1 Samuel 14 / John 7:31-53 / Psalm 109 / Proverbs 15:5-7
Have you ever had someone speak against you when you had done nothing wrong? How did that make you feel? What did you do about it? We’ve all had this happen, usually because of a misunderstanding. But when feelings are hurt and tempers are flaring, what are we to do?
The first few verses of Psalm 109 are interesting when considering such a situation. Let me allow you to read that…
God of all my praise, don’t stand silently by, aloof to my pain, while the wicked slander me with their lies. Even right in front of my face they lie through their teeth. I’ve done nothing to them, but they still surround me with their venomous words of hatred and vitriol. Though I love them, they stand accusing me like Satan for what I’ve never done.
I will pray until I become prayer itself. They continually repay me with evil when I show them good. They give me hatred when I show them love.
That’s pretty dramatic, isn’t it! But it sounds like something you or I would say when we feel we’re being falsely accused – minus a few words like vitriol… I mean who uses that word on an everyday basis? These words in Psalm 109 do, however, describe how we feel when someone is telling lies about us and we genuinely feel we’ve done nothing wrong.
The end of the Psalm gives us an idea of how we ought to respond. I can tell you that it will do no good to defend yourself, or to engage in an argument. What we can do is pray for the other person, forgiving them for the words they are speaking against us. After that we must trust God to take care of the situation and to be our defender.
In the past few years we had a large misunderstanding with some friends and as the relationship was disintegrating, the Lord had some clear words. He told us several things. He first told us that He was removing us from the situation for our sakes. He also told us that we were to allow these people to say whatever they liked about us and that we were to remain silent and not to contact anyone close to the situation regarding what was happening. God told us He would be our vindicator. Do you know how hard that is!
We want to defend ourselves. We don’t want people thinking evil of us, especially if their thoughts are untrue. But I will tell you that it’s more important to obey God rather than men. It was more important that we did what God said. Not only did we do that, but we have also continued to forgive and pray for those who have slandered us. Why would we do that? Because even with the misunderstanding, we love them and we want God’s blessing to be upon them.
You may think I’m a little nuts for saying that, but here’s a word picture that will help you. A person who holds onto unforgiveness and bitterness is like one who pours gasoline on himself, then lights a match setting himself on fire, all the while hoping the person they will not forgive burns. Who is burning? Who is harmed? It is the one who will not forgive.
Matthew 5:43-45 says, “Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father.”
There you have it! Truth to live by. If you’re having a hard time doing this, I’d be glad to talk with you because I totally understand.
