In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (Psalm 109:4-5)

From the time that Jacob obtained the blessing of his father, Esau determined to hate his brother and instilled that hostile spirit in his descendants. Consequently, when Israel sent messengers to the people of Edom requesting that they be allowed to pass through their land, the king of Edom sent word back to Moses that they would not be allowed to pass through “lest I come out with the sword against you” (Numbers 20:18). Nevertheless, God instructed Israel that they were not to despise the Edomite, “for he is your brother” (Deuteronomy 23:7). Similarly, Israel was not to despise their former taskmasters, the Egyptians, “for you were a stranger in his land.” In short, God has always challenged His people to return evil with good, hence David said, “I give myself to prayer.”

David’s determination to love in the face of hate reflects the fact that he was wholly devoted to the Lord. Rather than turning to combat when accused and abused by others, he turned to the Heavenly Father for encouragement, strength and wisdom. Being this kind of person is most likely why he was hated by others in the first place — he served God humbly and was therefore favored of the Lord. Being the recipient of God’s favor has always incited those with wicked hearts. Nevertheless, their hatred was countered with his love for God and his fellow man.

I have often said, and adamantly believe, that the hardest of all commands is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Yet the Messiah instructs us to go beyond loving our neighbor but also to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). He goes on to say that if we love only those who love us, we are no different than anyone else in the world. But our God loved us when we were His enemies, and now that we are His sons and daughters, we are to conduct ourselves similarly and “be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). It’s not easy, but it is what we are called to do.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill