Footstool
“The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’”
Today’s Text: Psalm 110 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
This psalm makes a lot more sense after you read Psalm 109. Personally, Psalm 109 is difficult to read for some complicated reasons. In it, David asks God to exact vengeance and wrath upon his enemies. When I read it, I find myself feeling, “Yes, LORD! Exact vengeance on my enemies.” Not that I have “enemies,” per se, but we all have family members and acquaintances who, for whatever reason, we don’t seem to connect with very well.
But then, I remember that because of my sin, in my essence, I am more an enemy of God than a friend. Whoa! “Please, LORD! Exact vengeance on my ‘enemies,’ but don’t exact Your vengeance on me!!!”
And then, I also remember that what God really wants of me is to pray for my “enemies”—to bless them and not to curse (Romans 12:14). Is God testing my heart with Psalm 109, then?
Like I said: complicated…
I think, more than anything, I need to remember,
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
— Ephesians 6:12
My enemy is not any human being. My enemy is the devil; my enemy is sin; my enemy is death; because those are God’s enemies. And God will subdue all those enemies under the foot of Christ, even death itself (1 Corinthians 15:26). And by subduing all those enemies under Christ, they are subdued under me too when I am in Christ.
Praise be to God!
Therefore, I should not make enemies of anyone. But rather, …
Live in harmony with one another. … Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
— Romans 12:16a-18
Because, …
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
— Matthew 5:9
Father, Your way is peace and harmony. The way of sin is disagreement and discord. Forgive us, forgive me, for pursuing disagreement and discord instead of peace and harmony. May Your peace be in our hearts because of faith. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
