Putting the Brakes on Revenge

Whoo Hoo! It’s day 181 of this year’s Bible reading, and we are 50% finished. And today’s verse of the day is Luke 6:28.

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28

In 2 Samuel 16, David flees for his life from his son Absalom, who is willing to murder his own father for the throne.

What a mess! I can’t imagine being on the run from one of my own kids and an entire army out to hunt me down. At one point, David and his followers encounter Shimei, a member of Saul’s clan. Shimei throws rocks and curses David, the king’s officers, and the mighty warriors who surround David. One of David’s warriors, Abishai, wants to chop off Shimei’s head. But David puts the brakes on that idea.

‘”No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?” Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David. ‘
2 Samuel 16:10-13

I love how David doesn’t listen to Abishai’s advice; David’s submission was to God’s absolute sovereignty, even in his humiliation.

Imagine the world we would live in if we boldly followed Christ’s command to bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. This week, I encourage you to bring a “difficult person” to mind. Take just one moment each day to pray for them. Let’s put these teachings into practice and see what God does in our hearts.