Hi everyone, I’m getting back into the saddle after a very hectic couple of weeks! Hopefully its an inspiration for anyone else who’s fallen of the horse in recent times!
Today’s reading is Psalms 66-69
These Psalms share the common theme of the praise of the nations, recalling Israel’s intended role as a light that drew the nations to worship the one true God. Interestingly, they don’t shy away from God judging his enemies and the foes of his people either. The Psalmist sees that it is right for God to judge the rebellious while at the same time saving many from among that number.
Psalm 69 would have to be one of the most quoted of all Psalms in the New Testament. How incredibly reminiscent it is of our Saviour’s last hours on the cross. Have a listen to Yocky’s recording of the Sons of Korah version here.
Hi there Pete,
I was wondering if you could explain to us how we should interpret verses in the psalms where the writer is calling on God to judge his enemies. E.g. Psalm 68:
1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.
2 As smoke is blown away by the wind,
may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.
I know some time ago John Woodhouse talked about this at NCCC. I think he said something along the lines of we can pray these sorts of prayers with Jesus, but I’m not sure what that means. Should we look at these sorts of prayers as ones that Jesus will fulfill when he returns again to establish his kingdom and judge the earth? How do we read these sorts of psalms/prayers and still have an attitude of loving our enemies like in Matthew 5:
43″You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Thanks.
Hi David
I take it by “how we should interpret” you mean, how we should apply such verses to our own situation.
I think the bottom line is to remember that Jesus is both the judged and the judge. On the cross he died for his enemies, taking the judgment that we/they deserved. This is not something that David could have or should have done. He was right to hate Israel’s/God’s enemies and to ask God to deal with them.
However we need to understand (as you’ve quoted from Matthew 5) that this side of the cross, we are to treat our enemies as Jesus has treated us – loving them, forgiving them and desiring and working towards their salvation. One of the reasons that we can do this is we know that in the end, if God’s enemies do not repent and take hold of God’s offer of salvation, then when Jesus returns he will do so as judge. We can leave the judgment up to God.
I hope that’s helpful.