Sermon Tone Analysis

The man who tried to ruin my life.

I was 13, my dad had brought me back to Kansas for a lock-in with my middle school youth group

60 Psalms reference others as a problem.

The enemies are young hungry lions lurking for prey to kill and drag away (7:2; 10:9; 17:12; 22:13, 21; 35:17; 57:4); they are a pack of howling dogs (22:16, 20; 59:6, 14), strong bulls (22:12), wild oxen with deadly horns (22:21), and poisonous snakes eager to strike (58:4–5; 140:3).

In human terms, the opponents are murderous bandits waiting in ambush for innocent travelers (10:8; 59:3; 64:3–4), hunters setting trap-nets and digging catch-pits to snare the unsuspecting (10:9; 35:7–8; 38:12; 57:6; 140:5; 141:9; 142:3), trackers chasing down people to the point of collapse (7:1; 17:11; 143:3), and demolition men battering their victim like a wall about to fall (62:3).

Even allowing for hyperbole, these descriptions leave the impression of vicious opponents who intentionally contribute to the poet’s troubles.

They did not cut off the poet during rush-hour traffic.

They are not people with whom we disagree on politics or religion.

Rather, their identity is wrapped up with trouble making and taking advantage of those in need for their own personal gain—actions that are deliberate, grievous, and intentionally destructive.

Only eight of the sixty lament psalms lack reference to an enemy.

Most

Topics

Frienemies

Evil Plans

Ways to Respond

Silence

Please Save Us

What God will do to them

Please Judge Them

Slay them!

Handling Enemies Jesus’ Way

Relinquish your right for justice.

Love them.

Romans 12:19-20 is cited from Proverbs 25:21-22.

Which emphasizes the point that God is unchanging and the validity of these Psalms is still in effect in the New Covenant.

Pray for those who face opposition:

It is not merely coincidental that those churches which fail to use psalms of lament altogether and those which under-utilize these resources are most deeply invested in the status quo,