Woe, to my Enemies
Notes
Transcript
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The man who tried to ruin my life.
The man who tried to ruin my life.
I was 13, my dad had brought me back to Kansas for a lock-in with my middle school youth group
60 Psalms reference others as a problem.
60 Psalms reference others as a problem.
The enemies are young hungry lions lurking for prey to kill and drag away (7:2; 10:9; 17:12; 22:13, 21; 35:17; 57:4); they are a pack of howling dogs (22:16, 20; 59:6, 14), strong bulls (22:12), wild oxen with deadly horns (22:21), and poisonous snakes eager to strike (58:4–5; 140:3). In human terms, the opponents are murderous bandits waiting in ambush for innocent travelers (10:8; 59:3; 64:3–4), hunters setting trap-nets and digging catch-pits to snare the unsuspecting (10:9; 35:7–8; 38:12; 57:6; 140:5; 141:9; 142:3), trackers chasing down people to the point of collapse (7:1; 17:11; 143:3), and demolition men battering their victim like a wall about to fall (62:3). Even allowing for hyperbole, these descriptions leave the impression of vicious opponents who intentionally contribute to the poet’s troubles.
They did not cut off the poet during rush-hour traffic. They are not people with whom we disagree on politics or religion. Rather, their identity is wrapped up with trouble making and taking advantage of those in need for their own personal gain—actions that are deliberate, grievous, and intentionally destructive.
Only eight of the sixty lament psalms lack reference to an enemy. Most
They did not cut off the poet during rush-hour traffic. They are not people with whom we disagree on politics or religion. Rather, their identity is wrapped up with trouble making and taking advantage of those in need for their own personal gain—actions that are deliberate, grievous, and intentionally destructive. Only eight of the sixty lament psalms lack reference to an enemy. Most
Topics
Topics
Frienemies
Frienemies
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
Psalm 51:
For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.
Psalm 5
Evil Plans
Evil Plans
They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?”
Psalm 35:36
Psalm
Ways to Respond
Ways to Respond
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Silence
Silence
“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),
Silence
Silence
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
:
Please Save Us
Please Save Us
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!
What God will do to them
What God will do to them
But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.
Psalm
Please Judge Them
Please Judge Them
Psalms that describe what we think God should do to our enemy (eight psalms: 35, 58, 59, 69, 79, 83, 109, 137),
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.
Slay them!
Slay them!
Psalms that describe what we think God should do to our enemy (eight psalms: 35, 58, 59, 69, 79, 83, 109, 137),
O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
Handling Enemies Jesus’ Way
Handling Enemies Jesus’ Way
Relinquish your right for justice. Love them.
Relinquish your right for justice. Love them.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
is cited from . Which emphasizes the point that God is unchanging and the validity of these Psalms is still in effect in the New Covenant.
“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),
Pray for those who face opposition:
Pray for those who face opposition:
It is not merely coincidental that those churches which fail to use psalms of lament altogether and those which under-utilize these resources are most deeply invested in the status quo,