If
your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him
water to drink. (NASB)
Who is your enemy?
I have asked myself this several times in the last few years. Of course we may
have “enemies” of national concern in a political sense, but most people don’t
view them as personal enemies. Our family has a young friend who has an
aggressive form of leukemia and his “enemies” are the cancer cells in his blood
and bone marrow. The chemotherapy that he is undergoing seems to be attacking
those “enemies” and destroying them—but making him sick as well. He will
continue to have more therapies in the coming weeks and I pray that God will
defeat those evil cells. For me, I have come to the conclusion that my own
attitude is my worst enemy. Thoughts can be powerful allies or adversaries.
The Book of
Proverbs was written by Solomon somewhere around 950 – 931 BC. What kind of
people would have been his enemy? Solomon’s enemies included: Hadad of Edom (a
kingdom to the south) (1 Kings 11:14 & 25), Rezon of Zobah (the kingdom of
Syria) (1 Kings 11:23), and one of his officials named Jeroboam who was from
the tribe of Ephraim (who later after Solomon died became king of the northern
tribes of Israel) (1 Kings 11:26; also see chapters 1 Kings 11-14). Scripture
doesn’t tell us that Solomon ever gave any of these men food or water. It seems
kind of ironic that Solomon would give wise advice and not follow it. By this
time in his life his heart had turned away from the Lord and he was following
other gods (see 1 Kings 11:9-11). Solomon didn’t keep our God’s commandments
and statutes so God promised a downfall of the nation of Israel. God did honor
Solomon’s father, King David, by allowing one tribe of Israel to be given to
Solomon’s son, but they also were rebellious and did not honor God. They became
like enemies of God, but God continued to give them food and water. What a
great God we serve!
Jesus taught, as
recorded in Matthew 5:43-45, “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love
your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is
in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends
rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” We don’t have to love cancer cells
or bad attitudes, but prayer is powerful and those enemies can be destroyed. In
Proverbs 15:29 we have a great promise, “The
Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Another promise we can claim is found in James
5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to
one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” I love that powerful prayer
can bring about changes. God hears our prayers and responds. Pray for your
enemies, your adversaries---those who are antagonistic whether it is cancer
cells, your child, or the driver ahead of you. God will hear your prayers and
may allow rain to come down on them…in a spiritual or physical way.
Lord,
hear our prayers today for there are enemies around us. Help us to rely on You for
comfort, strength, and even for the food and water that You have taught us to
serve up to our enemies.
©
2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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