What kind of man would David have to be to refuse to consider his enemy his enemy? Here’s what we read in Psalm 94:1 “O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself.”
We all know, like David, that vengeance belongs to God only. And here’s what we read in the NT. Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
And again from the pen of the Apostle Paul we find this. Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”
If anything, a true man or woman will go beyond the matter of vengeance. Yet, there are some people in this world who approach the subject of vengeance like this. “God will get you someday for that” or “You’ll get yours someday.” Folks, that’s not what I mean by being a true man or a true woman.
Yes, it’s true that God must take vengeance. But, did you ever consider the fact that He’s the Only One Who really can take true vengeance? If we did it, guaranteed; we’d exercise our vengeance in the wrong spirit, which God cannot do. So, He’s the One Who must and will take vengeance in the right spirit, in the right manner, and for the right reasons.
I really had a difficult time trying to describe King David to myself this week. I wanted to be able to present him to you as someone who is more than just inspiring; someone who is more than just good. So I decided I wanted you to see him as a “true man.”
But, as I studied the Bible, I found a better word than this. Would you look with me at the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter five and verse forty-three?
Matthew 5:43 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
The term I came up with to describe David is this word “perfect.” Can you imagine Jesus even saying this? Well, look at it from the standpoint of your own life.
1. Do you love your enemies?
2. Do you bless them? Which means “Do you say good things about them?”
3. Are you doing good to those who hate you?
4. Are you praying for those who despitefully use you and persecute you?
That’s it; four huge tasks; four things you are asked to do when someone has begun to treat you like an enemy. What’s the LORD’s point? Here it is in a nutshell. It’s surprisingly easy to “salute” your brethren (your brothers, your blood relatives). The word “salute” is the word “greet.”
Yet, says Jesus, even the worst of all men, the publicans, do that. You, though, you be perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect. Of all the terms Jesus could have used here, He chose the word “perfect.” You see, we think a perfect person is someone who never does anything wrong. Yet, Jesus uses it to describe you when you do properly respond to those who have made themselves your enemy.
Now, let’s consider King David. Here’s what I found when I considered David’s attitude towards his sworn enemy, King Saul. Here’s a line from his Remembrance Poem dedicated to King Saul. II Samuel 1:23 “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.”
We all know, like David, that vengeance belongs to God only. And here’s what we read in the NT. Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
And again from the pen of the Apostle Paul we find this. Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”
If anything, a true man or woman will go beyond the matter of vengeance. Yet, there are some people in this world who approach the subject of vengeance like this. “God will get you someday for that” or “You’ll get yours someday.” Folks, that’s not what I mean by being a true man or a true woman.
Yes, it’s true that God must take vengeance. But, did you ever consider the fact that He’s the Only One Who really can take true vengeance? If we did it, guaranteed; we’d exercise our vengeance in the wrong spirit, which God cannot do. So, He’s the One Who must and will take vengeance in the right spirit, in the right manner, and for the right reasons.
I really had a difficult time trying to describe King David to myself this week. I wanted to be able to present him to you as someone who is more than just inspiring; someone who is more than just good. So I decided I wanted you to see him as a “true man.”
But, as I studied the Bible, I found a better word than this. Would you look with me at the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter five and verse forty-three?
Matthew 5:43 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
The term I came up with to describe David is this word “perfect.” Can you imagine Jesus even saying this? Well, look at it from the standpoint of your own life.
1. Do you love your enemies?
2. Do you bless them? Which means “Do you say good things about them?”
3. Are you doing good to those who hate you?
4. Are you praying for those who despitefully use you and persecute you?
That’s it; four huge tasks; four things you are asked to do when someone has begun to treat you like an enemy. What’s the LORD’s point? Here it is in a nutshell. It’s surprisingly easy to “salute” your brethren (your brothers, your blood relatives). The word “salute” is the word “greet.”
Yet, says Jesus, even the worst of all men, the publicans, do that. You, though, you be perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect. Of all the terms Jesus could have used here, He chose the word “perfect.” You see, we think a perfect person is someone who never does anything wrong. Yet, Jesus uses it to describe you when you do properly respond to those who have made themselves your enemy.
Now, let’s consider King David. Here’s what I found when I considered David’s attitude towards his sworn enemy, King Saul. Here’s a line from his Remembrance Poem dedicated to King Saul. II Samuel 1:23 “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.”
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