Pray for enemies
Psalm 7:6 Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies
Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
This seems to counteract itself. David asks God to "rise up" against his enemies then later Jesus tells his disciples and us today that we should pray for our enemies. Why did it make it into the bible? Did David ask something that was opposed by God?
We know that every word of the Holy Bible is inspired by The Holy Spirit.(2 Timothy 3:16) We also know that we are to pray for our enemies. in The Book of Psalms we read several time that David asked for God to intervene for him against his enemies. So what gives?
It all is in the reaction. If we ever ask to have God "Rise up" against our enemies it would be for selfish gain. in David's case it's been asked so to give GOD ALL the glory. If we ask there would be no glory to God at all we are selfish humans and we do ask for selfish things that do not give God any glory at all, that is why many of our prayers go unanswered.
When Jesus instructed us to pray for our enemies, he is saying for us to be like Him, "Do what Jesus Did and is still doing today read the rest of Jesus statement:
45-48 45 "...so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
English Standard Version (ESV)
We must pray for our enemies and do good to them as well, just as Our Heavenly Father has been good to the world.
It's not easy but we must make every effort to do so.
Applying The Scriptures Daily
#OneWord2019
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