Break Off Their Fangs!

Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O LORD!

Psalm 58:6

Scholars identify Psalm 58 as an imprecatory psalm. Literally, this means it includes cursing of one’s enemies. In the case of Psalm 58, the curses are directed at wicked leaders who judge their people unfairly and “spread violence throughout the land” (58:1-2).

Often, we don’t know how to respond to the imprecatory psalms. Is this psalm endorsing violence against our enemies? Should we literally break the teeth of those who perpetrate injustice?

No, we should not. For one thing, we must pay attention to the rhetoric of Psalm 58. The breaking of fangs fits the simile of evil rulers being like “deadly snakes” (58:4). To break the fangs, therefore, is a way of taking away their power to harm. Moreover, we should note that this psalm does not give victims of injustice permission to get revenge. Rather, it entrusts vengeance to the Lord, asking him to break fangs and smash jaws. By asking God to do these things, we relinquish our right to do them ourselves.

The vivid rhetoric of Psalm 58 reminds us just how much God cares about justice. Thus, though the language is quite different, the basic theme of Psalm 58 is consistent with God's concern for justice for the powerless. We who belong to the Lord should share his passion for justice, especially for those who are victims of powerful, evil people.

But, we who read the Psalms through the lens of Christian faith must not forget what Jesus said about turning the other cheek and walking the second mile. We are to be people who love our enemies as ourselves. There may be times when our love for our neighbors and our commitment to justice calls for vigorous action, but we must not fill our hearts with hatred and vengeance.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you respond when you experience gross injustice (either in person, or through friends, or through the media)? How is it possible for us to be haters of injustice and lovers of our enemies? How does the work of Jesus impact our reading of Psalm 58?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, as I sit here in comfort and safety, living in a country where I am free to pursue my own happiness, it’s hard for me to enter the heart of David as he wrote Psalm 58. I might have complaints about the actions of my political leaders, but they are nothing like the tyrants who inspired this psalm.

Yet I am aware of violence and injustice in our world. Help me, Lord, not to harden my heart against those who suffer. May I be passionate for their rescue and freedom!

With the psalmist, I ask you to “break the fangs” of those who violate the people under their charge. Take away their power, Lord. Bring them to justice. And, as strange as it sounds, I would ask you to transform their hearts, so that they might seek you and your ways.

Help me, Lord, to balance a passion for justice with your call to love my enemies. Give me your compassion for all of this world’s broken people. May I be an agent of your healing, peace, and justice in this world. Amen.

P.S. from Mark - I'm excited to let you know about a new video just published by The High Calling, the host of my Daily Reflections. It's called "A Day with Greg Buell," and is both deeply-moving and thought-provoking. I know you'll be glad you watched this video. Plus, you can help us get out the word by letting others know about it (through email, Facebook, Twitter, etc). Thanks to my colleague, Dan Roloff, the executive producer of this video, and to his video team, Nathan Clarke and John Harrison, for their fine work. You can view "A Day with Greg Buell" at this link. You can see all of The High Calling's videos at our YouTube channel.

Image courtesy of Laity Lodge, one of our sister programs in the Foundations for Laity Renewal.