Week 4 Day 1: Psalms of Imprecation

Read Psalm 28
Personal Bible Study

  • What attitude or spiritual condition is David writing about in the Psalm?
  • How does God view hypocrisy?
  • Read Matthew 23:1-32.  What warning does Jesus give about hypocrisy?
  • How can hypocrisy sneak into the lives of sincere Believers, and how can we guard against it?
 
Family Discussion Guide
  • What does it mean when we say God is just?
  • Why is God the only one who can be perfectly just?
  • Read Deuteronomy 32:4 and Job 34:12.

Daily Reflection Questions
  • What fundamental truth does this text reveal?
  • How does this text inform the way God intends me to view myself, others, my circumstances, and the world?
  • How can I apply the truth of this text to my life in a practical way?

Community Conversation Suggestions
  • Did these passages strike you as strange?  Are you surprised language like this is in scripture?
  • Do these Psalms change or add anything to your perspective on what is acceptable to pray for?
  • What do these Psalms teach about the nature of God?
  • Of all the passages in the Bible, why do you think these particular Psalms are included?

Spiritual Formation Activity
Imprecatory Psalms are hard to read.  Remember that they are never directed at an individual and always directed at a group that actively opposes God.  Imprecations actually call for God’s justice to be met out on His enemies.  Often they call for God to fultill a promise that His enemies will be defeated.  These are not requests for personally retribution.
Consider the following New Testament examples of Imprecation:  Luke 10:10-16, 1 Corinthians 16:21-22, Galatians 1:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
While it may seem harsh, there is room in Christian prayer for imprecation.  Consider writing an imprecation for one or all of the following:
  • The Enemy and his agents
  • Governments that oppose or prevent Christian work
  • All enemies of God

Weekly Memory Verse
Declare them guilty, Oh God!  Let their intrigues be their downfall.  Banish them for their sins, for they have rebelled against you.  -Psalm 5:10

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