Psalm 79:1-7

    1      O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;
    Your holy temple they have defiled;
    They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
    2      The dead bodies of Your servants—
    They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,
    The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
    3      Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
    And there was no one to bury them.
    4      We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
    A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

    5      How long, LORD?
    Will You be angry forever?
    Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
    6      Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,
    And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.
    7      For they have devoured Jacob,
    And laid waste his dwelling place.
-Psalm 79:1-7

Christians struggle with Psalms such as these. These are known as imprecatory psalms. Many have asked me if it is appropriate for us to pray in such ways now that we are in a generation under Christ. In short, I do believe it is appropriate. However, I believe it is only appropriate under certain conditions. There is a fact that remains that the wrath of God abides upon the sons of disobedience, and the heart long cry of Scripture for the end of the wicked is yet approaching. In this, we still must remain careful. The prayers of imprecatory psalms have to do with the ceasing of wickedness and prolonging of righteousness.

I do not have an issue praying for justice. I do not have an issue with praying for the end of wickedness. I do, however, have an issue when our approach is out of animosity. We are first and foremost called to love, even that of our enemy. In love for righteousness, we do indeed hate wickedness. Still in the cry for justice to be done to the wicked, we long to see the wicked turn to repentance.

As we read through these types of psalms I encourage that we remind ourselves of the attitude God has with wickedness. Let us not partake in the wickedness that we see around us. Let us understand the measures that the Lord has taken against wickedness. Abstain from it. Run from it. See how it has threatened Israel and know how it can threaten you. Cling to righteousness and love that which is good.