The Imprecatory Psalms then can and should be used to pray against the spiritual forces trying to disrupt, and assault our lives and the lives of those we love. Paul taught that our true adversaries are not flesh and blood, but the evil powers who are at work in the unseen world.
Prayer against enemies how to#
What did Paul teach us about how to recognize our true enemies? In Ephesians 6:12 Paul wrote,ġ2 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Prayer against enemies full#
He wanted us to pray, prayers full of mercy. What kind of prayers did Jesus have in mind when he told us to pray for our enemies? Did he ask us to curse them? No. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.
In the sermon on the plain in Luke 6:27-31 Jesus said,Ģ7 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. For example: What did Jesus teach us about praying for our enemies? This would be very helpful information when trying to interpret the Imprecatory Psalms. It is good to study what godly and brilliant theologians have written, but it is also important to analyze what other passages in the Bible say about this same issue. The majority of our time we will spend looking at these guidelines, but we will also look at parts of Psalm 35 and see how it might relate to our own prayers.įirstly, when trying to interpret hard to understand passages in the Bible, it is important to see scripture as the best commentary on scripture. We also learn it is more than ok to bring our deep unfiltered sadness to God.ĭo you think it is ever appropriate to pray curses on someone? To fully address this question I want us to look at some principles about interpreting God’s word. For generations the demonic has hated the Jewish people. One of the things we learn from these Imprecatory Psalms is that antisemitism is nothing new. And, from America’s place of safety and security these Psalms can be very disturbing for us to read. It is important to remember that these Imprecatory Psalms were prayerful poetry written during some of the harshest times in Israel’s history, when nations and individuals were coming against God’s people. The Imprecatory Psalms are some of the hardest passages in scripture to interpret because they appear to invoke judgement, calamity or curses on our enemies or on those who we perceive to be the enemies of God. Have you ever had an anger so deep you could not filter your tongue? Have you ever cried for days not knowing how to wade through your grief? If you can answer yes to either one of these questions, I think you would be blessed and comforted to read the Imprecatory Psalms. Her heartache was crushing, and I was searching to find words that might somehow comfort her.
As I listened to my friend speak in anguish of her helplessness to stop her husband’s infidelity, my anger began to boil.
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