I read a book on the “imprecatory Psalms” a few weeks ago.
Can we, as Christians, pray for the destruction of our enemies? If we follow the pattern of the book of Psalms, it would appear that we can (and should). Yet it doesn’t seem to mesh with the “Law of Love”.
The author of “War Psalms” said (in a nutshell) that if we believe that it is God (in the Trinity) speaking through Scripture and if we believe that Christ is the Word, then we can reasonably read the Psalms (particularly the Messianic Psalms) as Christ looking forward to His human life.
Reading the imprecatory Psalms in this way – and looking forward to the “holy week” and Easter season – we can perhaps see the author’s point.
Read this, thinking Christ in during His last week and His trial.
"May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
When I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
O Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause;
let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
They gape at say, and me "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."
O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
Do not let them think,
"Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."
May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."
My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long."