Bible Institute of South Africa

This verse, taken from one of the 'imprecatory' Psalms, seems harsh and contradictory to the

 theme of God's love for a lost world.

Mr Daniel Simango lectures in the Old Testament at BI and is completing his doctorate on these psalms.  We recently asked him to share with us the theme of his doctoral studies and this is what he wrote:  

“My Thesis is an exegetical study of Imprecatory Psalms in the Old Testament. This covers a selection of psalms (Psalms 35, 69, 83, 109, and 137). The study embodies a synthesis of findings relating to the content, context, overall message and theological implications of the Biblical material."

The casual reader of these Psalms might ask the question ‘what does all of this mean?’ 

Well, in one sense it means that research into God’s Word is alive and well on the tip of the African continent.  It means that scholars in South Africa have a passion to study and show themselves approved of God and to spend unnumbered hours grappling with the text.  It also means that the Lord is providing resources for His Church to engage with scripture.

And what, we ask, is Mr Simango's conclusion of his study?  He writes  "The thesis proposes that the imprecatory psalms are contemporary and relevant to God’s people throughout the ages.” 

If you want to know the relevance these Psalms have to YOU in 21st century South Africa, well, you could wait for the thesis to be published..

Or you could come and study with us!

We thank God for Daniel Simango and all others who carefully and diligently study the Bible.  Daniel and Patience Simango are from Zimbabwe.  They have two children