Biblical Imprecations: Christians’ Secret Weapon

By Dr. Robert E. Fugate

One of the perplexing ethical and hermeneutical problems facing Biblical scholars, pastors and intercessors is the imprecatory Psalms, i.e., those Psalms that call or wish for God’s judgment, calamity or curse upon the enemies of God and God’s covenant people. Is it ever appropriate for Christians to pray Biblical imprecatory prayers? Why or why not? If these prayers are ever appropriate, in what circumstances are they to be used and by whom?
Biblical Imprecations: Christians’ Secret Weapon begins by analyzing two common, but misguided approaches to the imprecatory Psalms. First, some people postulate that the imprecatory Psalms are merely the Psalmist’s own sinful feelings expressed to God. (C.S. Lewis went so far as to assert that the imprecatory Psalms were written by neurotics!) But can such a view be harmonized with the Bible’s teaching regarding its truthfulness, inspiration, inerrancy, authority, etc.—especially as taught by Christ and the Apostles?
A second misguided approach attempts to explain the imprecatory Psalms by hypothesizing different (and conflicting!) moral standards between Old Testament ethics and New Testament ethics. Yet, how can this theory comport with Christ’s summary of the ethical teaching of the Old Testament law and the prophets (Mt 22:37–40)? Furthermore, the Bible grounds its ethical commands in God’s very attributes, which are eternal and unchanging.
Biblical Imprecations: Christians’ Secret Weapon demonstrates the unity of Biblical teaching regarding such imprecations, examining: (1) Christ and the Apostles endorsement of Old Testament imprecations; (2) imprecations spoken by Christ and the Apostles; and (3) imprecations spoken by God’s angels and by glorified martyrs in heaven.
Eight key Biblical-theological principles underlying the imprecatory Psalms are developed:
1.They are not based on personal vindictiveness;
2.They are prophetic judgment prayers;
3.They leave vengeance to God;
4.They are motivated by zeal for God’s name, glory, and kingdom;
5.They involve spiritual warfare;
6.They are based upon God’s covenant;
7.They express faith in God’s justice, power, and covenant faithfulness;
8.They are consistent with all Scripture.
Having examined the Biblical-theological teaching regarding Biblical imprecations, Biblical Imprecations: Christians’ Secret Weapon provides practical applications for the proper use of these Biblical prayers. Necessary cautions are given.
Faith-building testimonies of God powerfully answering the Biblical imprecatory prayers of believers in several nations are included.
Biblical imprecations drawn from the entire Bible are compiled in an appendix — for convenient use in prayer.
Biblical Imprecations also contains a helpful bibliography.
Sample endorsements:
This is a much needed book discussing a much needed tool of spiritual warfare. Buy it, pass it out, and encourage churches everywhere to begin making use of these Biblical weapons designed by God to tear down strongholds. It has been a mystery to me that the church has lost interest in the Psalms. If the bride of Jesus Christ would unitedly bring God’s enemies before the court room of heaven with these inspired words, we would see massive changes happening in the spiritual landscape of country after country. Phillip G. Kayser, PhD: Pastor; Professor, Whitefield Theological Seminary
This is one of the most important booklets that leaders in the Body of Christ in the 21st century can read and apply. It is the most comprehensive, concise and powerful statement promoting imprecatory prayer I have read. It answers the questions of those Christians who are skeptical or fearful of even attempting to pray for God’s righteous judgment to come down upon those who intentionally are opposing God’s laws and are destroying both individual Christians and society in general... Jay Grimstead, DMin, Founder and Director, Coalition on Revival and the I

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Robert E. Fugate
• Release date: May 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9780984742257

Dr. Robert E. Fugate

Robert Fugate is an author, pastor, and theological mentor. He earned a Ph.D. in Christian Intellectual Studies and a M.Div., both from Whitefield Theological Seminary.Dr. Fugate has written over twenty books and booklets that have been used by pastors and church leaders in over sixty countries. His writings include: The Bible: God’s Words to You; The Foundation and Pillars of the Biblical Worldview; Psycho-Heresy: Christianizing Pagan Psychologies; Key Principles of Biblical Civil Government; God’s Mandate for Biblical Education; Biblical Patriarchy; Toward a Theology of Taxation; Tyrants Are Not Ministers of God; God’s Royal Law: Foundation of Moral Order; A Biblical Philosophy of Truth with Contemporary Applications; Biblical Curses: Divine and Demonic; A Brief History and Critique of Natural Law Theory; and Biblical Imprecations: Christians’ Secret Weapon (among others). His book, The Bible: God’s Words to You, is a nearly 900-page treatment of the doctrine of Scripture. It may be the only comprehensive text on bibliology written from a presuppositional/Biblical-worldview perspective. Dr. Fugate’s materials are available at LordoftheNations.com.Dr. Fugate co-authored the position paper “Sanctity of Human Life” for the International Church Council Project/Coalition on Revival, as well as being a major contributor to their position papers “God’s Law for All Societies,” “Education of Christian Children,” and “The Biblical Perspective of Environmental Stewardship.”Dr. Fugate mentors pastors, pastoral or missionary candidates, and young adults in Biblical worldview, presuppositional apologetics and systematic theology.His website is LordoftheNations.com

Book preview

Biblical Imprecations:

Christians’ Secret Weapon

Robert E. Fugate, Ph.D.

Copyright 2015 Thy Word Is Truth, LLC

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ISBN: 978-0-9847422-5-7

Published by Lord of the Nations, LLC, Omaha, NE

Ebook Edition

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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ADDITIONAL MONOGRAPHS AUTHORED BY DR. ROBERT FUGATE

The Bible, God's Words to You: A Presuppositional Guide to the Reformed Doctrine of Scripture

Psycho-Heresy: Christianizing Pagan Psychologies

Key Principles of Biblical Civil Government

God’s Mandate for Biblical Education

Toward a Theology of Taxation

God's Law: Foundation of Moral Order

A Brief History and Critique of Natural Law Theory

Modernism and Postmodernism: Their History, Beliefs, Cultural Influence—and How to Refute Them

Some Continuities and Discontinuities Between the Older Testament and the Newer Testament

Antinomianism in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

God's Revelation: He Wants You to Know Him

Available at: LordoftheNations.com

Table of Contents

Two common unbiblical solutions to imprecatory Psalms

Psalmist’s personal sinful emotions

Old Testament ethics vs. New Testament ethics

Christ and the Apostles endorse Old Testament imprecations

New Testament imprecations

Neo-Marcionism

Conclusion

Biblical-theological basis for Christians praying imprecatory prayers

Not based on personal vindictiveness

Prophetic judgment prayers

Leave vengeance to God

Motivated by zeal for God’s name, glory, kingdom

Spiritual warfare

Based upon God’s covenant

Express faith in God’s justice, power, covenant faithfulness

Consistent with all Scripture

Old Testament imprecations

New Testament imprecations

Jesus Christ spoke prophetic curses

The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus taught persistent prayer for justice

Christ commissioned his disciples to use prophetic curses

Jesus Christ cursed the nation Israel

Christ’s Apostles used prophetic curses

Glorified martyrs in heaven pray imprecatory prayers

God’s angels speak prophetic curses

God commands His people to rejoice in His judgments on the wicked

Applications

Who are the targets?

The Psalmist’s enemies

The church’s enemies

Maintaining a Christian perspective in praying imprecations

Battle instructions

Misguided imprecations

Conclusion

Testimonies of the Power of Imprecatory Prayers

Appendix A: Psalm 69: An Imprecatory, Prophetic Psalm of Christ

Appendix B: Imprecatory Psalm Verses

Appendix C: Non-Psalm OT Imprecatory Verses

Bibliography

Endnotes

Biblical Imprecations:

Christians’ Secret Weapon

One of the perplexing ethical and hermeneutical problems facing Biblical scholars, pastors and intercessors, is the imprecatory Psalms, i.e., those Psalms that call or wish for God’s judgment, calamity or curse upon the enemies of God and God’s covenant people. Imprecations or curses in the Psalms are not confined to the familiar imprecatory psalms of 35, 58, 69, 83, 109 and 137. ... There are 28 psalms that contain one or more verses of imprecation.[1]

Bible-believing Christians must face several tough questions regarding these imprecatory Psalms. Is it ever appropriate for Christians to pray Biblical imprecatory prayers? Why or why not? If they are ever appropriate, in what circumstances are they to be used and by whom? Before we attempt to answer these questions, let’s examine two unsatisfactory approaches.

Two common unbiblical solutions to imprecatory Psalms

Psalmist’s personal sinful emotions

A number of commentators postulate that the imprecatory Psalms are merely the Psalmist’s own sinful feelings expressed to God. To cite one such renowned critic, C.S. Lewis writes in his Christian Reflections, that the Psalmist is loathsomely akin to that in us which it is the main business of life to purge away. Psalm 109 is as unabashed a hymn of hate as was ever written. ... What makes our blood run cold, even more than the unrestrained vindictiveness, is the writer’s untroubled conscience. He has no qualms, scruples, or reservations; no shame. He gives hatred free rein — encourages and spurs it on — in a sort of ghastly innocence. ... He was doubtless a hot-blooded barbarian, more like a modern child than a modern man. Lewis described the spirit of Psalm 109 as bitter, chronic resentment, unsuccessfully resisted or not resisted at all. He then added, I do not mean that God hears and will grant such prayers as that psalmist uttered. They are wicked. He [God] condemns them. All resentment is sin. Lewis further depreciates the Psalmist’s writings by calling them self-righteous utterances, the Dark Night of the Flesh, the expressions of a neurosis. Lewis elaborates on the last phrase adding, If