Scripture: Psalm 140:10 – “Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!”
The Psalms are the emotional core of the Bible. So many other books tell us how we should live or the consequences for falling into sin. But the Psalms tell us how we are. There are different kinds of psalms. There are psalms of praise, which look at God’s marvelous works and power. There are psalms of anguish, where the psalmist begs for God’s deliverance from oppression and suffering. There are psalms of thanksgiving, thanking God for being saved from these ills. And there are psalms which express spite, a desire that one’s enemies get the justice they deserve.
We are generally taught to rise above our based emotions and to live pure lives of love. In his Letter to the Romans, Paul summarizes these kinds of teachings. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
So, we know we should love and pray for our enemies. We know that hatred and violence only lead to more hatred and violence. But sometimes, we just need to let our feelings out. Because our enemies are our enemies because they hurt us. They ignore our needs. They laugh at our pain. They thwart our hopes. They may even rob us or lie about us, or even physically or emotional abuse us. They may rob us of our freedom to live our own lives. We are right to be angry, to shout to the heavens that we want God to punish them, that we want them to suffer as much as we have suffered. We want to wipe that smug look off their faces. As Psalm 140 says, “Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!”
If we do not healthily release our anger, it will consume us. The key word here, however, is “healthily.” Our prayers to God, however dark, let us experience and express our fury and frustration in ways that do not actually hurt anyone and allow us to truly overcome evil with good.
And of course, there is one more benefit. When people belittle, demean, or abuse others, they generally do not do it out of impersonal spite, but because they feel that others deserve it. By acting angry, their feelings are justified. But acting kindly forces them to reevaluate their feelings and behavior. And this may ultimately cause them more emotional anguish than any petty acts of revenge we could imagine. And it is also good for them. As Paul says, the real burning coals are love and mercy, ones that purge away evil and lead to peace for all.
Prayer: God, hear my cries against those who fear and hate me, and then give me the strength to love them anyway. Amen.
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