or God might say no. This is up to God, and we cannot judge God’s decisions. We accept them either way.
Learn more about this topic: drmsh.com/etssbl-musings-part-1-imprecatory-prayer
#heiser #theology #biblestudy #oldtestament #prayerlifestyle
