Imprecatory Psalms?

We are often told that the writings of David demonstrate a transparent relationship with God. We are challenged to pray honestly- that God desires to have that sort of conversation with us. I had therefore almost disregarded some of the Psalms as that type of encouragement and example for us. Psalms like 55, 69, 79, 109. These, I have learned, are Imprecatory Psalms. They involve David calling down the wrath of God against his enemies, that I can sympathize with occasionally. Recently in fact- but that’s another story. Anyway, with more thought I have wondered how these verses are “God-breathed” and how they mesh with our call to love (and forgive) our enemies.

Then I came across this:
“They [these hard sayings] are not statements of personal vendetta, but they are utterances of zeal for the kingdom of God and his glory. To be sure, the attacks which provoked these prayers were not from personal enemies; rather, they were rightfully seen as attacks against God and especially his representatives in the promised line of the Messiah” (Hard Sayings of the Old Testament, Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press, 1988, p. 172).

So I have been reminded that our God is a God of justice, that He abhors evil. Therefore, it stands to reason that David, who is a man after God’s own heart, is not speaking merely out of cruelty towards his enemies for a personal offense. Instead, David seems to be in tune with God’s sense of justice and intolerance of sin. How great is our God! May I be so in tune with Him that my soul resounds with these reactions to the evil that is so prevalent in this world.