Devotionals

Enemies and he Heart of God

by Rick Gregory 
09/03/25
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We all have enemies. We all have people who hurt us. In the Psalms, David (the “man after God’s own heart”) isn’t shy about calling down God’s wrath on his enemies. In fact, he gets pretty graphic, “Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.” (Psalm 140:9-10 NLT) Dare we pray like this?

Or do we merely “turn the other cheek” like Jesus suggests in the Beatitudes? In Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:28, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for them. How do we reconcile David’s imprecatory Psalms with Jesus’ admonitions? Perhaps we can harmonize these seeming contradictions by viewing them through a different lens.

David was, in every case, calling for God’s vengeance — not his own. He had the chance to kill Saul several times and refused to bow to his own anger and sense of justice. He trusted his enemy (Saul) to God’s dealingNah. He mourned over his enemies, like he did over Absalom’s death, "The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”" (2 Sam 18:33 NLT) Absalom had just been on a rampage trying to kill him and take his place as king!

Father, please allow me to see my enemies as David and Jesus did. Covered and saved by the New Covenant, brought into force by the Blood of the Lamb. Help me to love and pray for them, trusting You to execute Your vengeance if they refuse and Your mercy if they repent! Help me to trust in Your justice — not my own!

Rick is the well-loved husband of Sherry (for 53+ years), dad to 6 wonderful kids (including spouses), and Poppy to 8 amazing grandkids.