Were Jewish commentators embarrassed by the prayers for punishment? Certainly modern Christian commentators are thus embarrassed . . . . There is some irony in the fact that the point where the NT concentrates most of its use of the psalm is where commentators see it as unworthy of the NT.
John Goldingay, Pslams 42-89, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms, ed. Tremper Longman III (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007), 355f.
Duncan says
Trenchant point… and great timing! I was working on a section of a paper about the imprecatory psalms this morning. Thanks!