Imprecatory Praying

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-31-2025

Psalm 35

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 35 is another of the Psalms of David, the greatest king who ever lived, and a man after God’s own heart. David wrote 73 of the 150 Psalms, almost half, as he was a musician, singer, songwriter, and also the most feared king alive.

 

B.  These things may seem contradictory, but they are not. We see both “sides of the coin” in King David: a hardness when needed, as he “killed his ten thousands” in battle, and also compassion.

 

C.  Imprecatory - he word “imprecatory” comes from imprecate, meaning to invoke a curse or to call down judgment.

 

D. An imprecatory prayer (or psalm) is a Spirit-inspired petition calling upon the Lord to execute judgment, bring down vengeance, and uphold His righteousness against those who oppose Him and His people instead of taking personal vengeance out of spite.

 

E.  Imprecatory in a Biblical sense:

 

1.  To call on God to judge the wicked according to His righteousness.

 

“Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.” (Psalm 35:4)

 

2.  To ask God to vindicate the righteous.

 

“Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.” (Psalm 10:15)

 

3.  To appeal to God’s justice rather than taking personal revenge.

 

Psalms 58:6  Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

 

“Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.” (Psalm 69:24)

 

F.  I said all that to express this: imprecatory prayer is both correct and Scriptural! There is a time for kindness, but there is also a time for righteous indignation and anger.

 

Ephesians 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

 

G.  Now, to the breakdown of Psalm 35.

 

1. Verses 1-10 – David’s Plea for Divine Intervention.

 

a.  Verses 1–3 – David appeals to God as a warrior.  There is a time for peace and a time for war.  God’s people are not to be pacifists nor weaklings!  David was a man of War as a man of God!  Strong men, strong women who are willing to stand for right and justice.

 

b.  Verses 4-8 – David prays for the shame and destruction of his enemies.  If the wicked will not get right and continue in their wickedness, then the ultimate price must be paid!  Let them fall into the trap they have laid for the righteous.

 

c.  Verses 9-10 – David’s promise of glory and praise to God for His intervention.  “Let all be done to the glory of God!”  “In everything give thanks!” 

 

2.  Verses 11-18 – David’s Complaint of False Accusation.  Here, we find that the battle becomes psychological rather than physical.  Psychological abuse is, in many cases, worse than physical abuse. 

 

a.  Verses 11-12 – His enemies rise as false witnesses.  David is slandered.  He is repaid evil for good.

 

b.  Verses 13-14 – David’s Compassion Upon His Enemies.  I find this portion of the Psalm fascinating and essential.  David differentiated between the wickedness of his enemies and their condition.  As God hates the sin but loves the sinner, David fasted and mourned for them as if they were his brethren!  Some have greatly hurt our family over the years, and I have them on my prayer list.  I cannot hate them, nor do I wish them harm of any kind.  Justice, yes, but harm no!  Our Lord said this in the Sermon on the Mount.

 

Matthew 5:43-48  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  (44)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  (45)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  (46)  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  (47)  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  (48)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

c.  Verses 14-16 – The Cruelty of David’s Enemies.  They rejoiced over David’s misfortune and mocked at his calamity!  People can be so cruel to one another, and we see "so much the more" as the day of the Lord approaches.

 

d.  Verses 17-18 – David’s Confusion.  David did not understand God’s seemingly delayed promise, but he promised to trust God throughout the trial.  God’s silences are God’s business and we are prone to try and hurry God up at times.    I love these verses in Ecclesiastes chapter 3: 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:14  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

 

3.  Verses 19-28 – David’s Prayer for Vindication and Final Judgment.

 

a.  Verses 19-21 – Don’t let them rejoice over me. 

 

Isaiah 59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

 

b.  Verses 22-25 – Don’t let the prevail over me.

 

c.  Verse 26 – Let them be brought to confusion.

 

d.  Verses 27-28 – David’s Vow.  Thanksgiving: Every section of this Psalm ends with a vow to praise God.

 

Psalms 35:9-10  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.  (10)  All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

 

Psalms 35:18  I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

 

Psalms 35:27-28  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.  (28)  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Conclusion: 

 

Pray for those who choose to be our enemies in a spirit of forgiveness and compassion.

 

Be thankful to God in both the good and the hard times of life, as He must allow all things to happen for our good.

 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.