William Ames on Singing Imprecatory Psalms
Posted on 09. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde in Book Reviews
One of my favorite Puritans is William Ames (1576–1633). Not only is he precise and to the point, he was an English-speaker exiled amidst the Dutch Reformed! Sounds like someone I know.
In his monumental treatise on Puritan casuistry, De Conscientia (1630), translated and printed in London in 1639 as Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof, he dealt with a question that perplexes Reformed churches. In our insistence upon singing the Psalms of, one issue we face almost in every Psalm are the imprecations (from the Latin, imprecatio, an invoking of a curse) against our enemies. How do we sing these words when our Lord commanded us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44), and the apostle Paul said, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Rom. 12:14).
Thankfully we can look to our forefathers for guidance.
Quest. 4. How may we sing those Psalms aright, which contain dire imprecations in them?
8. A. 1. We may upon occasion of those imprecations meditate with fear and trembling, on the terrible judgments of God against the sins of impenitent persons.
9. 2. We may thereupon profit in patience and consolation, against the temptations which are wont to [habitually] arise from the prosperity of the wicked, and affliction of the godly.
10. 3. We may also pray to God that he would hasten his revenge (not against our private enemies but) against the wicked and incurable enemies of his Church.
—Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof, 4.19.8–10. English modernized.
5 Responses to “William Ames on Singing Imprecatory Psalms”
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Danny Hyde: According to this (http://www.biblical.edu/index.p...
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Bob
09. Sep, 2009
Could you please clarify point 2? Is it directly related to point 1 or separate from it?
Danny Hyde
09. Sep, 2009
Hello Bob,
Ames is saying three distinct things:
First, when we sing these types of Psalms it should cause us to meditate upon the judgment of God upon the impenitent
Second, it should cause us to be patient when we see the wicked prosper and when they afflict us (implied in patience is that their prosperity and afflicting us will one day end)
Third, it should cause us to pray against the Church’s enemies (thus keeping the law of Christ and Paul).
Jason
09. Sep, 2009
What is the scriptural basis for praying against the enemies of the Church?
What does that look like? Everyone is comfortable with praying against Satan, but there are many more enemies of the Church. Do you specifically identify them in prayer asking for revenge to be hastened?
Dizma
09. Sep, 2009
Bonhoeffer says that we may not say or sing those psalms in our name but the name of Christ because Christ abides in us.
Bob
10. Sep, 2009
Jason: I am thinking of Paul’s words in 1 Cor 16:62 – if anyone does not love Christ let them be anathema. I also think of the Enemy of the Church – that we should pray against Satan.