The world is becoming more and more hostile toward Jesus Christ and God,but then again,the world has usually been hostile toward Him. Despite the world’s evil toward God,He still sent His Son,Jesus Christ,to walk the earth for thirty-three years,then to be crucified and buried. Three days later,Jesus Christ rose from the dead. What a wonderful love God has for His creation,even when His creation shakes its collective fist in His face. Look at Psalm 55 – written by David when he was on the run from his son Absalom.
Psa 55:9-15 Destroy,O Lord,and divide their tongues:for I have seen violence and strife in the city. (10) Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof:mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. (11) Wickedness is in the midst thereof:deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
This is an imprecatory psalm by David,meaning that he was praying for the destruction of his enemies. We should be praying for our enemies – not for their destruction,but for their salvation. Vengeance is for the Lord God to accomplish,not us. The Apostle Paul wrote:Romans 12:19-21 Dearly beloved,avenge not yourselves,but rather give place unto wrath:for it is written,Vengeance is mine;I will repay,saith the Lord. (20) Therefore if thine enemy hunger,feed him;if he thirst,give him drink:for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (21) Be not overcome of evil,but overcome evil with good.
When you read through the Life of David in the Bible,you see that he did not take vengeance on his enemies,because he knew that God would resolve everything in the end. Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD,and he shall sustain thee:he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
As we rush headlong closer to the end times,we will see increased wickedness and evil,and more and more people turning away from God. We will see people that seemed to know God turn from Him and shake their fist in anger toward Him. Note what David wrote in Psalm 55 – it is believed that he is writing in reference to Ahithophel,one of David’s close friends and advisors (2 Samuel 15:30,31).
(12) For it was not an enemy that reproached me;then I could have borne it:neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me;then I would have hid myself from him: (13) But it was thou,a man mine equal,my guide,and mine acquaintance. (14) We took sweet counsel together,and walked unto the house of God in company. (15) Let death seize upon them,and let them go down quick into hell:for wickedness is in their dwellings,and among them.
This passage is also a prophecy and picture of what Judas Iscariot did to Jesus Christ. He was a friend of Jesus Christ’s,even though Christ knew that Judas would betray Him. This is also a picture of what will happen in the future when the Anti-Christ is revealed and betrays Israel. For a time,the Antichrist will appear to be the friend of Israel,but ultimately,he will desecrate their rebuilt temple and betray the Israelites.
Note what David says in verse 15:Let death seize upon them,and let them go down quick into hell. Think about what David is saying here – what an awful thing to wish upon anyone,when you consider the ramifications of going to Hell. Hell is not something to speak lightly about and Hell is not word that should be used in a meaningless manner. Nobody should wish for anybody to go to Hell because Hell is the place of eternal torment and everlasting destruction. Jesus Christ advocated praying for your enemies rather than desiring eternal damnation for them.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you,Love your enemies,bless them that curse you,do good to them that hate you,and pray for them which despitefully use you,and persecute you;
Think about that statement by Jesus Christ:Love your enemies,bless them that curse you,do good to them that hate you,and pray for them which despitefully use you. Jesus Christ taught this to His disciples,even though He knew that in three years time,He was going to be beaten,mocked,reviled,scourged and nailed to the Roman cross. The Creator of all things,Jesus Christ,was hated by His creation and He knew this would happen – but he did it anyway. That is the Love of God.