Imprecatory Psalms like this often confuse modern readers.
Instead of being unaware, or under-the-control of our anger, we unpack our anger with God. Psalm 137 exemplifies how to do this.
The Psalmist owns his anger honestly before God but doesn’t act on it.
Fulfilling the passage to “be angry, and not sin” (Eph 4:26)
Appealing to God the judge to repay fairly what was done
The beauty of processing our anger to God as the Psalmists did is that it allows us to channel our anger TO & THROUGH God, rather than AT others.
Without an ultimate perfect judge, I must be the judge to carry out the sentence that my anger demands
Can I use these Psalms exactly like the Psalmist who wrote it? Can I also call down curses upon my enemies and just leave it at that?” The answer is “NO”, unfortunately, we cannot.
The Psalmist was on the opposite side of the cross
We must always read the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus
Instead of God taking his anger out on you or others – as He could and should – He gives His only Son to be dashed on the rocks to even the score (Col 1:21-22)
We are to FEEL Anger, and DO Love.
We forgive, we love, and we bless those who have angered us
