Can I Incorporate the Psalms in My Prayers Against Those Who Harm Me ?

In time of trials, our heart moved with anger can easily incline us to seek revenge and retaliation. Despite our awareness of Jesus ‘s call to pray for our enemies, the temptation is so strong to call God for action against our detractors. When we face adversity, it’s natural to feel hurt and angry.

 The Book of Psalms, which is a collection of poetic prayers and hymns, often reflects the deep emotions of its authors. These emotions include in several psalms, cries for justice against evil doers. Many of these psalms express a longing for divine intervention, where the psalmist pleads with God to address wrongdoing and protect the innocent. Psalms such as Psalm 35 and Psalm 69 exemplify this desire for vengeance. The psalmists invoke God to rise against their adversaries, asking for justice and retribution. This raises an important question : can we, as believers, ask God to avenge us for the deeds of evil doers? While the Psalms provide a model for expressing our pain and desire for justice, it is essential to approach this topic with a heart aligned to God’s will.

The New Testament teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This does not negate the reality of injustice but invites us to seek a higher response—one that reflects God’s mercy. In essence, while it is natural to desire justice and even vengeance against those who harm us, the Psalms remind us to channel our feelings toward God. We can bring our concerns before Him, trusting that He sees all and will act righteously in His time. Ultimately, our prayers can reflect a desire for justice while also embodying forgiveness and compassion, reflecting the character of Christ.

Prayer and reflection can be great tools for overcoming these urges. Finding ways to channel our emotions into positive actions or reaching out for support can also help us stay on the path of compassion. It’s not easy, but it’s a journey worth taking. The sacraments of the Eucharist and reconciliation provide us the strength in these moments. Be a regular participant of these sacraments.

Rev. Joseph Kinda.