Overcoming evil

 

 

READ: Psalm 26-30

Last night one of the men in our Bible study asked, “What should we do in response to evil?” With that, we had a lengthy discussion. Several in the group shared that evil made them angry and anger motivated them to do something. I read “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) and said since good was not specified, we need to seek God’s will to know what good we should do. Depending on position, resources, etc. it might be a large action. For others, it might mean spending more time on our knees.

I didn’t think of it at the time, but the idea of not being overcome by evil is vital. Our pastor preached on the sin of pride last Sunday, defining it as the attitude of “I can do this myself” without the need of God or even His direction. To take action against evil based on an emotional reaction to it could be human effort and human effort apart from the Spirit of God is sin. As the NT says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27) It also says, “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

Dealing with evil is definitely a call to pray. For this, the psalmist gives a few guidelines. One of them is not to join their company. “I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:4–5) Sit and consort both indicate an attitude of going along with those who do evil. It might begin with an effort to understand them, to see their point of view or ask what led them to what they are doing. This could be a slippery slope and dangerous.

Another important reminder is to remember who God is and not let evil people intimidate me . . .

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1–5)

After praying, I also need to wait for the answer, trusting God to lead me as the psalmist also realized:

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:7–14)

When Jesus saw the money-changers in the temple, He was angry at their disregard for God’s place of prayer and drove them out. But before doing that, He braided a whip. I’ve done that type of braiding for something my brother needed. It is time-consuming indicating Jesus did not fly off the handle in anger. He took time to realize the appropriate actions that fit the will of His Father.

Our study group talked about the situation in the Ukraine. The evil happening there is distressing everyone, yet God calls for different responses depending on His assessment of this situation and His knowledge of those who are suffering. Sometimes He gives strength IN the situation rather than removing it or taking people out of it. To know what we should do requires seeking His face. As I do that, I can use the above thoughts to pray concerning this evil — and remember the following when praying for those who suffer:

“The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever” (Psalm 28:8–9) and “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” (Psalm 29:11)

 

Righteous indignation? Or Not?

Leviticus 5; Psalms 3–4; Proverbs 20; Colossians 3

The latest news made me angry. Our province had to shut down many truck stops because people were coming in and stealing toilet paper and hand sanitizer from those facilities. However, the people delivering necessary goods (like food) need those supplies. Our Premier is reopening some of them but with strong language publicly scolded those who were taking what did not belong to them.

I was angry, angry enough to want to bang heads. Such selfishness is unthinkable. Yet I cannot hold myself above others; I have been selfish too, not stealing but in other ways. God offers me instruction and comfort in today’s readings.

The first reading reminds me of His compassion on people who sin without realizing they are sinning. This may or may not apply to thieves but it certainly applies to everyone at times. I know that I am often guilty without realizing it — until the Lord convicts me. This is the OT law showing God’s compassion:

“If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. (Leviticus 5:17–18)

I read it, was touched, but still felt some anger in my heart against those who took the supplies from the service stations. Really. How can they be so thoughtless? Then God gave me these two passages:

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. (Psalm 4:4–5)

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. (Proverbs 20:22)

I’m not sure He is rebuking my anger; after all, He has the same attitude toward sin, but the Lord is challenging my thoughts about head-banging. Retaliation is sinful. Instead, I am to yield my anger and trust Him, waiting on Him to deal with the thieves . . . no, it didn’t say that. I’m to wait on the Lord to deliver me . . . from what? Those who hurt me? No one did. From my anger? Or the desire to retaliate? God can be angry without it changing His character or holiness; I cannot. My anger is harmful and the work of my fleshy sin nature:

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. (Proverbs 29:22)

For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. (Proverbs 30:33)

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19–20)

Whatever being angry might do, it does not produce righteousness. For that, God says I’m to put away that old nature and live by the new nature He has given me:

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth . . .  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:8; 10)

The new self is like Jesus. Jesus did get angry when people sinned against God, but He did not ‘get even’ or do anything sinful in retaliation. I’m not sure how far that goes. I don’t even know those thieves but these last few verses give me lots to think about, not only as I ‘ponder in my own heart in my bed’ but as I go through this day.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12–17)

APPLY: I know what it means to let the peace of Christ rule in my heart, and how to be thankful. I know how to teach and admonish other Christians. I don’t know how to “love” those as God loves them except to trust those words in Proverbs where He says He “will repay evil” — it is not my job. I need to give attention and energy to the things that He has put on my to-do list and trust Him to take care of injustices, at least in this situation.