Do we pray that God curse the evil wicked ones like David prayed?
For the longest time, I have a hard time to understand the retribution curses that David uttered against his enemy , because in the New Testament, Jesus has never uttered a single word of retaliation towards the enemies, except warnings and forgiveness, and even at the last moment on the cross. Jesus is clearly walking at a higher paradigm, but he seems to contradict Davidic Psalms and plenty of other instances in the Old Testament. Not until I read Dan Carson’s commentary on psalm 28 that liberated me.
Psalm 28: 4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.
Carson writes: Ps 28:4 Repay them. David utters some harsh imprecations (i.e., curses) against those who have done evil and opposed the Lord (also v. 5). Though harsh, these words simply echo what God had promised to do, as far back as Abraham’s day, to those who oppose him and his people (Gen 12:3).
That brilliant explanation by Carson of the seemingly curses against those with evil works is simply an echo of God’s promise to as far as Abraham in Genesis 12! That is such a spot on exegesis. God indeed promised that anyone who blesses Abraham shall be blessed anyone curses Abraham shall be cursed. And that’s why it is legitimate right for David to pronounce curses on those evil ones that go against him and the Lord. This really expanded my horizon of understanding. But in the true sense, the Lord Jesus did not contradict Abrahams promises, because in the ultimate run, Jesus will curse and send those evil people to even more curses and condemnation, more than anyone would imagine or David would even dare to request. So there is no contradiction or tension. It is just a matter of time.
However, the question comes how do we actually implement it in our days and age because there’s so much evil being done in this world today and causing tremendous harm and damage to the people of God and the world in general. The answer I would argue is we can pray to God to curse all those evil ones in his way in his timing, because that will be in line with Abrahamic promise of covenant that God made with him. However a very good point that Carson brought up is that David only asked God to avenge, but he would not do it himself because he leaves that to God. And that is very righteous way of doing it and that we should be following what David has done like in Psalm 5 .
Psalm 5: 9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible Notes) psalm 5: 9–10 David speaks harsh words about his enemies because of their rebellion against God. But David never indicates that he is going to exact private vengeance for himself; he always asks God to do this or vows to take vengeance in his capacity as king. In doing so, he is simply asking God to be true to his own promises: God promised Abraham, “Whoever curses you I will curse” (Gen 12:3), and God reminded the Israelites, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay”
May God save and bless his people and be their shepherd and carry them forever
Psalm 28 (NIV) 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
To even hear this kind of prayer that David prayed to God, asking God to be our shepherd and carry us forever is touching and humbling: This is even a sense of almost too much to bear that kind of emotional prayer. David has such a pastoral heart and a passionate heart to God indeed and for God to hear this kind of prayer and He recorded this in the closed canon of sacred scriptures, speaks of the profound affection of God towards his people. I have no doubt God delights to do that perfectly, and it would not be a burden for him to do that, because he delights and loves his people. Even as we sometimes rebel and are problematic, God will discipline us and would not forsake us.
And of course there were times God were very frustrated with Israel, as they are sinning against the Lord again and again, and pushed Moses to the limit, and with God fuming at them. There is a love-hate relationship between God and Israel, in old testament in particular, because of the intensity of who God is as a person and God , his expression of affection, no holiness , and frankly, it is hard for anyone to keep up with! And that’s why God instituted the circumcision of the heart as the new covenant to replace the old because to be honest, God knows it is hard to keep up with him.
And when it comes to David’s time, you can see David’s pastoral heart, and his immense love for God seems to be having a special direct line with God. And David’s personal worship, prayer, praise, exhortation, lament, all over the book of Psalms, has an incredible impact on all of us through all generations as the people of God. Truly, Psalms is the most read and impressible book in the Bible, and totally outstanding literature, that captures all the emotions across the board of a man and a woman.
David prayed that “God be their shepherd and carry them forever” speaks of the affectionate relationship between a father and a toddler kid, because that is the relationship most intimate with his or her father. And that’s the kind of language David used to describe the relationship between God and Israel, and the church, because we are all children to God. And Jesus also said, “unless you become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God.” God delights in us as children, like faith with childlike innocence, but he detests the sophisticated, hypocrisy and deception of the adults. And for David to pray and ask God to carry them for it ever is a term for affection and for love and for protection. It’s not just “to carry” only, but ” forever carry”. Oh, this is the height of the Father’s heart or pastoral heart, that makes God look after his people for all eternity, and that was exactly fulfilled when Christ opened the door the way to eternal life, and he indeed carries as forever. Amen.
This is clearly seen and shown in Acts 5, where Ananias and Saphira brought in the sale of the land proceeds to do the church, led by Peter. When they presented the money to Peter, who was full of the Holy Spirit, the money was not the full proceed of the sale of the land. Peter then asked if this is the whole amount of the sale of the land? Ananias promptly said yes, so he lied.
And then Peter responded. You didn’t lie to me, but you lied to the Holy Spirit with that Ananias drop dead. The fear of God struck the entire 5000 people congregation. No much later Saphira came in, who is a Ananias’ wife, Peter asked the same question to her and she responded promptly yes again. And then Peter said “ Saphira why did you lie to the Holy Spirit? The man who carried your husband I will be coming into carry you out now.” And she dropped dead as well.
That is horrifying that death sentence should be given to a mere lie, which is so common in our society today and in the society at that time as well. So why did God judged them dead? This is a myth, and the commentary by Carson NIV and says that God demanded purity, supremely important in church at the birth of the first church as example to everyone to maintain at the highest standard. Peter said something astounding because he said told him that he lied to the Holy Spirit and why did you let Satan fill his heart and deceive the Holy Spirit? No does that mean that every time one lies or someone lies, the person is filled all influence by the Satan?
Definitely yes to a certain extent but not all the times. But in this case it is specifically called out as influenceable Satan. So why did Satan want to deceive a good man who made great sacrifice to bring his money to the church? Let’s just say that in the ecclesiastical world today, this will not happen. No church leader has the authority and audacity to proclaim death sentence upon a church member let alone a member who brought in thousands of dollars to the churches in offerings albeit he kept some for himself without telling the church. but that is a critical moment and in God’s sight, who deemed it fit to pronounce the death sentence.
There is, there are only two other cases in the Old Testament that receive death sentence on the spot, one is Aaron’s two sons, who offered up strange fire, wrong offerings to the Lord, and they were struck dead. And the other one is Achan in the time of Joshua, he disobeyed the Lord’s commands, and hid some treasure of the plunder from the enemy, for himself, some jewels or something. And because of that, the Israelites were defeated by the enemy.
I guess it is the consequence of that lie more than the lie itself that caused the death sentence to Achan. Because they can win against the law to commit explicitly, knowing that the warning that anybody going against the Lord’s command will cause the defeat of Israel, and be severely judged. So you can explain that.
But today if you look at the churches today we can’t even call our sin as sin publicly for fear of offending the tide of the culture and the society at large in a nation where liberalism has taken to another level. The early church in the Pentecost time clearly manifest an Apostolic thority there is unparalleled but nevertheless we can learn a lot about the boldness and courage required to implement the fear of God in our land in our churches from Peter. Under the unction of the Holy Spirit there’s a lot more the church leaders in our day and age can do and preach on and proclaim. However without such unction and anointing you’ll be futile to try to do that because it will fall flat because it is man’s effort not God’s unction. Peter did not operate from human motivation all authority or prompting, no matter how much Apostolic he is, there’s no way that he can do what he did without the unction from the Holy Spirit.
My conclusion is that church leaders should seek the unction of the Holy Spirit and speak a prophetic voice on the puppets to the churches without fear of man but rather with the fear of God. I think a lot of changes will come with the prospect of revival or spiritual awakening if we do that. Yes how much we need the Lord!
To be winsomely reformed, is the one of the mottos in the Reformed world, the philosophical approach with outside world for the sake of not provoking hostility unnecessarily so as able to preach the gospel. I think there’s a lot of truth in this, however I do think this is not exactly applicable to the public square in the political sphere especially what we see now in America.
If you take that a step further to being winsome that seems to me we Christians are withdrawing away from the public square and speaking out the prophetic voice of God from the scriptures what the world so badly need to listen. And this may be offensive but it is actually the cutting edge of the double edged sword of the word of God. I remember Tim Keller preached that the God that doesn’t offend you is not God, it is your idol and that’s exactly correct. Christians interaction with the public square without bringing the word that may even offend people it’s no more prophetic and that will be very sad. Look at what’s happening in America the transgenderism and gay pride and the whole lot that’s has been going on for years now, the voice of many evangelical leaders’ scholars theologians pastors alike is eerily silent and disturbing. And the saddest thing to me is it’s not about politically left or right but it is about losing the prophetic voice in the public square which is in dire need of a fresh injection of the voice of God.
Paul preached on freedom, equality and standing up against injustice
Paul’s letters touch on themes of freedom, equality, and standing up against injustice. For instance, in Galatians 3:28, he writes, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” emphasizing the equality of all believers in Christ. To fight for equality is not just fighting for social justice but also fighting for justice and equity and freedom for unborn babies, and above all the most disruptive transgenderism and gay theology and philosophy for sexuality that is not only cost the splitting of mainline denominational churches all over the land, but also caused countless heart breaks and griefs of young people’s lives. The church has been awfully silent in this matter and without a prophetic voice on this, this land would not see calmness and peace and the Shalom.
The willpower and the fervent desire to see the Spirit of God moving in the land
I do not doubt this desire of most pastors, evangelical churches, and theologians to advocate for the right theology, but I do doubt the willpower and the fervent desire to see the Spirit of God moving in the land to counter this immense oppositions to the word of God. There’s no way to put forward a public voice in the public square from the churches, pastors, theologians on this issue without offending some people. The only way is to do it under the unction of the Holy Spirit, the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we will see a wave of holiness sweeping across the land that would never seen before. Churches have been so downtrodden but this overwhelming public opinion and social wave cultural divide then shuts the church effectively from speaking out the truth of the word of God on this issues. While I’m passionately writing this, I’m not advocating any one way to do this apart from the fact that we need to seek the Lord with all our hearts and asked the Lord for his wisdom and also opening the door to speak the voice of God, the truth prophetic, to the world so that the world will respond and not reject it.
The answer to that is not by staying silent in the name of being winsome
There has been so much woke philosophy that has penetrated into our schools, and college campus syllabus where we produce the best minds of the land for the last decades or so, and if we want this land to be won for Christ we will have to take the campus back for Christ. It does sound cliché and slogan ish, for I know this is the right thing to do but again I do not know exactly how to apart from praying seeking the Lord for his revelation. The heartbeats desire must be there to bring changes to this land in the public square and the answer to that is not by staying silent in the name of being winsome. What’s worse is complete imbalance of attacking any muscular narcissism or any political leaning right choice in the public square by Christian scholars and theologians whilst completely silent on the sanctity of marriage and sexuality in the image of God. It almost seems we can sacrifice the doctrine of sexuality and sanctity of heterosexual marriage in exchange for social justice and the world very much in line with exactly what the liberal world wants.
James wood writes: “Keller’s “third way” philosophy has serious limitations as a framework for moral reasoning as well. Too often it encourages in its adherents a pietistic impulse to keep one’s hands clean, stay above the fray, and at a distance from imperfect options for addressing complex social and political issues. It can also produce conflict-aversion, and thus it is instinctively accommodating.” [1]
Augustine criticized the Roman Empire in his ground breaking “City of God”
It is this mindset of keeping one’s hands clean, and stay above the fray from addressing any social and political complex issues that has silenced the prophetic voice sadly. Again I would just say that the answer for revival or renewal of the land it’s not by staying silent. Augustine wrote a book the city of God criticizing and mocking the Roman empire whose empire collapsed and in turn they blamed the church for such. That book by Augustine city of God is a true prophetic voice in his days and in our days too!
The Political Left & Right
Wood further writes “ During the 2016 election cycle….I was too concerned with how one’s vote might harm the “public witness” of the church, and I looked down upon those who voted differently than me—usually in a rightward direction. “Public witness” most often translates into appeasing those to one’s left, and distancing oneself from the deplorables. I didn’t like what this was doing to my heart and felt that it was clouding my political judgment.[2]
I can relate very well to what he wrote about the public witness, how many are ready to appease the left and I think it is really not healthy for our Christian doctrinal understanding on being a light to the world and definitely detrimental to our hearts like he wrote.
Jesus & the Political Powers
Jesus did criticize the political powers of his time during his ministry in the 1st century AD. Throughout the New Testament, there are instances where Jesus addressed issues related to political authorities and their actions. One of the most notable examples of Jesus criticizing political powers is when he confronted the religious leaders and Pharisees. These leaders held significant influence in the religious and political spheres of Jewish society. Jesus often rebuked them for their hypocrisy, oppression, and failure to genuinely follow God’s principles. He accused them of prioritizing their status and power over the well-being of the people they were supposed to lead.[3]
Jesus was absolutely bold and direct full of passion in tearing apart the hypocrisy of the political the lead group of the Jewish pharisaic who led the synagogue at that time. He was not afraid of being unpopular and in fact suffered being crucified because of his constant preaching the Kingdom of God and claiming his godhood to the point he exasperated the Pharisees who finally decided to kill him. But his death precisely is the instrument of God to change the world by bringing the redemption of God to his elect.
Moreover, Jesus’ teachings and actions often challenged the oppressive political and social systems of his time. He preached about love, mercy, forgiveness, and the kingdom of God, which stood in contrast to the harsh and unjust practices of the Roman Empire and other ruling authorities.[4]
Jesus challenged the oppressive political and social system of his time and he preached about love mercy forgiveness and the Kingdom of God which stood in contrast to the harsh and unjust practices of the Roman Empire another world in authorities. It is this kind of boldness and conviction under the anointing of the Holy Spirit Jesus thundered the prophetic voice to the nation of Israel and in fact the whole world in our modern days today.
Conclusion
We need boldness and the biblical conviction to be or see a prophetic voice by concerted prayer of seeking the Lord for his wisdom and direction. Every time Israel was defeated, they would tear through clothes and put ashes on their heads in repentance and crying out to the Lord and the Lord would speak to them what’s the problem. Today we evangelical questions see our nation so beaten up, all Christian culture so torn apart, our churches being split the left right and center, I don’t see much tearing up our clocks and put ashes on their head in repentance and crying to God to intervene to save our nation. By the spirit of God and the grace of God, may he direct our hearts to cry out to him for revival and the cleansing of our land. Amen.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion, we were like those who dreamed.[b] 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, they were like those who dreamed and the mouths were filled with laughter’s and songs of joy. Other nations said the Lord has done great things for them and they were filled with joy. This first strophe (v1-4) speaks so clearly of the dream being fulfilled. I have to say that people who experienced this are the ones who have been longing for the Lord to answer their prayers and putting their trust in Him fully despite setbacks. It reminds me of the shameless audacity of the man knocking at the door of his neighbor for bread at midnight.
Sometimes we wonder if the Lord’s going to answer our prayers after such a long time and even years of waiting, like Psalmist prayed “For how long Lord? But this first strophe gives me a clear sense of the Lord’s answering their prayers in a big way. In fact so big that they felt like they dreamed, and filled with laughter’s and joy. I’m convinced that this sense of laughter and joy and dreaming would not come about without a sense of deep longing, waiting, crying out to the Lord for a long time. That’s why when He’s actually finally answered prayers, he felt like he dreamed and was so happy and feel with joy and laughter’s. It is not saying that he’s hoping for the Lord to answer his prayer but the Lord has already answered his prayer. And this answer to prayer is not a small thing because v3 says, “this is great things the Lord has done and they’re filled with joy”. I believe all of us have dreams and big dreams for God to do for our ministry, our families and we must not give up praying and asking until he answers our prayers. This is not about whether the Lord will answer our prayers, but rather when the Lord is going to answer our prayers. I just want to let this thought sinks into my spirit so that it truly becomes part of me and I will continue to press on prayer.
Life is not always rosy, and indeed there will be a period of seeming dryness, drought and silence from the Lord even though technically I know that the Lord is working behind the scene but I’m just a broken human wanting to serve him and glorify him. And what I love about this On v4-6, Psalmist cried out to the Lord to restore their fortunes. It is clear that the Lord has restored their fortunes but not all of it obviously. There are some parts of it is not restored and the beautiful thing it really shows how important it is to work hard at it to persevere and to press on. V5 says those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. I’m reminding myself that I should not be discouraged just because I have not seen the restoration of my fortunes in some ways and if I have not sown with tears and gone out weeping carrying the seed to sow, I will not be able to return with songs of joy and carry sheaves with me.
Therefore v5- 6 is a tremendous encouragement to affirm me that the Lord sees our tears, He wants us to really pour grace into our heart, and trust Him. I’m reminded that the Lord Jesus himself cried out with loud cries with tears (Heb 5:7) to God the Father often and he learned obedience through suffering so that he can become the source of salvation to all peoples. I’m challenged that it has not been easy for the Lord Jesus himself and if I were to look for an easy way for my fortunes restoration, I’ve probably made a mistake and I should repent and put my faith all over again in the Lord our God Jesus Christ . I want tostand on the promise of God that those who sow with teas will reap with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. V5-6 shows us the promises of God for us if we go out to sow with tears and weeping, we shall come home and reap with shouts of joy and bringing sheaves with us. I’m particularly encouraged and strengthened to see that God will restore us in due time in his time.
Joshua 24 it’s about Joshua at the end of his life in an average trying to convince the nation of Israel, how much God has done for them, God driven out all the different nations for them, and literally God fought for them. And also Joshua warned them that if they disobey God, the curses will fall upon them, and verse 14 says so feared the Lord and serve him faithfully. and put away all the idols forever. Now the word fear means to deeply reverence and deep admiration for the Lord that’s the way we going to obey the Lord and draw with all the idols now the.
Now it seems the antithesis of the opposite of serving God is serving idols. Why is idols, the antithesis of dread opposite of God because idols it’s a form of fake God that throughout the Old Testament, like the golden cow kissing point nation, Israel bow down to the golden cow while waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain do you know the reality is every one of us need God and even for the brief moment of 40 days waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Zion. They ran out of patience because they need a God to lead them into the promised land.
Do you know that really we also need a God to lead us into our promised land into our ambitions into our hopes and dreams, but the problem is we don’t call it idols because we don’t realize it is actually idols though we need God.
Because we are so self-sufficient because we think we’re capable of doing everything until we hit troubles. Not at least for the old time Israel nation knows what is God and what is idols. Idols is a very huge component of their lives and they know that but for us today, idol is not something we even talk about. Because it is not part of our vocabulary for conversation really.
But God’s first requirement’s to throw away all the idols is for us today it means to throw away anything that is precious important in our life, they may stand in the way of us coming to worship God. Idols are always some thing precious and treasured in peoples minds and lives.
Therefore, to know the danger of idolatry is absolutely important for us to be happy in lives, and to flourish. There are many things in our lives that can turn out to be idols, including our jobs our career, our money, power, sex, pleasures, or even families. That’s why we absolutely have to put God above everything else in life, and that require our faith and trust in God, because we simply cannot do that without putting our number one trust and faith in our God!
Augustine talks about disordered love in the sense that our problem is not that we don’t love God, our problem is we love something else more than God and that’s what is called disorder love. Augustine really gets it. You know our common problem it’s not that we don’t love God that’s Christian’s at least, but we just don’t love him enough that opens up the door for something else in our lives to cause us to fall into the traps of idolatry.
Al Ngu sermons & devotion 