Curse or Blessing

Psalm 109 speaks of a man who loves to curse, who does not remember to show others kindness. His presence is not a blessing to others but in fact it is death. Verse 16 says that he pursues "the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death."

Because of this the psalmist prays that curse would come upon this man; that since he did not delight in bringing blessing to others, that curse would come upon him and blessing be far from him. Such is the nature of imprecatory prayer!

In Deuteronomy 21 we see curse coming to another man. In verse 22 it says, "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance." Thus curse comes to the man, guilty of a crime, who is hung on a tree as punishment.

Of course, this prefigures our Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself was hung on a tree. By this He was declared cursed, but in becoming a curse He was able to bring a blessing upon us. What a contrast to the first two examples we've cited. The first two cursed others and stole life from others. Their end was that they were cursed. But Christ, the righteous one, the blessed one, chose to become a curse, so that He might become a blessing to others. And that is what He has done! He turned the curse that we deserved into a blessing for us! For this we must be grateful and freely offer our praise to the Lord.

But we must do more! 1 Peter 3 offers further application. In 1 Peter 3:9f Peter says, "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing, for 'whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'"

Peter makes it clear that we are to reflect Jesus. Since He turned evil into a blessing to others, He now calls His followers, in whom He lives, to do likewise. So when confronted with those who curse - instead of wishing a curse upon them, ask the Lord to turn this curse into a blessing for others.