Imprecatory Prayer: The Unnatural Division between the Sinner and the Sin

The critic of Imprecatory Psalms finds his criticism largely in the judgment and condemnation expressed in the psalms. To model his own prayer life along the lines of imprecatory prayer seems abhorrent.

A popular dictum in Christianity says "God loves the sinner and hates the sin." We create an odd dichotomy in order to comfort ourselves when someone we love continues, in practical ways, to rebel against God's authority. But is the dichotomy more cultural than biblical? Consider:

• It is the sinner who makes God his enemy.


• It is the sinner who is held responsible for his sin.


• It is the sinner who receives the natural consequences of his sin.


• It is the sinner who cooperates in the process of hardening his own heart.


• A sinner whose refusal to repent impacts not only his own life, but his family, his friends, his co-workers, and succeeding generations.

It is true that God loves the world (John 3:16) and is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). It is also true that man is responsible for his actions, whether good or bad. All are sinners and that sin will be judged. Justice demands it. Sinners are judged, together with their sins, unless that sin has been nailed to the cross. Because of sin, real people make real decisions and suffer real, eternal consequences. It will be hard to understand imprecatory prayer until we come to grips with the seriousness of sin.