Blessing Our Enemies

I spend a lot of time book of Psalms, and many psalmists write about their enemies.

I read somewhere in a commentary on the psalms that a modern-day way to think about an enemy is anyone who is out to hurt you in your mind. This interpretation considers not just those who are physically harming us, but also those who are affecting us in verbal or emotional ways.

Our enemies are often the target or the focal point of many of our hard emotions.

Who we consider our enemies, our posture towards them, and how we pray about them can is a big deal in our faith.

We Were Enemies of God

Psalmists write about their enemies in a variety of ways.

The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Psalm 110:1-2

Psalm 110 is a Messianic psalm, a prophecy of Jesus as the Messiah. This Psalm is quoted multiple times in the New Testament, including by Jesus, where he asks “Whose son is the Christ?” (Matt 22:41-45, Mark 12:35-37 and Luke 20:41-44).

After quoting this psalm, Jesus goes on to call himself the “Son of God,” claiming that he is the Christ and God himself, which still baffles people two thousand years on. It certainly rubbed the religious leaders of the day the wrong way as they consider him their enemy.

It is fascinating to look at Jesus from the lens of rule amid your enemies. He did not use his authority to lord it over us and oppress us. But he laid down his authority and his life to save us and give us abundant life.

The apostle Paul reminds us of this:

For if while were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:10

Feasting With Our Enemies

Psalm 23 is a picture of peace, provision, and protection in the presence of God, our Shepherd.

In Psalm 23, God prepares a banquet for us, fine wine, steak grilled perfectly, and rich desserts. Also at the table – our enemies.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil,
my cup overflows
Psalm 23:5

Somehow Gods love is big enough to care for people who I couldn’t give a rip about. He doesn’t just keep us safe and provide for our needs in a minimal fashion; he goes over and above and showers us in his favor. And he does this impartially, even for those we don’t like or who have hurt us.

I wonder if we took this concept literally and decided to share a meal with someone we have a beef with. I wonder if the simple act of breaking bread, talking through our issues, would have a way to bring perspective to our differences.

All Christians are aware of the commandment to love your enemies.

I get it, but how?

The Psalmist bring their hard feeling before God, processing them with God and in the end, leaving retribution in Gods hands.

This is a wonderful and amazingly freeing process.

Praying For Our Enemies

When I started a meditation practice a few years ago, one of the first realizations was my shitlist is long. The number of people that have snubbed me, or blatantly hurt me, who I feel animosity towards, is extensive.

The ancient Buddhist practice of Loving Kindness has helped me extend compassion to myself and others, even people who have hurt me.

Recently, at a service called The Practice at our Church, Chris Heuertz took us through a loving-kindness practice. Here is a recording you can listen to:

Chris phrased the blessing from a Christian perspective as:

May you be filled with faith,
May you be surrendered to hope,
May you be united with love.

In the loving-kindness practice, you go through seven steps, repeating the blessing three times to seven different groups of people. To paraphrase the Buddist teacher, Pema Chödrön, the seven steps of the meditation are:

1. Yourself, bringing to mind yourself as a five-year-old.
2. Someone you find easy to love or someone who has taught you how to love.
3. Someone slightly more distant, such as a family member or friend or neighbor.
4. Someone about whom you feel neutral or indifferent, maybe who you bump into in your daily life.
5. Someone you have hard feelings towards or someone who has hurt you.
6. Bring all of these five people together, including yourself.
7. Extend a blessing to all people of the world.

By doing this meditation, I have come to realize, as hard as it is, that everyone is worthy of our love and compassion.

Even the people who have done terrible things.

Even those that have been hurtful to us deserve to know that God loves them, and we want them to live in peace.