How to Treat an Enemy

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 24, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 28.

How to Treat an Enemy.

Jesus, who had more enemies, and was more shamefully entreated, than any one that ever lived upon the earth, gave this injunction to his followers: "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." Matt. 5:44. And Peter, following in the Master's footsteps, exhorts the churches in like manner: "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. . . . For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. . . . Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." 1 Pet. 2:19, 21, 23. Paul, also, adheres to the same policy, saying, in Rom. 12:20, 21: "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Aside from that of Christ, there is perhaps no more striking example of the foregoing principle than the conduct of David toward Saul. The king, in his jealous wrath, gathered three thousand men and started out in search of David. Becoming weary, he turned into a cave to rest, and fell asleep. David and some companions happened to be hidden in the same cave, and had his cruel and unreasonable enemy completely in his power. The Lord had promised to deliver Saul into David's hands, and his men reminded him of this fact, and wanted him to slay the king while he had so good an opportunity. But he would not lay hands on the Lord's anointed; he merely cut off the skirts of Saul's coat, and even for this his tender conscience smote him; but the act served to convince his persecutor that he bore him no malice. Saul, in his confession, acknowledged that David was superior to him in righteousness, and had been rewarded evil for good. "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

On another occasion, after Saul, in a fit of jealous anger, had attempted to take David's life, the latter fled and was relentlessly pursued. At night David and Abishai went into Saul's camp and found him asleep. Abishai wanted to kill him, but David would not permit it. Thus twice he spared the bitter enemy who was determinedly seeking his life, leaving an example of patient endurance under persecution that all servants of God would do well to imitate. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." So let us leave it to the Lord.