Prayer for Vengeance
1 - 2 Here the psalmist addresses the gods of other nations, asking whether or not they actually support the wicked (It's interesting that the psalmist would do so as if they actually exist).
3 - 5 The wicked are born bad. They are like snakes and they don't hear those who try to control them.
6 - 9 The psalmist asks God to "break the teeth in their mouths" (so they won't have fangs) and to have other nasty things happen.
10 - 11 When this is done, the righteous will rejoice, saying, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
This psalm makes me a bit uncomfortable - I don't feel right praying for bad things to happen to people. While I didn't like Saddam Hussein, I didn't "rejoice" at his hanging. What I get out of this is that there is comfort in knowing there are consequences in life. That just as there are bad consequences for bad actions there are good consequences to good actions. This is why the righteous rejoice. They rejoice because they know there is a just reward for their good lives.
2 comments:
1-2 The evil rulers use their mouths to speak unjustly, their hearts devise injustice, and their hands to do violence.
3 They are wicked from birth, following their nature. They always lie.
4-5 They are like cobras who refuse to heed the charmer (righteous people).
10 The righteous will rejoice at their destruction "bathing their feet in the blood of the wicked".
11 notes - When God has judged the unjust rulers, all people will see that right triumphs under God's justice. There will be no despair.
I agree that we shouldn't desire harm to anyone, even evil enemies. We should, indeed, be reasured with the confirmation that God will dispense justice FAR beyond our imagination.
That's right - the new testament - "Love your enemies."
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