3/28/2023 0 Comments Pray for your enemiesBut Jesus came to fulfill the law in a new covenant, first with the Jewish nation and then with the Gentiles. That’s not to say David, a man after God’s own heart was blood-thirsty, but he was a warrior, dedicated to protecting Israel from evil tribes such as the Moabites (who worshipped Chemosh and participated in human sacrifices.) He saw the fight against warring tribes as a spiritual battle.ĭavid only knew the God of the Old Testament. In Acts 1:20, Peter refers to this passage: “Let his days be few and let another take his office,” as a reference to replacing Judas who betrayed Jesus. Some Bible commentators suggest that David’s words were prophetic utterances rather than a request for vindication. Let his days be few, and let another take his office.” When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. And let an accuser stand at his right hand. Psalm 109:6-13 is one of the strongest examples of this. Turning the other cheek and petitioning God for your enemy’s needs is the last thing they will expect. Because when someone is against you, they will expect you to retaliate. As our enemies receive blessings via our prayers, they will feel miserable, weighed down with burning coals heaped on top of their head ( Romans 12:20). Jesus then added that if we pray for those who persecute us, it will be painful to them. children of Your father in heaven.” In other words, obeying this commandment marks us as people related to God Almighty. And when we do, Matthew 5:45-48 says that we will be “. He didn’t suggest we like them or ignore them but through our prayers, we bring them to the throne of God and bless them. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” ( Matthew 5:43-44). Jesus himself told his followers to pray for his enemies. But if we want to walk in obedience to Jesus, we will pray for them. It’s natural to shy away from those who mean us harm. Or a competitive business with cutthroat methods to put you out of business. They can be a gossipy neighbor who wants to ruin your reputation. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines an enemy as, “One that is antagonistic to another, something harmful or deadly, or a hostile unit or force.” Enemies don’t have to be those out to kill us. We don’t naturally think about praying for our enemies. As humans, we want revenge and vindication. The New Testament talks a lot about forgiving one’s enemies, a noble and altruistic notion.
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