Daily Devotion, January 11, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Psalm 139:19-22.

From my college years, Psalm 139 has been a beloved psalm. Verses 1-18 give us the assurance that God is with us always and in all places. And the last two verses of the chapter ask God to “search us and know us and to lead us in the way everlasting.”

But our verses today are the verses within this Psalm with which I have always struggled. Verses 19-22 carry such strong, violent and hate-filled language! Throughout the years, I have appreciated the “honesty” of the psalm writers. But these verses seem so “out of place” within this psalm.

In the New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Dr. J. Clinton McCann, Jr. writes, “While vs. 19-20 inevitably sound like a request for personal revenge, their import is much broader and deeper; they request that God set things right in the world; in other words, ‘thy will be done.’ As in other psalms that contain requests for vengeance, the matter is apparently entrusted to and left with God rather than taken into human hands.”

Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” And Jesus says in Luke 6:35-36, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

The Psalmist has nothing but hatred for his enemies. Jesus taught, and lived, a different way.

In light of Jesus’ words, we are called to work through our initial reaction to seek vengeance and move toward praying for our enemies and even toward loving them. The Holy Spirit works with us. God is merciful unto all and calls us to be merciful, too. We can trust God to set things right in the world. This is a difficult leap for us, but Jesus calls us to follow in his way to seek good even for our enemies.

Personal Worship Option:

Yes, Lord, you are with us always and in all places. You understand us. You understand when we struggle with particular scripture passages. Help us to follow in Christ’s ways. Amen.