There are two passages assigned for today!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 58
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. [Psalms 58:10]
Washing our feet in the blood of the wicked – that is just sick!
I try to put myself in David’s ‘shoes’, to imagine what would lead him to say these things.
It is likely that what he prays for here is a reversal of what the wicked people were doing to the innocent.
Cruel and sadistic people were walking through the blood soaked fields of the weak and helpless.
David is not just thinking of the worst kind of revenge on people he does not like, he is asking God to taste their own medicine.
In comparison, think of the victim of sexual abuse, or torture, or Nazi Death camps, and what they might pray for their victimizers.
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. [Luke 6:27-28]
Can we reconcile the words of Jesus with the words of David in this psalm?
It seems to me that what Jesus says to His disciples here, He would also say to David.
But would David be willing to listen… would the victims described above be willing to listen?
Would I be willing to listen if I went through some of the horrible things that people have been endured through the ages?
If I imagine myself in the Nazi Death camp, being separated from my kids, watching my family be shot, or beaten, or stripped, or raped…
Then given the choice between David’s words in Psalm 58, and Jesus words in Luke 6, I am certain I would choose David’s words.
What Jesus calls for here is beyond me; but I also know that what Jesus calls for is what He does for me, and for all of us.
He does love me, He does do good to me, He does bless me, He does pray for me.
I may not see myself as such a bad person, but if I saw my life from God’s perspective, I would realize how much I have hurt God and others.
Whether I realize it or not, I have this natural tendency to love myself more than God and others, and to hurt them in the process.
Thankfully God does not treat me as my sins deserve…
And He wants me to do the same…
So while I may understand what David says here, and even want to say it myself, I need God’s help to change my heart.
By myself I cannot love my enemy or bless those who curse me, but with God’s help, I can move in that direction.
If I am willing to listen, if I am willing to try, He will help me see my enemies like myself, in need of mercy.
PRAYER:
Lord, I totally understand David’s prayer here, and I can see myself saying the same things. What You say challenges me, and is impossible for me by myself. Help me to love and bless and forgive like You. Help me to be willing to listen.
Thanks for sharing this.
I can only imagine… and I can’t even do that.
It is helpful to hear from someone that has experienced it, that Jesus enables forgiveness.
I’ve affirmed this theoretically, but to hear it experientially!
Because of God’s gift to you, you are a gift!!!
Yeah, been there …
Not living in Biblical times I used to think that if I ever saw them -I would run them over with a dump truck! Squished! Flat! Dead!
“Them” are the people who abused my _______. My anger to “Them” was huge, I see the affects of what they have done. It breaks my heart.
Forgiveness is a choice that God enables me to make.
I did eventually see some of “Them”, at an event that I had to go to. My stomach recoiled as I stepped in the room -but they were not giant monsters. They were short, overweight, ordinary looking people. You could not tell by looking that they were “Them”.
I understand David’s words. When you have experienced hell on earth, though no fault of your own, you have every right to think those things.
Yet there is Jesus, grace, healing, mercy, love -one wants to be like Him.
He causes you to see that someone broke “Them” too.
One learns to hate the evil behind the abuse. You hate the evil one.
Jesus enables forgiveness.
Great read, very enjoyable and relatable. Keep writing and spreading understanding to others, glory be to God. peace.