When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. – Proverbs 16:7
We don’t like them or want them, but sometimes we can’t help having enemies. A person is not only known by the friends he makes; sometimes he’s better known by the enemies he makes. No, we can’t help having enemies, but we can help how we deal with them.
This is what David is talking about in this passage. How do you deal with your enemies?
Paul said, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12). Some people are enemies of the cross of Christ. So if we take our stand at the cross, they will take their stand against us.
David gives us insight for dealing with life’s enemies.
First, let God’s hand work. Keep your hands off. “Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You” (v. 8).
Then, let God’s anger burn instead of yours. “You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger” (v. 9). There is a righteous anger, a righteous indignation.
Paul wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin” (Eph. 4:26). Our Lord was angry when He cleansed the temple on two occasions. Let God’s anger blaze, not yours.
Second, let God shoot His arrows. “You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their [the enemies’] faces” (v. 12).
God’s hand will work for you. His anger will blaze for you. His arrows will be shot for you. And He will use all of this for His glory. “Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power” (v. 13).
We can’t praise our power, our scheming or our vengeance. But we can praise God’s glory and power. When we try to take care of our enemies in our way, we only make things worse.
But when we turn the situation over to the Lord, He makes things better. Let God take care of your enemies today, because then He will be glorified, you will be satisfied, and Jesus Christ will have His way.
Here are 3 Reasons You Should Let God Deal With Your Enemies:
1. Vengeance is God’s Business
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
When we have been hurt by someone, we naturally want to hurt them back. But God says to let Him take care of it.
First of all, He knows, much better than we do, what someone did wrong and what he or she deserves. He is totally just, and his judgments and decisions are 100% correct.
When imperfect humans try to take revenge or carry out “justice,” a never-ending, escalating cycle occurs. In its fullest form, it is known as “war.”
2. It’s About Eternity
The verse above from Matthew shows that our main concern is not this earthly life (which is like a “vapor” according to James 4:14). Rather, it is eternity. If someone hurts you, steals your property, or even kills you, that is not important in light of eternity.
God has promised His children that we will live in a perfect place, free from want, worry, fear and mourning.
No human can take that away from us; so there is no reason to strike back at someone who attacks us.
3. You Will be Rewarded
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35)
Again, God sets the example: HE is kind to the unthankful and wicked. What right do we have to be less kind than God?
We know that heaven will be wonderful, but God’s children will enjoy greater rewards there if we’ve lived God’s way here on earth.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live God’s way, treating people with love and kindness, especially our enemies. And we can trust Him to glorify Himself and to bless us with heavenly rewards.
Are you facing an enemy today? Take your hands off the problem and let God deal with those involved.
He will remedy the problem in the best possible way, and Jesus Christ will be glorified.
