Day-ImprecatoryPsalms.pdf00-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Preliminaries.pdfAbstractTitle PageAcceptance pageDedicationTable of ContentsAbbreviationsEnd of Preliminaries01-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Ch01.pdfCh. 1 IntroductionFacing the ProblemBreadth of DefinitionStigma of VengeanceNarrowing the FieldMethod of ApproachEnd Ch. 102-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Ch02.pdfCh. 2 Unsatisfactory SolutionsEvil EmotionsOld Covenant MoralitySongs of ChristSummaryEnd Chapter 203-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Ch03.pdfCh. 3 Cultural Context of the CurseFunction of Imprecation in the ANEPower of the CurseEnd Ch. 304-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Ch04.pdfCh. 4: Harshest Psalms of ImprecationPsalm 58Psalm 137Psalm 109End Ch. 405-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Ch05.pdfCh. 5: Colliding with the New TestamentApparent ContradictionsInstances of ImprecationConclusionEnd Ch. 506-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Ch06.pdfCh. 6 ConclusionEnd Ch. 607-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-AppendixA.pdfAppendix A: Woe and CurseEnd Appendix A08-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-AppendixB.pdfAppendix B: Text of Deut 32:43End Appendix B09-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-AppendixC.pdfAppendix C: Coals of Fire in Rom. 12:19-20End Appendix C10-Day-ImprecatoryPsalms-Bibliography.pdfBibliographyPublished WorksUnpublished WorksEnd BibliographyABSTRACT THE IMPRECATORY PSALMS AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS by John N. Day [© 2000, by John N. Day, cited with permission] Dallas Theological Seminary Readers: Prof. Don Glenn, Dr. Rick Taylor, Dr. W. Hall Harris III In this dissertation, I attempt plausibly to demonstrate that the utterance of imprecations (including the appeal for divine vengeance) against the recalcitrant enemies of God and his people—as is found in the Imprecatory Psalms—is consistent with the ethics of the Old Testament and finds corresponding (albeit somewhat lessened) echo in the New. This thesis is rooted (1) in the establishment of the psalms’ theology of imprecation in the very essence of the Torah—especially seen in the promise of divine vengeance expressed in the Song of Moses, the principle of divine justice outlined in the lex talionis, and the assurance of divine cursing as well as blessing articulated in the inaugural covenant of God with his people; and (2) in the presence of this theology carried, in essence, unchanged through to the end of the Christian Canon, and likewise utilized as the foundation for the infrequent imprecations in the New Testament. There is indeed a degree of difference in the progress of the testaments, but it is a difference in degree not a difference in kind. Thus, it is argued that whereas “love and blessing” is the dominant tone and characteristic ethic of the believer of both testaments, “cursing and calling for divine vengeance” is the believer’s extreme ethic—legitimately utilized in extreme circumstances, against sustained injustice, hardened enmity, and gross oppression. This thesis is developed in four discrete sections: (1) an evaluation of the principal solutions proffered with regard to the Imprecatory Psalms and Christian ethics; (2) an investigation into the broader ancient Near Eastern practice of imprecation; (3) an exploration of the three harshest psalms of imprecation (Pss 58, 137, 109) and the theological foundations upon which their cries were uttered; and (4) an examination of the apparently contradictory statements of the New Testament (“love your enemies” and “bless and curse not”) coupled with the continued presence of imprecations.THE IMPRECATORY PSALMS AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS _______________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Old Testament Studies Dallas Theological Seminary _______________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy [© 2000, by John N. Day, cited with permission] _______________________ by John N. Day August 2001Accepted by the Faculty of the Dallas Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy. Examining Committee ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________To my beloved wife, Lorri and our dear children Tiffanie, Hannah, and JohnEzraTABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Facing the Problem The Breadth of Definition The Stigma of Vengeance Narrowing the Field The Method of Approach 2. UNSATISFACTORY SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Evil Emotions Not to Be Expressed To Be Expressed and Relinquished Old Covenant Morality Inferior Morality Differing Dispensations Songs of Christ Summary iv3. THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE CURSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 The Function of Imprecation in the Ancient Near East Treaty Curses Inscriptional Curses Incantations to Undo Curses The Power of the Curse 4. THE HARSHEST PSALMS OF IMPRECATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Psalm 58 Curse Against a Societal Enemy Theological Foundation Psalm 137 Curse Against a National Enemy Theological Foundation Psalm 109 Curse Against a Personal Enemy Theological Foundation 5. COLLIDING WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Apparent Contradictions “Love Your Enemies” “Bless, and Curse Not” vInstances of Imprecation Christ The Apostles The Saints in Heaven Conclusion 6. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Appendices A. WOE AND CURSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 B. THE TEXT OF DEUT 32:43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 C. COALS OF FIRE IN ROM 12:19-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 viABBREVIATIONS AER American Ecclesiastical