Should You Pray Curse-Prayers? (2 Sam 3.29, 36, 29)
“May the guilt fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!”
David swore, saying, “So may God do to me, and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down!”
“…The LORD pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!”
Background
Curse-prayers are a complex and perhaps troubling style of prayer for modern people of faith. They are found throughout scripture on the lips of people, from kings to commoners, from prophets to non-believers. Do they have a role in our prayer lives?
After Abner’s kerfuffle with Ishbaal, he makes good on his vow and sends a message to David, suggesting they make a covenant. He boasts that he will deliver Israel to David. David agrees, but with one condition: Abner must bring Michal, David’s wife and Saul’s daughter, back to him. Her loyalty to David had led Saul to take her away from David and marry her to another man.1 Abner does as David requests (much to the dismay of Michal’s new husband). Though it is not mentioned, Abner may have been promised a prominent position in David’s army as his part of the covenant. This would make sense because Abner had been a successful commander of the armies under Saul, so he would expect to be rewarded with a similar status.
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