Friday, February 22, 2008

The Imprecatory Blues

"Imprecatory psalms are those which invoke curses upon enemies. Examples include Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 - considered the most relevant - while 5, 6, 11, 12, 35, 37, 40, 52, 54, 56, 58,69, 79, 83, 137, 139, and 143 are also imprecatory." Theopedia

There is always an ongoing debate as to whether Christians ought to pray/sing the imprecatory psalms. The problem, I think, is not that these angry prayer songs are out of place in the church, but that they simply don't fit with much of modern chuch music! If we would simply embrace blues-style music, we could easily sing the imprecatory psalms!

For example (vs 4 especially influenced by Psalm 137):

vs1
Oh Lord, please listen to my sad, sad story. (repeat)
I got the blues so bad, ‘just might call it "imprecatory!"

vs2
Lord, my enemies, they’re oppressin’ me so bad! (repeat)
This is the worst persecution that I’ve ever had!

vs3
God, my foes afflict me, and put me to shame (repeat)
Not only that, Lord, but they’re slandering your holy name.

vs4 (a word for my enemies)
Happy is the man who puts you in chains; who puts you in stocks.
Happy is the man who throws you in a dungeon with big ole rusty locks!
Happier still is the one who takes your babies, and smashes their heads upon the rocks.

vs5
Oh Lord, thank you for listening to my sad, sad story. (repeat)
I got the blues so bad, ‘just might call it "imprecatory!"
*****

See? Problem solved!

2 comments:

Terry Laudett said...

priceless!

Allen's Brain said...

It truly is priceless. I couldn't get anyone to pay a single dime for it.