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             If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.  Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. (Psalm 139:19-22)

 

            And today presents us with another abrupt change of direction, one that might give the real reason for the prayer. David has praised and thanked God. In a sense, he’s confessed his dependence and his relationship with God. This section includes a request: “slay the wicked.” And the wicked seem to have been right there, because David included a rebuke at them in the song. After that, David justified himself. These enemies weren’t David’s personal enemies. They were the enemies of God and as such, they were David’s enemies, too.

            The question that we face with this part of the psalm is whether or not it is right to hate one’s enemies. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies (Matthew 5:44.) Both the Old Testament and New Testament teach that we should love our neighbors and not seek revenge. (Leviticus 19:18.)  But the people David wrote about weren’t necessarily his enemies. They became his enemies by being God’s enemies.

            This strikes home today. The world hates God and His people. And some Christians suggest that we should reciprocate. But Scripture doesn’t teach us to hate the world. It warns us not to love the world. Not hating does not mean loving, and not loving does not mean hating. This is similar to the idea that we should love the sinner but hate the sin. But, if we are going to hate, we should discuss it with God, as David did. The danger in either loving or hating the world – or people – is that putting the level of energy involved in either love or hate tends to result in our becoming like what we love or hate. 

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