Psalm 139:19-22

Day 9, and what a turn the psalmist makes!

Most people are surprised to come across the 3 verses for today in this beloved psalm. We often avoid these when the psalm is read in public, or at a minimum, a little quieter with hushed voices because we’re a bit confused, maybe even embarrassed by what we’re saying. They’re the verses we scratch our heads at while reading through because we have a hard time seeing how hatred and slaying of the wicked ties into God knitting in wombs and hemming us in behind and before. These verses are known as “imprecations.” The verb imprecate means to “utter (a curse) or invoke (evil) against someone or something.” Therefore, imprecatory psalms are those in which the psalmist curses or prays for the judgment or punishment of his enemies.

“Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hated them with a complete hatred; I count them my enemies.”

How are we to understand the imprecatory psalms? Were they just part of the Old Testament, but now, through the “Jesus lens,” we know they were deluded and misunderstood God’s heart since we’re called to love our enemies? Or were they actually inspired by God and serve a deeper purpose in the believer’s life? An interesting observation to note is if we fast forward to the New Testament, we find Jesus Himself quoted some of the imprecatory psalms, as well as the apostle Paul! Clearly, both of them thought imprecatory psalms had a part to play in our lives. While we won’t be able to do justice to their full scope, let’s look at imprecations first from the perspective of what they aren’t and then turn to what they are:

Imprecations aren’t…

• A license to take matters into our own hands! They were precisely the opposite. They put matters into God’s hands. They entrust their anger and pain to God and His wisdom, justice, and timing.
• An excuse to not love others or ignore other biblical commands. We’re still commanded to love, bless, and pray for our enemies!
• A sneaky way for us to curse others, but instead, they are a means of asking God to bring about His justice on those acting in ways that are anti-kingdom of God.

Imprecations are…

• A reminder that honesty in prayer matters. We can come before God with the whole gamut of our emotions and don’t need to sanitize everything. To be angry in the presence of God is a good, right, and necessary thing. In the words of Eugene Peterson, these psalms can be part of our journey to “learn to cuss without cussing”!
• A reminder that hatred for evil, sin and its effects in the world are to be a part of our spirituality. Attempting to take a middle ground or complacent approach is counter-productive to our discipleship.
• A reminder that enemies are real! Jesus, Himself told us to love our enemies. There is such a thing as evil, and there are such things as enemies. Enemies made in the image of God remain enemies.
• A reminder that there will be a final judgment day when Jesus will fully and finally conquer evil! This day is ultimately what all these imprecatory psalms look to for completion.

In the case of these three verses in Psalm 139, the words are simply another intense expression of a deep love for God and His kingdom; it’s a parallel prayer to “Let your kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” It’s asking God to hallow His own name by bringing justice to those profaning it.

May we treasure all of God’s Word, not just the bits we like or feel comfortable with! Allow these verses to lead you to God instead of away from Him.

Memorize & Meditate

1. Pray David’s words from Psalm 119 to God: “Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your law.” Ask God to reveal Himself to you in His Word, that you might know Him more. To truly know Him!
2. Read Psalm 139:19-22. What stands out? What’s encouraging? What’s confusing?
3. In your journal, write out verses 15-16. The intention here is to slow down a little with the passage and linger.
4. Listen to Psalm 139:19-22 by Aaron Strumpel.
5. How honest is your prayer life before God? Do you feel the freedom to come to God with your anger, anxiety, and fears? If you don’t, why do you think that is? If God already knows you, how much might you learn to bring those things to Him? Spend a few minutes talking to God about any anger, fear, anxiety, or joys you are experiencing right now.

Credits
Song by Aaron Strumpel.
Devotional by Joel Limpic.