TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

In 1 Samuel 24:19 Saul asks, "For whoever has found an enemy and sent the enemy safely away?" These words escaped from Saul's mouth when he found that David, the stone throwing shepherd-boy, could have killed Saul and chose to let him live.  Saul wept at the unexpected blessing David had given him, yet it did not stop Saul from being jealous and wanting David dead.


Jesus' words to "love your enemies" hadn't been heard in David's day, and yet that is what David did; he turned the other cheek.  In my husband's words, "David was a New Testament man in Old Testament times."


When Jesus came He turned the world upside down.  Our human tendency to retaliate and attack in response to harm is what Saul expected and what most people expect...and do!  But Jesus says, "Uh, uh.  That's not how my people are going to do it.  Turn the other cheek. Love your enemies."  This is the  new way of life--love those who hate you and persecute you. How different the world would be for all if we could do this when we are hurt- and not hit back!


But, how can we love those who kill and maim indiscriminately because that is what their belief system teaches? How could we love and not hate the Nazis during World War II?  I think we are to hate the systems that teach murder and other violence which disrespect others, and somehow love the individuals caught up in the hatred that they themselves apply.  What a difficult task set before us!  How can we possibly be obedient to this task?  We cannot, without the Spirit and the help of our loving God.


Lord, when others or ourselves are attacked and reviled, help us to answer with love and kindness even though humanly our natural inclination is revenge. Help us to have the kind of love David had for Goliath, the God-love that only you can provide within us.  Help us to turn the other cheek knowing retaliation in kind is wrong.  Help us to see ways to handle, and even punish when needed, hate and inhumanity in others and still be humane and without hate.  Help us to give careful mercy to the unmerciful, giving fair punishment to those who are inhumane. Help us not to hate those who hate, but to hate the hateful acts they perform.


Lord, be within us strongly that we might fight the world's hate by turning the other cheek.  Help us to love the person, while hating the person's acts and beliefs.  Forgive us for not returning kindness with unkindness and help us to remember although we can hate the acts, we must give mercy to the actors.


How different our world will be when and if we get this right! Only God's help will make it so!  Are you with me?


Jo INMN