Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 58:6-11
Ps 58:6-11
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! 7 Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. 8 Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. 9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns--whether they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away. 10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
Rom 12:17-21
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
For David, king of Israel, every action he took, every success he enjoyed and every battle he won, was a reflection on the power and majesty of God. He, in a very real way, represented God on earth. It was God’s kingdom and he was the leader chosen by God. God’s enemies were his enemies and it was his duty to destroy them. This was true whether they came from within or from nations without.
There is no place where the contrast between the actions and attitudes of God’s people of old and those of his kingdom today is shown more graphically or taught more forcefully than in the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. After the Beatitudes he repeatedly taught “you have heard it said…” and then followed by saying “but I say to you…” with some new teaching that contrasted their teaching of the Law of Moses with a loving, merciful and gracious disposition. This was not only for the fellow Jews but extended to even their enemies. Today we best bring glory to God when we show his love and forgiveness, even to our enemies.
O Lord God, I thank you that you loved me enough to forgive me, even when I was your enemy. I praise you for giving me a new life in Jesus Christ, even when I was dead in sin. Because of your grace toward me that cannot be repaid or even fully understood, help me love my enemies and seek to do them good instead of trying to get even or cause them harm. Guard my heart and my mouth toward those with whom I disagree so that I may speak with your grace. Use me to lead others to you by my words and my actions. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
