Teaching: Psalm 35 – “Sweet Revenge” – An Imprecatory Psalm
1. David is talking about revenge
This is an Imprecation Psalm written by David.
David seeks vengeance. These Psalms were written to invoke God’s
wrath upon the wicked.
2. Present day: Context
Two extreme views:
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Those that claim that imprecation/vengeance/revenge is proper.
We hear things like  “Die wiel sal draai!!!”; “Kry vir jou jy wou mos!”,
“Revenge is sweet…” “I will never forgive them for…” “We will take things in
our own hands now”
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Then you get the other side. People – church goers - that say imprecation
was only proper in the Old Testament. They say New Testament Grace
demands that believers should NEVER pray in this manner.
We hear things like  Spreek lewe! Moenie dood spreek nie!
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And you? What do you say? What do we believe about revenge? What
do you think of what is written in Psalm 35?
We know things in the world are not right. That there is injustice in the world – on
the one side…
But we also know we may not judge others, we may not take revenge on someone
– on the other side…
So now we sit here, between somewhere and nowhere…
Tussen die God – met die anger issues (soos ons baie keer God in die OT perceive)
& die Jesus van die Kindebybel, wat met “2 druppels bloed” aan die kruis hang en
sê: “Draai die ander wang” (soos ons baie keer Jesus in die NT perceive).
So, we read about corruption, murder, rape…we are victims of crime
ourselves…we get hurt by people at work, in our families. We sit with hurt
because of past experiences and we don’t know what to do with it
So you read the headlines every day – you feel how anger arises in you when
you read about corruption, murder, injustice and you seek revenge…then
you quickly suppress it – waiting for God to punish you for even thinking
these thoughts.
The result? PASSIVE ACCEPTANCE of injustice in the world…in our
lives…
3. Biblical context of the revenge: What do we read & learn about
revenge in the Word?
Scriptures
Psalm 35
Context of imprecation in the Word
Look at a few of the verses again. The imprecatory Psalms – Psalms of
revenge - are not in the Bible by chance. It’s not an accident. David knows
that there is injustice in the world. He has enemies who want to kill him for
no apparent reason than them being jealous of him.
Leviticus
19:18
“Love God & others as you love yourself is not a NT principle! Let’s read
Leviticus 19:18.
To love God & others is the whole idea behind the law. David knows this, so
why did he write Psalm 35?
Deut 32:35 David also knows that he is not allowed to take revenge
David knows this, so why did he write Psalm 35?
Acts 5
Like I said some people associate revenge with the God – with the anger
issues – of the OT and not with the Jesus of the NT.
BUT  revenge doesn’t only occur in the OT. See the story of Annanias &
Saffira in Acts.
So we can’t say that vengeance/the wrath of God only happened in the OT
and that is why David wrote this Psalm. And that speaking about revenge is
an OT thing.
1 Samuel
Let’s look at the story of Saul, wanting to kill David.
David is innocent.
David has 2 opportunities to kill Saul.
He doesn’t. He knows that vengeance is God’s.
If we look at Psalm 35 again we see…
Psalm 35
David doesn’t passively accept these situations either. He is aware of the
raw reality of his existence. He gives the issue of injustice to God.
There are 3 things regarding revenge we can learn from David:
1. Address the complaint to God. Appeal to God to intervene. To God
directly.
David appeals to God to make things write, how they suppose to be…
2. Authentic spirituality/Authentic speech:
He appeals to God through authentic speech. God doesn’t have protected
sensitivities.
He always expects the totality, the fullness of Israel’s speech.
When we are in a relationship with God, everything must be brought to speech.
God is the final reference of life. The Jewish people understood this; David
understood this. Blatant eerlik!
This leads to faith in a God who is present in & participating in the darkness,
weaknesses & injustice of life.
This Psalm helps us to acknowledge how life really is. To acknowledge when we are
treated unjustly.
Do we understand that in the presence of God everything is NOT polite & civil?
David knows!!!
He can think and say those unthinkable thoughts – he doesn’t wait for God to send
lightning to kill him for saying “Let them be put to shame…let them be confounded
with hurt…let them be as chafed before the wind with the angel of the lord
pursuing and afflicting them”
A nice love Jesus loves others moment, hey?
We can not passively accept injustice. Relationships must be experienced as it
really is; not in some pretended way.
Get out of denial. Acknowledge your anger and the feelings injustice provokes in
you.
Freud’s theory of talk-therapy: “Grievance/complaint addressed to an authorized
partner free us. Freud said in his theory that we do not move beyond suppressed
memory unless we speak it out loud to one with authority who hears”  God has
all the authority we need – “The heavens and everything in it belongs to
God.”
Stop thinking those moments of praising God is more faithful than
moments of complaining about injustice and hurt The process of
forgiveness/restoration/reconciliation is just as faithful as restoration
itself.
Maybe it’s time to spill the beans. Say: “God come to my rescue, God I hate that
person for hurting me like this…fight for me God. God, let those people who love
violence be put to shame…if we do not enter the pit honestly; there can be only be
GRUDGE not gratitude. THEN…
3. Forgiveness/Reconciliation/Restoration/Justice…in
relationships/between enemies/cultures
Will come from this – one way or the other. God will intervene. He wants to put
things right. He wants to make things the way it should be. He wants to restore
relationships…just spill the beans
4. Application – How does it work?
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Story 1: “The unfaithful pastor” – A true story highlighting these
3 things we’ve spoke about now:
 Address the complaint to God. To God directly.
 Authentic spirituality/Authentic speech: “Give him what he deserves Lord…”
 Restoration of a relationship  JUSTICE
Define “Christian” in terms of this teaching:
As Christians we should – in time of suffering and injustice – appeal to God.
Acknowledge in an AUTHENTIC manner what we feel, think and experience
through honest communion with God; knowing that times of complaint an out
injustice is NOT LESS FAITHFUL than times of praise. The PROCESS of restoration
is not less holy than restoration itself. We should trust Yahweh for intervention –
RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS TO WHERE THEY SUPPOSE TO BE!!!
Now define “Christian” in terms of this teaching & the values of
3rdPlace
a. Community: Love Jesus, love others! Restoration of self, relationship
with God & others. Justice = restoring things to where they should be.
b. Authenticity: Authentic relationship with God. The process of
restoration is not less faithful than restoration itself. Complaint-Praise
addressed to God  both legitimate & necessary in our relationship
with God.
c. Simplicity: The answers to restoration lies in the simply things 
Facebook someone – maybe your relationship ended on a bad foot. !!!
Stop saying “He never greed me first, so I am not going to greed him
first anymore.
6. A quote to end of with:
“God’s justice is not about what is fair; it’s about what is right!”
 It’s not fair to say sorry first all the time, but it’s the right thing to do
7. Blessings