Payback and Justice

Here are five verses about how to treat your enemies:

1. Romans 13:14: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
2. Psalm 23:5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
3. Matthew 5:44: “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
4. Proverbs 25:21-22: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”
5. Psalm 110:1: “The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

It is hard to have kindness and love in your thoughts towards someone who has been an unjust offender in your life. We all have been seriously mistreated and hurt by others throughout our lives. But when you are working through the pain from the freshness of the incident it hurts and stings.

Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him but instead ended up selling him to the Ishmaelite’s for the average worth of a male slave under twenty years old. But God had other plans for Joseph. Years later Joseph ended up rising to power as governor over Egypt, and God settled that score for Joseph. Bitterness over that memory of injustice and jealousy, did not take root in Joseph’s heart. Instead he was given the opportunity to face his brothers years later, because they were totally dependent on him for food during a time of famine. In Genesis 50:20 Joseph said to his brothers: “As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Saul wrongly treated David, which gives us another example in the Old Testament to learn from. Saul tried to kill David, twice. But David knew God would take Saul’s life at His appointed time. He had the opportunity to take revenge and take matters into his hands, but did not out of obedience to God.

What lessons can we learn from Joseph and David?

• Trust in God to be your shield of protection.
• Trust in God for His retaliation and not your own.
• Be wise and alert for Satan’s weapons of : Guilt, shame, frustration, and feelings of failure trying to control your emotions during this period of time.
• God rewards for doing right because it is right and because it is the will of God.
• Be wise as a serpent and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16.

We all will experience King Saul’s in our life. However, we have to leave payback and justice with God.

Don’t retaliate – just forgive and move on. Let God repay and walk away. Live in your own shoes.

Here is a quote from the book, “A Tale of Three Kings. A Study in Brokenness” by Gene Edwards:

1. Never learn anything about the fashionable, easily mastered art of spear throwing.
2. Stay out of the company of all spear throwers.
3. Keep your mouth tightly closed. In this way, spears will never touch you, even when they pierce your heart.

There is a time and place for confrontation and defending yourself. But Romans 12:18 HCSB declares: “If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends do not avenge yourselves; instead leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

God is still on the throne. Let Him fight your battle. Tell the Lord you will no longer hold onto the anxiety of blaming yourself about how naïve you think you were. God will be God. Let Him handle it.

Instead:

• Rejoice – Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
• Relax – Philippians 4:5 MSG: “Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean revel in him!”
• Rest – Philippians 4:6-7 TLB: “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything, tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.

If you engage these three “R” words you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

Sit before Jesus, where he sits on His throne, at the right hand of God. Watch Him astound you!

Listen to Rend’s YouTube song “More Than Conquerors.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p8_4NbrcKA

Do you have a Saul in your life? Let God handle it. Declare today that people will be people but God will be God! Let God be your battle cry. Let Him handle it.