War Psalms of the Prince of Peace: Lessons from the Imprecatory Psalms, 2nd ed.

by James E. Adams

Publisher:

P&R

, 2016

Overview

25th Anniversary Revised and Expanded Edition

Although the Psalms are much beloved by readers of the Bible, some hostile language in individual psalms may be disconcerting. Are these seemingly vindictive prayers acceptable in the mouths of Christians? How is a pastor supposed to preach these texts?

James E. Adams wants us to embrace God’s Word in its entirety, and that means examining the parts that make us uncomfortable. In short, helpful chapters, Adams answers a number of questions: Are these psalms from God? Who is the speaker in the psalms? May we pray these psalms today? It turns out that the Prince of Peace has much to teach us about war, and even the imprecatory psalms may be prayed with the merciful goal of conversion.

Twenty-fifth anniversary edition—includes a new epilogue and additional chapter.

Key Features

• Examines the difficult and often-neglected Psalms
• Proposes a biblical response to the imprecatory Psalms
• Contains reflection questions for each chapter

Contents

• Those Puzzling Prayers from the Psalms
• Are These Prayers the Oracles of God?
• Who Is Praying These Psalms?
• Are Jesus’ Prayers Contradictory?
• May We Pray the Imprecatory Psalms?
• How Can We Preach These Prayers?
• Marching to War in God’s Kingdom!
• The Psalms—Christ’s Prayer Book
• The Christian’s Duty Towards His Enemies
• Two Sermon Summaries
• The Messianic Cup of Wrath and Joy
• Index to Psalm Imprecations
• New Testament References to the Psalms

Top Highlights

“What is the relationship between God’s revenge and ours? Paul answers: ‘Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord’ (v. 19). Neither in the Old Testament nor in the New is there a place for personal revenge. All of our vengeance must be given over to the Lord. Every impulse to gratify ourselves by avenging a wrong done to us is surrendered to the Lord as we truly follow Him.” (Page 49)

“The issue at hand is not, Does this psalm express my desires of this moment? but rather, Is my desire truly, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done’?” (Page 65)

“We must see that we cannot base our acceptance of these psalms as the true Word of God upon our own response to them. Too many Christians have allowed instinctive feelings of repulsion or shock at the language to cause them to reject these words as Scripture.” (Page 7)

“We must be careful not to make the Psalms our own personal prayers according to our changing moods.” (Page 23)

“From our pulpits we who are pastors must firmly maintain that it is only right for the righteous King of Peace to ask God to destroy His enemies. In doing so He affirms the supremacy of God, who puts ‘all enemies under his feet’ (1 Cor. 15:25). What a difference it makes in our preaching when we know that these psalms are not the emotional prayers of angry men, but the very war cries of our Prince of Peace!” (Page 35)

Praise for the Print Edition

James Adams’s book on the rather startling imprecatory psalms is the best of its kind. . . . Christ-centered throughout, it is enlightening, succinct, warm, practical, and helpful for everyone grappling with the strong language of these psalms—including pastors! Once you’ve read this book, you will no longer feel confused or embarrassed by these psalms, nor will you want to avoid them. . . . Let Dr. Adams’s book assist you to preach, teach, and pray the ‘war psalms’ as never before!

—Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Dr. James Adams’ War Psalms of the Prince of Peace must rank among the finest studies on the imprecatory psalms. . . . I routinely advise others to read this book when any question about those psalms arises. . . . We would all do well to spend time in this book, with these psalms, and in prayer for God to triumph over the forces of evil we face today.

—Michael A. Milton, Chair for Missions and Evangelism, Erskine Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: War Psalms of the Prince of Peace: Lessons from the Imprecatory Psalms, Second Edition
• Author: James E. Adams
• Edition: 2nd
• Publisher: P&R
• Publication Date: 2016
• Pages: 176
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Topic: Psalms

About James E. Adams

James E. Adams (DMin, Westminster Seminary California) has been the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Mesa, Arizona, for more than thirty-five years and has taught theology for Reformed Baptist Seminary and in Latin America.