Psalms that Curse

by Sean McGowan

The Bible includes prayers such as, “Blessed are those who take your babies and dash them upon the rocks.” How in the world could such barbaric language be part of the Bible? Moreover, how could God’s holy Word contain an entire genre of cursing psalms, known as “imprecatory psalms”? In this short work, Pastor Sean McGowan explores how to understand these psalms and addresses the question whether these psalms have any place in the church today. Can the church pray and sing these psalms? Can individual Christians pray these kinds of prayers? This book will equip you to answer these difficult questions.

Genres: Biblical Studies

90 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2021

Reviews

[Taylor Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Psalms that Curse: A Brief Primer” might be one of the easiest and best ways to become familiar with the imprecatory psalms and the ethical and theological questions raised by such psalms. I have enjoyed and I’m deeply appreciative of other works on the songs of imprecation, such as “Cursing with God” by Laurence, “Imprecations in the Psalms” by Jenkins, and “War Psalms of the Prince of Peace” by Adams. That said, McGowan’s little primer will be my first recommendation to laypeople and church members who desire to get a basic lay of the land. McGowan is clear, helpful, and summarizes the debates regarding imprecation in an easily digestible manner.

His thesis, which he proves well (and supports with theological, historical, and biblical points) is that the psalms of imprecation are not sub-Christian or barbaric or sinful, but are in line with Jesus’ teachings regarding enemy love and should be prayed by Christians today. He’s right. His book is helpful. Oh, and it’s only 80-pages!

Now for a few quotes:

[T]he imprecations in the psalms are actually a longing to see the cause of God established and justice to be met. Yearning for God's will to be done on earth in this sense is not devilish or diabolical. (15)

The basis for the psalmist's claim is not his own bloodthirsty desire to take vengeance, but it is the principle of divine justice that we see expressed in the lex talionis. The lex talionis is a reference to the "law of retaliation" and is found in passages such as Exodus 21:22-25, Leviticus 24:17-22, and Deuteronomy 19:16-21. This law sought to prevent the excesses of revenge and to ensure that personal revenge did not occur. It was intended to ensure that justice would be accomplished and that the punishment enforced would fit the crime committed. This law is an attribute of any civilized society that makes sure a person is not given a harsher punishment than the crime deserves. (28)

In Jesus' day the lex talionis was often seen as a way of justifying personal revenge…But despite the later abuses, the lex talionis was enshrined in Israel's law code in order to execute judicial justice, not personal vengeance. (30–31)

In conclusion, the cries of the psalmist in this text [i.e. Psalm 137] do not reveal a wicked heart crying out for personal vengeance against an enemy, but they reveal an appeal to the Lord to bring swift judgment and destruction upon the Babylonians according to His will and promise (Isa. 13:16; Jer. 51:56; Ezek. 35:1-6). (32)

Those who say there is an inconsistency [between imprecation and N.T. ethics] assume these imprecatory psalms display personal vengeance, which is categorically not the case. These psalms are not personal crusades, but they express a desire to see the Lord's purpose established and divine vengeance met out. (38)

Jesus, the perfect embodiment of enemy love, did not hesitate to speak imprecations (Mark 11:12-14;
20-21) and woes against those that were hardened in unbelief (Matt. 11:20-24; 23:13-39). (38–39)

One may reasonably object that, while true that Jesus uttered imprecations, it does not necessarily follow from this fact that anyone else ought to do so. Jesus was the perfect Son of God. He could utter those because they flowed from a perfect and pure heart. Perhaps this is an example of one of those times where we cannot do as Jesus did. At least one problem with this objection, however, is that we find these kinds of imprecations scattered all over the sacred history of the church, including the apostles' epistles in the New Testament. (40–41)

What seems clear from our brief overview of some of the imprecations in the New Testament is that the command to love one's enemies is not inconsistent with the calls for God to bring vengeance. (44)

My recommendation would be that, after searching our own heart, if we find that we are harboring bitterness or ungodly anger, then it would be wise to refrain from these kinds of prayers. (54)

4.5/5

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a Presbyterian minister, which means I get to quote John Calvin with impunity. Therefore, I appreciate Calvin’s words in his introduction to the Psalms when he wrote: “this book [the Psalms] makes known to us this privilege, which is desirable above all others – that not only is there opened up to us familiar access to God, but also that we have permission and freedom granted us to lay open before him our infirmities, which we would be ashamed to confess before men” (p. xxxviii). That sentiment comes forth in a new, little 90-page softback “Psalms that Curse: A Brief Primer” penned by Sean McGowan, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Tallahassee, Florida. It’s an easy-to-read manual, straightforward, devotional, and practical.

“Psalms that Curse” comes in fast, focused, and fastidious as it addresses several significant questions. It answers the question if the psalms that present “harsh language” and make us uncomfortable at times still have any relevance for the church today. If so, ought they to even be used in prayers by the church in our age. McGowan makes convincing arguments in one direction and thoughtfully responds to several doubts.

Further, the author doesn’t just approach the subject academically and abstractly. Instead, he takes up one of the hardest Psalms to justify in people’s minds, Psalm 137. He also shows how some imprecatory Psalms show up in the New Testament, and the way their approach fits inside the New Testament.

Along with C.S. Lewis, many Christians find themselves aghast at these tough prayers in Scripture and wonder if they even belong in the Bible. McGowan has given readers a healthy defense, and a practical approach. Again, to quote John Calvin, “In a word, whatever may serve to encourage us when we are about to pray to God is taught us in this book” (xxxvii). The author exhibits how this is done with one aspect of the Psalms. “Psalms that Curse: A Brief Primer” should be in the hands of every pastor and parishioner. I highly recommend the book.

The author asked me to read and write an endorsement for the book some time back, which I did. You will even see it in the book. But he never asked for a review. I have chosen to pen this analysis, which has been freely done and is now freely given.

[Jay Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate books based on the goal set out by the author. McGowan hits a home run with this book. Many Christians have no idea what to do with the Old Testament, which means they have no idea how to even approach the Imprecatory Psalms.

McGowan has written, what I consider, the best primer on understanding how these Psalms fit in the Christian life. He does a very good job of examining Psalm 137 and laying out how this Psalm in particular is a walk through calling curses on the Psalmist but also the enemies of God.

The main thing I loved about this book was McGowan's constant appeal to the reader to understand praying these Psalms could be beneficial and profitable for the Christian but to be aware that our intentions matter, and if you for any reason feel vengeance in your heart while praying these type of prayers, you need to stop immediately.

I recommend this to anybody wanting to better understand how these Psalms of cursing fit into the prayer life of the Christian life today.

[Carlos Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the topic. We’ll balanced thoughts on what to do with the imprecatory psalms! Thankful for this primer.

[Will Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lives up to its name. A handy primer on the imprecations of Scripture.

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S PSALMS THAT CURSE ABOUT?
Simply put:

...in our modern day some psalms have seemed to not “make the cut.” To say it another way, some would argue that not all the psalms should be sung or prayed today, particularly the ones that speak out harshly against enemies. Some popular approaches would say that these psalms were for a different time, or only to be used by the old covenant people of God. But the burden of proof rests on them to demonstrate why some of these psalms cannot be sung or prayed today, while the others can. Should the psalms that present “harsh language” and make us uncomfortable at times still be considered relevant for the church today? Should we still be able to sing, and specifically pray, these kinds of prayers today?

McGowan first sketches out the role of the Psalms and then ends with the question above, then he spends a chapter focusing on the imprecatory psalms and various views about them floating around the Church. He then focuses his attention on Psalm 137 and uses the exegesis of the psalm to establish his view on the purpose of imprecatory psalms. Then he spends a chapter on the use of them in the New Testament—or are they even compatible with a New Testament ethic? (short answer: yes)

This is short work, and the depth of each chapter reflects that—but McGowan covers the essentials in each.

COMPARING THIS BOOK TO OTHERS
I don't typically do books on similar topics back-to-back like this, but I saw this talked about on a couple of podcasts I listen to after I read The Morality of God in the Old Testament , and was curious about another take on it.

McGowan's take is different from similar works I've read here in the past—like The Morality of God in the Old Testament and War Psalms of the Prince of Peace —he quotes the latter, labeling it "inadequate" (along with other views, he didn't single it out). McGowan's thesis is more straightforward and less nuanced than Beale's (not superior or inferior, just more direct).

This is a primer—as McGowan reminds the reader—so he doesn't spend time analyzing or critiquing differing views, he mentions them briefly to distinguish his—but the focus of this short book is on his take.

Would I have preferred analysis and critique? Seeing how his views match up against others? Yes. But I'm not going to fault a guy for writing the book he wanted to rather than the one I wanted (at least until I'm wealthy enough to act as a patron).

Besides, this gives me a chance to chew on the ideas myself.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT PSALMS THAT CURSE?

We are not saying that the only way to respond to intense persecution is to call down God’s vengeance. In fact, the normative response should be to pray for God to convert them...what we are arguing for is a recovery of the prayer of imprecation. We are arguing for the category. We are arguing that the prayer of imprecation should have a seat at the table, not for it to be the only thing at the table.

Hard to argue against that.

I don't know that McGowan convinced me with his position about the—but he impressed me with the argument. It's a short work, but he does the work. First, he established his thesis from a noteworthy example of an imprecatory psalm, and then after showing his thesis at work he tactfully and pastorally lays out how the believer ought to apply it. Hard to ask for more.

I really appreciated the chapter exegeting Psalm 137 and the concluding chapter, focusing on the way the Christian ought to pray imprecatory prayers. It was an important chapter and one that I hope many encounter. I think there's some good overlap there with some of what Adams suggested in his work, too.

Not a perfect book, but a good one, a helpful one, and a thought-provoking one. A work that should lead the reader back to the psalter for study and reflection.

[Josh Cosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book(let?) showed up on my doorstep. And I’m glad it did. Helpful explanation on the imprecatory psalms. There is a portion that focuses on Psalm 137 and especially the last verse. In speaking about Babylon, the psalmist says, “Blessed is the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!” Great interpretation developed in dealing with the verse.

It is a short under-an-hour read. And if you’re struggling with the title, don’t. It’s less about a curse word and more about pronouncing a word of cursing. And I think this will grow your appreciation of the imprecatory prayers in both the Old and New Testament. On top of that, this booklet provides a helpful practical application to how a Christian might use them today.

[Alessio · Rating 5 out of 5]

At around 60 pages, it’s a quick read.

McGowan successfully makes the succinct case that just as enemy-love and imprecation are both in the Old Testament, so are they in the New: they are perfectly compatible, and to say otherwise is to say that the Old Testament is a self-contradictory document.

Imprecatory prayers are thus appropriate (and healthy) for Christians to pray. They may make us uncomfortable, but part of Christian discipleship requires moving past our two-dimensional caricatures of God, and embracing Him in His fullness. God is not only a God of love, He is also a God of perfect hatred for evil. Not just evil as an abstract entity, but also of evildoers themselves (Psalm 5:5).

[W. Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent short introduction to a topic that is often avoided. I think the author makes a convincing case for the use and relevance of imprecatory Psalms for believers today. Without a doubt, it may not convince everyone, even believers, since we are living in period where we have almost lost any sense of God's wrath and justice. I read this book in almost one sitting and I appreciate the author's succinct and accessible writing. It achieves it purpose very well as a primer.

[Gailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are not saying that the only way to respond to intense persecution is to call down God's vengeance. In fact, the normative response should be to pray for God to convert them... However, what we are arguing for is a recovery of the prayer of imprecation. We are arguing for the category. We are arguing that the prayer of imprecation should have a seat at the table, not for it to be the only thing at the table."

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little primer on a tough section of the Psalter. McGowan does a good job at keeping it simple and to the point. He does a good job at explaining a positive use of these imprecatory psalms and does not merely explain them away. Highly recommended!

[Sean McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed writing this book. My prayer is that it will be helpful to people and that they would grow in their love for God and His word.

[Shannon Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book on imprecatory psalms. Very interesting, highly recommend.

[Blase · Rating 5 out of 5]

"O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth"

Psalm 58:6

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great primer on the imprecatory Psalms and when they are appropriate to be prayed or sung.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this short primer on the imprecatory psalms to be very helpful. It is succinct and easily digestible. You can read this in one to two sittings. Highly recommend!

[Leslie Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book! As someone who loves the Psalms, somewhere along the line I was taught to think of (and pray) the imprecations as being against the Big Three: the world, the flesh, and the devil, but not an actual human. And this works, in a way, but in the end is not true to the authorial intent of the Psalmists and authorial intent, IMO, is integral to interpretation. Reverend McGowan explains how and why and when it IS appropriate to pray these prayers against actual human beings…but you’ll have to read it for yourself to find out:)

This is the second primer written by Sean McGowan that I have read and benefitted from, the first being his primer on infant baptism. I hope to see more primers on more difficult/controversial doctrines from this author as he has a gift for “boiling down” and making the complex understandable. Highly recommend!