Carefully Examining the Text

Psalm 35 B - Can we pray calling judgment on the wicked?


Listen Later

This Psalm calls down curses upon those who have opposed the Psalmist.
See verses 1-8, 26.

Sometimes we hear that these prayers were acceptable in the Old Testament but they are not acceptable today.
In the OT God's people were encouraged to love their enemies- Exodus 23:4-5; Prov. 25:21-22.
In the OT God's people were forbidden from taking personal vengeance- Proverbs 20:22; 24:29.
In the NT we find God's people calling down curses upon the wicked- I Cor. 16:22; Galatians 1:8-9; 5:12; Rev. 6:9-10.
In the NT we find rejoicing at the fall of evil and wicked people- Rev. 18:20; 19:1-6

This is not an effort to eliminate Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 23:34, or Acts 7:59-60 from the Bible. It is an effort to say that prayers of judgement also have their place.

These prayers show us
That evil is real- Isaiah 5:20- and that we must be outraged by evil- Psalm 119:104, 128, 163.
These prayers do not encourage personal vengeance but they leave things in the hand of God- Psalm 35:13-14; II Timothy 4:14.
The prayers are motivated by a desire that God be glorified- Psalm 58:11; 59:13.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Carefully Examining the TextBy Tommy Peeler

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

57 ratings


More shows like Carefully Examining the Text

View all
Northwest Church of Christ Podcast by Northwest Church of Christ

Northwest Church of Christ Podcast

63 Listeners

Excel Still More by Kris Emerson

Excel Still More

799 Listeners

Text Talk by Edwin Crozier & Andrew Roberts

Text Talk

78 Listeners

Upon Their Shoulders by Jake Smith and Nick Weaver

Upon Their Shoulders

27 Listeners