Unfortunately, we live in a divided world. We are divided over politics, the pandemic, religious polity, public schools, police, and almost any other institution or idea. Our society is polarized. In a divisive environment it appears easier to identify one’s enemies or foes. People seem to quickly join a team to the far right or to the far left. Listen to these quotes on how some people teach you on how to deal with your enemies and foes.
“We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated.” Barak Obama. 44th President of the United States
I love to remember my enemies and I love to get my enemies. I had some enemies, I had people that really, I helped a lot. And when I needed the help, in some cases, they were not there for me.
Donald Trump 45th President of the United States
Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas. Joseph Stalin, Former Premier of the Soviet Union, Communist.
Do good to your friends to keep them, do good to your enemies to win them.
Benjamin Franklin. Founding Father of the United States
When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.
Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and 3rd President of the United States
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
The Gospel of Luke 6:27-20 Jesus of Nazareth.
In the Book of Psalms, David is looking of ways to deal with his foes and enemies. There is much we can learn from this passage of how to better ourselves and bring unity and peace into our lives, our families, our community and our Country.
David reached out to God and said, 14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me—they have no regard for you.
In many cases, when people are viciously attacking others, they are being ruthless, and follow no laws or respect for others, then they usually have no regard or respect for God either. If they had regard for God then they would find peaceful ways for reconciliation and redemption.
So what does David do? David first approaches God and seeks God’s teaching and guidance. David understands if he relies on his own understanding the outcome will be detrimental. Too often when we face adversity, disagreements, foes and enemies we rush into battle. We choose a side. We become polarized. Blessed be the peacemakers. Men and women of Christ who seek the teaching and instruction from God of how to deal with difficult people and divisive issues. David says…
11 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.
David trusts in God. David remembers that God always wants the best for David. It is God who has saved us from the depths of hell. God sent his only son to our need to overcome our foe of death and Satan. And God is willing to allow his own son to die for our sins.
What does David want from God? He seeks to have the wisdom, truth and understanding of God. He wants to approach his enemies and foes the way God has dealt with David. David wants to rely on God’s faithfulness. God wants an undivided heart. He wants to take on the mind of God. The virtues and values of God as he enters into this challenge with his foes and enemies.
Even though our foes may not have any regard for God or rule of law, we should. We should approach God for wisdom, truth and guidance.
This raises a good issue. Who are we learning from? Who are our teachers, professors, and mentors? Who are we trusting in and following their guidance? Are we quickly seeking one side to identify with or are we discerning and seeking God’s truth and wisdom? Have we listened to both sides of the story? Have we looked for a way of peace and truth?
David knows the person of God. This is what David wants for his life and to approach the challenges for his life like God.
David recites these characteristics.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Imagine how these issues we are facing in our Country today if we had more people on all sides had a regard for God and wanted to approach these difficult issues and difficult people with compassion, grace, mercy, slow to anger, love and faithfulness.
David wants God to be merciful toward him. Mercy means that even though we deserve punishment or consequences of our actions we do not receive punishment. God provides redemption and reconciliation. The Psalmist says…
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.
David points out that just as his mother was a servant of God, he seeks to be a servant of God. Some families have been so blessed to have generation after generation in their families who have been living the life as a servant of God. This does not mean they are perfect people, but they are seeking God to guide them in a path of grace and mercy. They are striving to be peacemakers. They see the bigger picture of eternal life and this world is temporary. They are seeking to be compassionate and gracious people. They want to be slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness toward God and humanity.
Remember your spiritual roots and how your parents and possibly grandparents that God offers. And if you are a first generation of believers then start planting seeds of faith in your children and grandchildren to find the way of the truth and the life in Christ Jesus. In doing so we may lose many battles but God has already won the battle of eternal life.
At the very end, David asks something specific from God. He is looking for a sign. David is humble in spirit and not asking for all of the answers of what he is struggling with but s asking for an indication of God’s truth and wisdom to be manifested for David but also for his enemies.
David says, …
17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
David looks for a sign to slow down the path of argumentation, divisiveness and potential war. The word shame here means shame but it means to confuse the mind of the enemy, to slow them down and delay their actions. Shame causes a person to disconnect or draw back. Maybe with all of the division, actions and attitudes that have been manifested in our Country that more people should be ashamed of what is happening. Maybe everyone should not believe they they have figured out the truth or best solution. Maybe everyone needs to find more confusion in the thinking, actions and attitudes. Maybe more people should just take a step back and take a break from what they think is the answer and seek God truth for the answer.
We should be ashamed that maybe we been listening to the wrong teachers, mentors and leaders. Maybe we need to take a step back and be compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Lord have mercy on me. Give me an undivided heart. Teach me your ways.
Amen.
Obama# Trump# ThomasJefferson# BenjaminFranklin# love# JasperWatsonBlog#
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