Cursing

He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil. (Psalm 109:18)

It is easy to get angry, and that anger can easily turn to hate. It’s easy to hate the slow driver you’re stuck behind, the demanding boss, and the rude shopper.  It is easy to treat as an enemy anyone or anything that gets in the way of our plans or pleasures. This stems from our sinful natures that place self above everything else.  It is a form of self-worship.

The Christian is aware of this. He fights against this inclination. He does realize that there are some things that are, indeed, hateful. He understands that faithfulness to his Lord requires a rejection of that which opposes the Lord God.  With the psalmist he is ready to say, “Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?” (Psalm 139:21)

But Satan, the great Enemy, tries to turn this into an opportunity for evil.  The great warrior, King David, tells us of a man who made cursing such a regular part of his life that it became like the clothes he wore.  He also tells us of the consequences—how this bitterness and hatred seeped into the man’s very being.

Warriors in fields of conflict probably see more acts of hatred than many other people.  And, like King David, they become irritated when they find that they are sometimes being hated by the very ones they are trying to help:  David wrote, “They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.” (Psalm 109:5)

But law enforcement personnel, fire fighters, accountants, and waiters surely run into this.  So do teachers, supervisors, employees, parents—and even grandparents!  No one is exempt.

More than one person began a relationship with kindness only to have it transform into something ugly.  Good intentions are thrown back at us as if they were insults.  We end up being despised for doing what is right and hated for an act of love.

What is more natural then, but to return hatred for hatred?  What is easier than for that hatred to grow?  Before we know it, we find ourselves hating everything about the person.  If we don’t watch out, we may soon be calling down curses that would last through all eternity upon such people. 

It is easy to put on the jacket of uncalled-for cursing.  But that jacket is not part of the uniform of the Lord of Glory, who has already defeated the alliance of sin, death, and the Devil.  The hatred, which the jacket has been soaked in, will seep down into our very soul.

We’ve heard the warning, “Watch your mouth!”  The Bible shows us that we need to watch our hearts and minds, as well.  It reminds us that we have deserved the hatred of the holy God, but instead he reached out to rescue us in love.

It’s not easy for the Christian to always balance out hatred and love, and apply each in the proper place at the proper time.  It takes guidance and power from on high.  It requires a Christian heart.  And yet, that should only be natural for the Child of God.  St. Paul puts it this way: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). We are wrapped in God’s garment.  It bears the sign of the cross.  It declares, evil will fail.  In the end, justice will triumph.  And, the Lord my God would rather bless you than curse you.

In case we are still not clear on this, Jesus makes it simple: “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you!” (Luke 6:28)

Rev. Paul Ziemer, WELS National Civilian Chaplain and Liaison to the Military, Cape Coral, Florida