Love for neighbor based on Psalm 37
Reading Psalm 37 in the Old Testament, we will come across texts that talk about how we should deal with an evil neighbor. The Psalm is very interesting and I encourage you to read it, we will learn there, among other things, about how the evil ones end up, how we should treat them and what awaits us after death.
Already in the first and second verses of Psalm 37 we read: "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb." How hard is it to give way to this doctrine, how many times a month do you give vent to your anger, and over small things?
However, Jesus was not angry with those who crucified and mocked him, on the contrary, he prayed for them.
When someone hurts us, we often dwell on it and have bad thoughts in our hearts about that person, out of anger we also have sleepless nights, a tainted conscience and thoughts of planning revenge. Instead, it is better to pray for such a person, you will strengthen your character this way and show that you are a Christian, fulfilling Jesus' words in Matthew 5.44-46 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"
There is another benefit of praying for bad people: if the prayer works such a person will change for the better, and it is known that it is better to be with good people, not bad people. Anger will not help us anything, but only harm us. It is a pity to waste our lives on persisting in anger, this is not what God teaches us.
From God we get what we need, let's not wrap our minds around the fact that others have it better than us, even if they gained it through dishonest methods. According to verse 16, "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." If the wicked do not change their fate is sealed, they will perish and there will be nothing left for them, but you will retain eternal life, you will live on a renewed earth. The fool enjoys what he has on earth, despising life after death. Instead of envying them, feel sorry that they are so foolish, after all, they are God's children.
In verses 7-11 we read: "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
God admonishes us not to carry evil in our hearts
God again admonishes us not to be angry with others. We use repetition of words in sentences when we want to emphasize something, to elevate its meaning. The Lord knows our nature and knows that thoughts are difficult to control. In a given brief moment we are prone to succumb to anger, let's not keep it inside us for too long. Let go of the one who wronged you, it won't do anything, and you will only unnecessarily succumb to Satan. As long as you are angry with others, the demon will enjoy your downfall. If you can't forgive, you are not a Christian.
Jesus said that those who have anger in their heart and do not forgive their neighbor will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What would heaven or a renewed earth look like if people who do not forgive the offenses of another person entered it ? It would no longer be paradise, but a second earth, which would sooner or later turn into what we have now. Matthew 18.34-35 "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." and Mark 11.26 "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
The words in verses 27-28 "Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints;" once again confirm us to shun evil, and that is anger, malice, bad remembrance, etc. God doesn't like it, He loves the good.
Note the words in this Psalm in verses 9,10, 11, 18, 20, 22, 28, 29, 34, 38. Already in David's time it was believed that there would be another life after death, for those who would put their hope in the Lord, and those who do evil would be exterminated. The words "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever", "when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." speak of a new earth and the destruction of evil, perhaps this is also an attack of the wicked on the New Holy City of Jerusalem. The Psalms are not only texts about a specific event that took place in the life of the psalmist, but contain many words depicting God and future events, including, for example, the death of Jesus.
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