7. Imprecations in the Psalms

A. What they are

B. Where they are and how frequent

C. What is the problem?

D. Poor solutions

1. Use these Psalms to vent our feelings (e.g. Fee)

2. The Psalms simply record the curses of the Psalmist accurately, but they were sinful curses

3. There was a lower standard of morality in the O.T., e.g. polygamy, eye for an eye

E. Good Solutions

1. Poetic Language

2. They never name an individual

3. The Kingdom of God took an external form

4. Following on from this: The psalms do not clearly distinguish evil men from the evil forces behind them

5. These imprecations are prophetic of the final judgement