Proper Imprecation

Psalms 74:10-11
(10) How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
(11) Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!

The first 9 verses of this Psalm detail how enemies have come and defiled the places of worship. Here we see the prayer for God to repay them for their wickedness. Notice the reason behind the prayer though. It's about God's holy name.

Maybe I'm too much of a John Piper fanboy, but every time I go through the Bible I am struck more and more by this theme. The holiness of God's name is vital, particularly in the Old Testament. That was the basis of the appeal Moses made to God as well. God was ready to wipe the people out, but Moses made the point that all the nations would scoff at God's inability to take care of His people. This stayed God's hand (though I don't think it changed His mind, but that's another blog).

The point is that we are here for God's glory. We are not here for ourselves and God is certainly not here for us. Now God can be greatly glorified in the blessings He chooses to give us, and we need to remember that as well. I think poverty theology is as bad as prosperity theology. It's jut not as popular because it's not as fun.