Page 11 - Imprecatory Prayer

Jim Hodges
should also ask they be removed from power! If they convert, they
still need to be discipled in a Biblical World View before they
become involved in governing again.

3. Imprecatory prayers ultimately are prayers that deal with
Satan and his evil cohorts.

This is clearly illustrated in the imprecatory prayers of King David
recorded in the Psalms. David was not praying “against” King Saul
even though Saul was endeavoring to kill him. (This is an amazing
lesson on how to honor the office of civil authority even though the
person in the office is demonized). Instead David is dealing with the
demons in Saul who wanted to destroy the appointed and anointed
line of kings from Judah which, of course, included David and
eventually the Son of David, the Lord Jesus.

Note: It is the Lord Who first discerns when evil has become
institutionalized in civil government. The Lord determined this was
so in Saul and later he is killed in a battle with the Philistines.

The lesson for us: Just as David did not pick up a physical sword to
deal with Saul, we, as the Body of Christ, do not pick up the
physical sword to fight institutional evil. We are not called to an
armed rebellion employing physical weapons; we are called to a
spiritual and cultural revolution.

Cautionary Guidelines in Praying Imprecatory Prayers

1. Do not assume the role of the Avenger (see Romans 12:17-21).

We cannot ask God to be our “Hit-Man”. Vengeance is His. We are
simply asking for the release of His vengeance. We are appealing to
the Court of Heaven where we bring our case before the Lord.

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