The Loyola School of Theology (L.S.T.) invites you to the oral defense of the S.T.L. Tesina entitled “’HELP ME, O LORD MY GOD! SAVE ME ACCORDING TO YOUR MERCY’ (Psalm 109): Uncovering the Blessing in the Cursing” by Fr. MARVIN P. DIZON (Archdiocese of San Fernando) on 27 March 2026, Friday, 3:00-4:20 p.m., DLC 201 (Tipanan ni San Ignacio), 2/F Dela Costa Bldg., L.S.T. The Board of Examiners is composed of Ma. Maricel Ibita, Ph.D., S.Th.D. (Adviser), Fr. Selva Rathinam, S.J., S.T.D. (Second Reader/Principal Examiner), and Fr. Renato Repole, S.J., S.T.D. The defense is being held in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Licentiate in Sacred Theology concentrating in the field of Biblical Theology. It is open to the public.
Abstract: This inquiry is framed within the broader context of the imprecatory psalms being sidelined in communal worship, subjected to hateful remarks and hostile criticisms, and confronted with contrasting views on their legitimacy in practice. Some also support the belief that these psalms are a source of embarrassment and are out of tune with the message of the Gospel. The main task of this study, therefore, is to explore how imprecatory psalms can remain relevant in today’s landscape and how they can offer theological insights, as well as spiritual and psychological nourishment to contemporary readers. In other words, it aims to uncover the “blessings” behind the cursing psalms.
To accomplish this task, this study first situates the language of cursing within the Hebrew Bible and the Psalter. Ps109 is then employed as a test case to enter more deeply into the world of cursing in the Psalter. A translation comparison is also used to scrutinize the poetry of the psalm through Adele Berlin’s patterns of analyzing semantic parallelism and Robert Alter’s concept of narrativity. After examining the movement within each verse and the intensification that develops from one verse to the next, Ps 109 is further reviewed using David Rhoads’ characterization method to identify the psalmist and the LORD God, including key features of the enemy. With the new ideas that emerged from the discussion, the current exploration turns to the theological, spiritual, and psychological implications of Ps 109.
