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Standing Strong |
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A Messianic Jewish Congregation with an outreach to Believers in Israel |
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Questions Answered |
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Dear Dr. Bristol
Does the passage in Proverbs 25:21-22 have any significant meaning, in my Bible it reads:
If your enemy is hunger, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, Give him water to drink; For so you will heap coal of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.
It sounds like something to hurt your enemy rather help him. I typed the text as it is in my Bible.
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Dear XXXXXXXX,
It is great to hear from you. This verse you bring to me has a much deeper meaning than we are first led to believe and again it requires us to know more than most of the people living in today’s world would about how things were done at the time it was written.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, Give him water to drink; For so you will heap coal of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.
The first thing to note from this is that the commandment to love your enemies was not a new one. In the Old Testament, we find not only the commandment of loving our brothers and sisters, but even that of loving our enemies. How we must express our love to our enemies by the real offices of kindness, even those that are expensive to ourselves and most acceptable to them: If they be hungry and thirsty, instead of pleasing thyself with their distress and contriving how to cut off supplies from them, relieve them.
What encouragement do we have to do so? While at first it appears to bring pain upon them, that is only due to our not understanding the common process of refining metals during the time period in which this was written.
The smelter would purify metals by heating them to high levels. The levels needed to refine precious metals required having heat below the metal in a crucible as well as heaping hot coals upon the top. Through this method the impurities would come out of the metal and be destroyed by the heat in the process. Through our doing good to those who would persecute us, we are bringing the heat of the Holy Spirit upon them as they see the grace and mercy of the L-rd exemplified to them through our actions.
The way to turn an enemy into a friend is to act towards him in a friendly manner. The actions we take are likely to win them over to reconcile with us and cause a new person to join those who walk in the way of the one true G-d. If it does not accomplish this action we still gain benefit. Matt 5:44-49 shows us that this action is shown to be perfect, even as our father in Heaven is perfect. And we are on this earth to serve the L-rd even as we seek to emulate Him in all ways; we are rewarded by our G-d for walking in His ways.
I hope this gives you a new insight that demonstrates G-d’s desire is for nothing but good for all people who are open to His spirit and guidance.
May the L-rd G-d bless you and keep you as you read His word and seek deeper insight. You are truly blessed to be pursuing such knowledge. I hope you continue to find such gems within His word.
Shalom from Jerusalem, Richard E. Bristol, PhD
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