This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a biblical-theological consideration of the Imprecatory Psalms from Dr. Wellum given on Sunday, August 31, 2008.

The imprecatory psalms are some of the most shocking words in the Bible. Take Psalm 137:9: “Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” This week, Dr. Wellum walked through these challenging verses in the Psalter and encouraged students of the Bible to read these verses in the full context of God’s revelation.

A Christ-Centered Interpretation
Due to the shocking nature of many of these imprecatory psalms, three primary interpretive responses have been proffered. Some have attempted to dismiss the imprecatory psalms as vengeful cries from a primitive people. Unfortunately, in making this assertion they disregard Scripture’s unity and authority, and they make themselves self-sufficient arbiters of God’s Word. A second approach is similar. In the progress of redemption and revelation, the New Testament imperative to love your enemies has trumped this Old Testament ethic of retribution. While acknowledging the place of these psalms in history, they make them out to be obsolete. The problem again is that this method disjoints the Bible, when in fact the NT interprets these psalms in light of Christ.

A third approach, advocated by Dr. Wellum, is to read these imprecations in the light of Christ. As we put these Davidic words in Jesus’ mouth, we begin to understand his pleas from the cross. Likewise, we better understand the purpose of these troubled psalms. On this side of the cross, we can read these psalms fearfully as we consider the eschatological retribution that will be poured out on Christ’s aggressors, who have not trusted in his own wrath-bearing atonement. This nuanced approach is most faithful to the Bible and most in accord with the progress of revelation.

A Biblical-Historical Context
To understand these wrathful psalms it is necessary to put them in their proper place in redemptive history. Since the uprising in the garden, all creation has been sentenced under a curse to receive the judgment of God (Gen. 3:14-19; cf. Rom. 8:19-22). Appropriately, the imprecatory psalms excoriate those persons, nations, and societies that wage war with God—in truth, this is all humanity. Simultaneously, the imprecatory psalms assert the coming vindication of God. In Genesis 3:15, a ray of light shines in the cursed skies, “a seed of the woman would crush the head of the seed of the serpent.” This promise is embedded in the context of cosmic conflict—the serpent’s offspring will rage against the children of God (cf. Ps. 2). This spiritual warfare must be seen as the underlining context of the imprecatory psalms.

Carried out in the fullness of time, this head-crushing seed of the women is Jesus Christ. Contending in his life against the powers and principalities, he is hoisted on a cross to die. This act of weakness turns out to be his moment of triumph, for in his death delivers to Satan his death blow (cf. Col. 2:15; Rev. 12). The imprecatory psalms point to this eschatological event (Ps. 69; cf. Matt. 27:34; Jn. 19:28ff). On the cross, Jesus Christ endured the imprecatory wrath called down on the enemies of God, and he did this in order to reconcile enemies of God to the Father (cf. Rom. 5:10). In this light then, the destruction of the Babylonian children in Psalm 137 is seen as imagery depicting the serpent’s demise. Moreover, Psalm 137:9, written in under the skies of Babylon, retells the hope of the proto-evangelium, a seed-crushing son. This is also explains the counter-intuitive notion that the destroyer of reptilian infants is “blessed.”

Modern sensitivities may militate against such violent language, but the biblical notion of peace comes at the price of blood. The imprecatory psalms are cries of justice for the Righteous God to carry out his judgment. This was done through military conflict in the OT (i.e. the language of the imprecatory psalms), and in the NT it was finished on the cross. Today, as we read these challenging verses we are confronted to ask ourselves, “What Spirit shall we hear?” The spirit of this age tells us to dismiss these hard sayings as archaic folly, but the Spirit of Christ points us to swallow these bitter words and look to the cross and to the end of the age when Jesus will come again to put all things under his feet.

Application
As we close, consider three applications: 1) Renewing our minds with the message of these psalms affirms in our own hearts the righteousness of God and the sinfulness of humanity; 2) Embracing these imprecations moves us to exalt God in his mercy and in his justice; and 3) Petitioning God according to these Psalms prepares us for the Day of Judgment, and prompts us to cling to the cross.

May we this week cry out to God, Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! And may we tell everyone we know how to escape the coming wrath foretold in the imprecatory psalms.

Listen to the whole lesson: The Imprecatory Psalms

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 40 from Trent Hunter given on Sunday August 17, 2008.

Psalm 40 is a Psalm of David found in the first of five books of the Psalter. Of the seventy-three Davidic psalms, thirty-seven of those appear in the opening book (Pss. 1-41). Like many of these introductory psalms, Psalm 40 is a passionate plea for God’s intervention and deliverance. Today we will organize our thoughts around three questions that will help us consider the riches of this inspired song.

First, why did David ask for deliverance?

Though we cannot decipher the exact historical setting that evoked David’s cries for deliverance–the biblical narrative leads us to many speculations–our own personal experience(s) can resonate with his pleas. Living in the same sin cursed world, we who walk by faith know the self-loathing effects of sin (v. 12), the anguish of godless aggressors (v. 14-15), and the spiritual warfare of dodging Satan’s fiery darts (cf. Eph. 6). The miry pit is David’s term which embodies the biblical imagery of chaos, isolation, abandonment, and bondage. In our day we have our own idioms. Perhaps, we are view our lives as a trainwreck, or buried in an avalanche, or marooned on an island. Whatever imagery you may want to employ, David has experienced the devasting effects of “the miry bog” and he shows us that deliverance is possible, which leads to a second question.

Second, how was David’s deliverance possible?

The miry pit is where David begins, but the mercy of God is demonstrated in rescuing him from the pit and setting his feet upon the rock (v. 1). But how? Verses 6-7 tell us that it is not by means of sacrifice or burnt offering. Though the mercy seat of God was established in the midst of Israel, it was never designed to atone for high-handed sins or sins of active rebellion against God. This is why in Psalm 51, after David fornicated with Bathsheba and made plans for the death of her husband, the penitent king did not find solace in the sacrificial system (51:16-17). He instead cried out for God’s unfailing mercy and steadfast love (51:1ff). As in Psalm 51, David’s hope in Psalm 40 is in God’s grace (40:11). It is not because of religious works, nor is it by legal obedience. Verse 8 says, that the law fills David’s heart, yet simultaneously David’s sin militates against his obedience. Like Paul, he is a wretched man (cf. Rom. 7). So how is it that David is delivered?

Nestled in verse 6, we find the key. God who rich in mercy has given David an “open ear.” In the midst of the miry pit, David cries out and God hears. In accordance with YHWH’s covenantal faithfulness to Israel, God hears from heaven and forgives (cf. 1 Kings 8). But how? How can a holy God forgive? The text doesn’t say explicitly, but the rest of the Scripture is clear. God who is faithful to his promise, sent a suffering servant, Isaiah 53 says, to bear the marks of sin in his body and to assuage the wrath of God. Isaiah 53:12 concludes,”he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” This is the good news to which David looks: God forgives (Ps. 32:1) and has made a way of deliverance for those who cry out to him (Ps. 50:15). We have a mediator who intercedes for us. In time, the Scripture reveals that this advocate is none other than Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2). He is our suffering servant, our great high priest, and our conquering redeemer. So, this deliverance leads to a final question.

Third, what was David’s deliverance for?

David’s deliverance was not random or aimless. Like the people of God before him (Israel the Exodus) and the people of God after him (the church, you, and me), the deliverance that David experienced was for the praise of his glorious grace (cf. Ex. 20-24; Eph. 1). It is not incidental that Psalm 40, which keys in on God’s powerful deliverance, is filled with escalating praise and proclamation in light of God’s goodness. Consider verses 9-10 and listen for the “speaking” words:

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

In this psalm and throughout the Bible, the liberating work of deliverance accomplished by God on behalf of his people is the source of all praise! In fact, singing a “new song” as David rejoices in verse 3 is directly related to the Lord’s work of salvation. In Psalm 96:1 and Revelation 5:9, a new song is sung as a response to God’s “new” work of salvation. The result, through the ages, is the same. God’s people are filled with joy and perpetual praise. In this the divine design of God is manifest. God so loved the world that he sent his only son to die in order to make all who believeth in him infinitely glad!

What about you? Is your heart filled with a new song? Are you walking in the joy of the Lord? May we read Psalm 40 this week and consider the depths from which the Lord has lifted us and praise Him with a new song.

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

Audio from Trent Hunter’s Lesson: Psalm 40

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 103 from student-teacher Ryan Perz given on Sunday July 13, 2008.

The Rolling Stones once lamented, “I can’t get no satisfaction!” While blaming their disaffected state on hollow advertisements, insufficient information, and disillusioned attempts at sex and romance, it is more likely that their lyrics show the emptying effects of hedonistic pleasure-seeking in a fallen and fleeting world. Sadly, this unsatisfied state of living is not isolated to over-the-hill rockers. Too many Christians can resonate with their words and draw comfort from their lyrics, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Whether due to distraction or disappointment, boredom or busyness, preoccupation with worldly-pleasures or too little reflection on the blessings of the Lord, many Christians and many of us are tempted to turn from sacrifices of praise to downloaded iPods seeking to medicate our pain. There must be a better way!

In Psalm 103, we hear a song with a different tune that tells another story. In its lyrics, the sweet psalmist of Israel, recounts a multitude of ways that the steadfast God of love has satsified his soul and caused him to return praise to the King! Perhaps here Mick Jagger and company could learn something. Perhaps we can too. In fact, we must! The life of our weary souls depend on it.

Penned by King David, Psalm 103 confronts our souls with the revitalizing benefits of the steadfast love of God. In this hymn of praise, David confronts himself and boldly instructs his soul to bless the Lord. Rejecting circumstances that could have easily led David to discouragement (i.e. the loss of his best friend, Jonathan; the hatred of an insecure employer, Saul; the rebellious conspiracy of a son who sought to overthrow his kingdom, Absalom; or the foolish escapade David had with Bathsheba that ended in escalating sin and personal tragedy), the faithful psalmist rejects all temptations to self-pity and despair. Instead, with courageous faith and rock solid truth, this fierce warrior focuses his attention on the goodness of God (cf. Psalm 42-43). In this he fights for joy and grapples with praise!

The hymn of praise opens with eyes lifted to the LORD, the true King of Israel, and the covenant-keeping God, YHWH. Unwilling to listen to what his soul may whisper, or even feel, David commands, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all of his benefits” (v. 1-2a). In verses 3-5, he recounts five reasons for his praise. Each reason reveals God’s particular love: He is a God who forgives iniquity, heals disease, redeems ensnared lives, crowns pitiful lives with mercy, and satisfies his people with good. What follows is a continuation on this theme of steadfast love. David rejoices in who this God is (v.6-8), what He does (vv. 9-10), what His love looks like (vv. 11-14), how He treats sinful humanity (vv. 15-19), and finally how all creation is instructed to bless the one who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (v. 8, 20-22; cf. Ex. 34:6-7).

This Psalm is replete with truths worthy of extended meditation. In fact, speaking of Psalm 103, Charles Spurgeon said: “There is too much in the Psalm, for a thousand pens to write, it is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself, and it might alone almost suffice for the hymn-book of the church.” Consider some of the ways David captures the love of God in his Psalm:

[God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities (v. 10).

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is [God’s] steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (v. 11-12).

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him (v. 13).

The steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him (v. 17).

This week as you encounter the diminishing returns of the fallen world and are tempted to sing along with the Rolling Stones, may you turn the dial instead to hear the words of King David. Though plagued with the fallenness of his humanity and afflicted with the trials and tribulations of this age, Scripture’s royal crooner raised his voice in song to the God who loves sinners and sent his son to die for us. Such a radical turn from the “blues” is not hypocrisy–it is an act of faith and repentance! It is a Spirit-wrought victory over spiritual darkness. This week may we fill our mouths with the life-giving truths of Psalm 103 and bless the Lord. May our hearts grow warm in affection for God as we remember his love and forget not his benefits.

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

Audio from this week’s lesson: Psalm 103