Imprecatory Prayers (Part 1) – When They Are Permissible

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I.        What are imprecatory prayers?

1. Imprecatory adj. – 1. Expressing or involving imprecation; invoking evil or divine vengeance; cursing, maledictory.
2. Imprecation n. – 1. a. The action of invoking evil, calamity, or divine vengeance upon another, or upon oneself, in an oath or adjuration; cursing.
3. Imprecatory prayers are prayers in which evil, calamity, or divine vengeance are invoked against another person.

II.     Are imprecatory utterances ever warranted?

1. Yes, there is a time for everything, including a time to hate and a time of war (Ecc 3:1, 8).
   1. We should hate evil (Pro 8:13; Psa 97:10; Psa 119:128; Rom 12:9).
   2. It is even permissible to hate the wicked who hate God and rise up against Him (Psa 139:19-22; 2Ch 19:2).
      1. David hated the congregation of evil doers (Psa 26:4-5).
      2. David hated them that regarded lying vanities (Psa 31:6).
      3. David wrote these things under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2Pe 1:21).
2. God has actually commanded His people to curse others at times (Deut 27:13-26; Jdg 5:23; 2Sa 16:5-10).

III.  When are imprecatory prayers permissible?

1. Imprecatory prayers which are in accord with the revealed will of God are permissible.
2. The following is just one example of an imprecatory prayer which was in complete agreement with the will of God.
3. Jeremiah prayed to God that his persecutors would be confounded and dismayed and that God would bring upon them the day of evil and destroy them with double destruction (Jer 17:18).
   1. Jeremiah was essentially praying for God to do to them according to what His word says He will do to such people.
      1. God promised to put curses on Israel’s enemies which hated and persecuted them (Deut 30:7).
         1. Persecute v. – 1. To pursue, chase, hunt, drive (with missiles, or with attempts to catch, kill, or injure). 2. To pursue with malignancy or enmity and injurious action; esp. to oppress with pains and penalties for the holding of a belief or opinion held to be injurious or heretical.
         2. God has ordained His arrows against His people’s persecutors (Psa 7:13).
         3. It’s okay to ask God to take revenge on our persecutors (Jer 15:15).
         4. It’s okay to ask God when He will execute judgment on our persecutors (Psa 119:84; Rev 6:9-10).
         5. Remember though that in some cases our persecutors are children of God who have yet to be converted (Act 22:4; Act 26:11; 1Co 15:9; Gal 1:13; Php 3:6; 1Ti 1:13).
      2. God promises to confound the wicked (Isa 1:28-31; Isa 19:1, 9; Jer 22:22; Eze 36:31-32).
         1. Confound v. – 1. trans. To defeat utterly, discomfit, bring to ruin, destroy, overthrow, rout, bring to nought (an adversary). In curses or imprecations, used in the imperative 3^rd pers. sing. as an equivalent or substitute for ‘bring to perdition.’ Since 1700 considered a milder form of imprecation, and vaguely associated with other senses.  4. To throw into confusion of mind or feelings; so to surprise and confuse (a person) that he loses for the moment his presence of mind, and discernment what to do (cites Acts 2:6).  5. To throw (things) into confusion or disorder; = CONFUSE v. 3 (cites Gen 11:7).
         2. Those who are incensed against God’s people will be confounded (Isa 41:10-12).
         3. God punishes sinners with confusion (Ezr 9:7; Isa 45:16; Jer 3:25; Jer 7:19; Dan 9:7-8).
         4. The persecutors of the saints will be judged with everlasting confusion (Jer 20:11).
         5. David likewise prayed that those that sought his hurt would be confounded (Psa 71:13).
         6. It’s not wrong to pray that God will confound the wicked who persecute us because God has stated in His word that He will do so.
         7. Such a prayer is praying for the revealed will of God to be done.
      3. God promises to make the wicked dismayed.
         1. Dismayed ppl. – Overwhelmed with fear, etc.; appalled.
         2. God makes the wicked who reject His word dismayed (Jer 8:9).
         3. Wicked nations who oppose God will be dismayed (Jer 46:5; Jer 48:1; Jer 49:37; Jer 50:36; Oba 1:9).
         4. It’s not wrong to pray that those who do wickedly will be dismayed because God has stated in His word that they will be.
         5. Such a prayer is praying for the revealed will of God to be done.
      4. God promises to bring evil (punishment for sin) upon the wicked (Amo 3:6; Exo 32:10-14; Jer 21:10; Jon 3:4 c/w 10).
         1. It’s not wrong to pray that God would bring the day of evil upon the wicked because God has stated in His word that He will do so.
         2. Such a prayer is praying for the revealed will of God to be done.
      5. God promises to destroy the wicked (Gen 6:5-7; Gen 19:29; 2Th 2:8).
         1. God will destroy the wicked who trouble the saints (2Th 1:6-9).
         2. It’s not wrong to pray that God would destroy the wicked who persecute us because God has stated in His word that He will do so.
         3. Such a prayer is praying for the revealed will of God to be done.
   2. Therefore, Jeremiah’s imprecatory prayer was merely asking God to do what He has promised to do to the wicked.
4. If an imprecatory prayer is made in which God is asked to judge someone in a manner in which the word of God says He will judge such people, then praying it is fine.