---What Is Imprecatory Prayer?

---- fyi First of all, let’s define imprecatory prayer. To imprecate means “to invoke evil upon or curse” one’s enemies. King David, the psalmist most associated with imprecatory verses such as Psalm 55:15, 69:28, and 109:8, often used phrases like, “may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them” (Psalm 35:6) and “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!” (Psalm 58:6).

---Psalms 7, 69, 109, 139, and many others were written by David to ask God to bring judgment upon his enemies. These prayers were written not so much to exact revenge upon one’s enemies, but rather to emphasize God’s abhorrence of evil, His sovereignty over all mankind, and His divine protection of His chosen people. Many of these prayers were prophetic and could be seen taking place later in the New Testament in actual historical events.

--When David prayed for God to shatter the teeth of his enemies, likening them to young lions pursuing him to his death, he was making the point that God is holy, righteous, and just, and He will ultimately judge the wicked for the evil they do. Jesus quoted some of the imprecatory psalms during His earthly ministry. In John 15:25, Jesus quotes Psalm 35:19 and 69:4.
Paul also quoted an imprecatory prayer in Romans 11:9–10, which is a quote of Psalm 69:22–23. Since Jesus and Paul quoted verses from these imprecatory psalms, it proves those psalms were inspired by God and counters any allegation that they were sinful or selfish prayers of revenge.

**Using imprecatory prayers from the Psalms today should only be done against our spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:12).
-- In the New Testament, Jesus exhorts us to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44–48; Luke 6:27–38). We are to pray for their salvation first and foremost, and then for God’s will to be done. There's no greater blessing than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that’s what Jesus means by praying for and blessing those who curse us.

--As Jesus tells us in LUKE 6:27-31 / "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you--
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and
whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
"Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is
yours, do not demand it back." - bible
We also must remember, "If possible, so far as it depends on you,
be at peace with all men." --Sometimes we simply give them over to the Lord.
"VENGEANCE is MINE I will repay, says the Lord."--(ROMANS 12: 18,19 /NASB)


Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]