A Plea for Vengeance in Psalm 35: 1-3 and Its Reflections in Africa (Yoruba) Indigenous Churches
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Date
2024
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Publisher
Verbum et Ecclesia
Abstract
Psalm 35 is one of the most popular, widely read and used Psalm among the African indigenous
churches (Yoruba) in Nigeria. This article investigates why and how Psalm 35 vv. 1-3 is used
as a plea for vengeance among the Yoruba Christians in African indigenous churches in
Nigeria. The article explores how the plea for vengeance is understood and expressed in the
African traditional context. African biblical hermeneutics with the view of providing a useful
lens to reread biblical text in African context was adopted for the study. It was discovered that
as early as the 3rd-century Christian era, the book of Psalms was used in the liturgy of the
church. The notion of vengeance as found in Psalm 35 vv. 1-3 is a recurrent theme in African
indigenous churches in Nigeria. This Psalm is used among the Yoruba Christians in African
indigenous churches as a plea for divine intervention against their enemies. Through a
synthesis of biblical and traditional African sources, this article demonstrates how the plea for
vengeance is expressed in the cultural practices and beliefs of African indigenous churches.
The plea for vengeance in this Psalm is a reflection of African indigenous churches’
understanding of key social issues such as justice, relationships between individuals and
groups, and the need to maintain social integrity. Psalm 35 is usually read, sung, memorised,
inscribed on parchment, and chanted by African christians and non-christians as expression of
faith in God to intervene in the issues confronting them as he did for the Psalmist.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The Yoruba Christian readers of
Psalm 35vv. 1-3 appeal to God for intervention against their enemies. The article emphasises
that Christians should not take laws into their hands but trust in God for justice.