Matthew 5:44-45 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Here we find one of the strangest commands given by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not strange in its content but in our treatment of it. It is one of the commands that Christians make no conscience effort to obey and demonstrate no repentance or regret when they disobey it. There are far fewer sermons preached on How to Love your Enemies than any other How-to sermons. God, however, gives us a unmistakable sermon in the life of David as he deals with his enemy Saul.
First we learn how a person is classified as an enemy. It is not because they do not support our plans but because they do not support God's plans. Saul was David's enemy because he tried to stop him from becoming king as God planned. David is given two opportunities to kill his enemy, Saul. In chapter twenty-four David has a chance to take Saul's life as he sleeps in a cave in En-gedi. David's men try to convince him that God has delivered his enemy into his hand. David only cuts off the hem of Saul's garment but doesn't harm him. Later in chapter twenty-six in the hill of Hachilah David is again given an opportunity to take the life of Saul, who is at that very moment seeking to kill him, but he refuses. What stopped David from slaying the man who was seeking his life?
The words of chapter twenty-four verse five reveal the reason David spared his enemy.
1 Samuel 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. His heart was broken because he had damaged Saul's robe, no wonder he could not hurt Saul. As he converses with Saul he always used terms of great respect including father and king. He had a genuine love for his enemy that allowed him to see him as mistaken instead of malevolent. This made it possible for David to love Saul instead of lash out at him. There is one more thing that we need that David had in order to love our enemies-firm confidence in God. 1 Samuel 26:10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. He knew that Saul could do no more than God would allow. He knew that we are the only enemy that can hinder God's will being accomplished in and through our lives. So with a tender heart and a tenacious faith in God we can love our enemies.
Daily Devotional- Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus
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