There is no shortage of tyrants and brutal dictators.
How do you respond when a notorious dictator dies? How should you respond when a notorious dictator dies? Perhaps a hateful neighbor defames or torments you. You awaken to learn your provocateur died in an auto accident. Should you rejoice?
David, the son of Jesse, was mercilessly pursued by King Saul, who sought to kill David [1 Samuel 23:7-29]. Psalm 69:4 records David’s lamentation, “Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my wrongful enemies, so that I must pay back what I did not steal.“
Proverbs 24:17-18 frames the response of a righteous person. “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.“
In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus frames the response to maltreatment. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 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.“
Why? Find the answer in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.“
Three times, in James 9:44, 46, and 48, Jesus says, “where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” The word worm means maggot [Strong’s G4663]. Can you start to imagine a maggot feeding on your flesh for all eternity?
God does not want anyone to suffer a maggot eternally eating your flesh.
In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.“
Strong’s G2812 defines the word thief. The Greek κλέπτης kléptēs is the origin of the English word kleptomaniac.
Your Response
35 “But love those who hate you. Do good to them. Let them use your things and do not expect something back. Your reward will be much. You will be the children of the Most High. He is kind to those who are not thankful and to those who are full of sin.
36 “You must have loving-kindness just as your Father has loving-kindness. 37 Do not say what is wrong in other people’s lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life. Do not say someone is guilty. Then other people will not say you are guilty. Forgive other people and other people will forgive you.“
Luke 6:35-37
This word love [Greek ἀγαπάω agapaō] is the highest form of love. This same word is used in 1 John 4:8, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” means to hold fast and not let go.
- Pray for God to raise up righteous leaders, regardless of your political affiliation. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
- Bless those who curse you (say bad things about you). Luke 6:28
Elections 2024
Democrat voters have been known to wish former president Donald Trump to be killed. NBC-DFW reported on July 15, 2024, “Following an assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Dallas police sergeant has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of posting “aim better” on social media over the weekend…The Dallas Police Department issued a news release stating they received an internal complaint on Saturday, July 13, regarding Sgt. Arturo Martinez’s alleged comment on a social media platform.“
You have the choice to either curse or bless Sgt. Arturo Martinez. From what you learned in this Bible study, the choice to bless him is superior. Praying for him is also better than cursing him.
Knowledge is power.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 