HATED BY MEN, BUT LOVED BY GOD!

GOD’S PROVISION IS BOTH TIMELY AND ABUNDANT

PSALM 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

What a magnificent blessing it is, to know that the God of the universe, our Creator, is our Shepherd! He provides for us perfectly by guiding us to green pastures. The Word of God transforms us. The Lord works in us, guiding us in paths of righteousness. These paths are planned by Him to include times of great difficulty, but even the reality of death can be embraced with the assurance that we are protected and cared for, through it all.

We can find comfort in the oversight of our omnipotent God. He will take care of us in the midst of our enemies. As believers, we often forget that in the world, we will have tribulation, some of which will be caused by enemies.

We should never forget what Jesus predicted for His disciples:

John 15:18-20

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 

Do you realize that therefore we ought to be concerned if we find that we have no enemies? Jesus uses some very strong language as He talks about hate! It’s not indifference or lack of love. He is speaking of the pointed reaction of the world toward those who follow Him.

This hatred produces its natural consequence: persecution.

Jesus never spoke a word out of place; He never committed any sin; His love and compassion was visible and continuous. He was perfect and sinless...and hated!

Jesus made it very clear that His own are not part of this world. What He was saying is that our way of life would be obviously different from the world’s ways. And thus, it will be disturbing to a world of people who love their sin. Godly behavior exposes the sinful lifestyle of the world, and people will be offended because they are following their leader, the devil!

But our Shepherd has given directions for this, too:

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Our presence should shine as light, not go unnoticed. God will use us to attract some to Himself, but we should expect that our godliness will produce adverse reactions in those who love their sin.

The Bible is not telling us to become hateful ourselves; we have sadly seen groups who think they are a witness of truth by behaving in hateful ways. What Jesus was predicting was this: that godly behavior and honest, outspoken witnessing will cause many to react against us. It doesn’t take much to cause indignation in an unbeliever. Merely speaking of Christ as the only way to God, and that all other religions are false, will not win many friends. Speaking out against sin, even though we do it without arrogance, admitting that we are sinful also, will cause people to view us as radical and hateful.

In Hebrews 11, the author reminds us of what happened to many men and women of faith. We do not even know their names, but we are told that they lived by faith, unto death.

Hebrews 11:36-38

Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

They certainly had enemies! The writer, under the inspiration of God, says that the world was not worthy of their faithful presence. What did all these people have in common? They all died in the grace of God, aware of God’s amazing care.

When you read biographies of the martyrs, one fact shines forth in each: the peace that God gave them.

This is exactly what David is telling us in this verse of Psalm 23. Anointing was always a sign of being set apart for honorable service. God is always taking care of those who are hated and persecuted for the faith, and His provision is both timely and abundant. David had experienced the reality of fleeing from enemies, but also the care of his wonderful Shepherd.

Jesus said that we would have enemies who would hate us, just as they hated Him. How should we react to them?

1 Peter 2:21-25

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter reminds us that we should follow Jesus’ example. He did not react in self-defense, but entrusted Himself to God, Who judges justly. Christ, Who committed no sin, bore our sins, so that we would be forgiven. And He continues on, helping His straying sheep, as the Shepherd Who oversees our souls.

We will have enemies, but in the midst of the hatred and pain inflicted upon us, they will be confounded by the peace that we will find in the provision and care of our God. You are not alone! Your Shepherd is taking care of you.