How to Share Our Faith
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class opened with a review of the "Psalms of disorientation," focusing on Psalm 137 and its vivid imprecatory verses. Clint Davison explained that the Psalmist’s harsh prayers were expressions of deep pain and a desire for divine justice, not a literal call for violence. He highlighted the ancient Hebrew use of graphic language as a metaphor for total defeat of an enemy, and connected this to God’s promised judgment against Babylon, referencing Jeremiah 51:56‑58 as a prophetic confirmation of that outcome. Next, Clint placed the imprecatory Psalms within three interpretive lenses: God's overarching purpose of justice, the psalmist’s sincere human emotions, and the cultural‑historical context of the Hebrew world. He urged students to balance honest lament with trust in God's righteous character, noting that such Psalms can be a powerful way to wrestle with difficult feelings while still proclaiming faith. By the end, participants left with a deeper appreciation for how to address hard Scripture in personal testimony and evangelism, equipped to share their faith with compassion and biblical fidelity.
Key Scriptures
Oh, daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall be he who repays you with what you have done to us. Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks.