Love Your Enemies/Sinners?

The theme I have been thinking about this past week has been the enemies of Israel, and how we as people of the New Covenant, and Kingdom should understand them.  This is one of those studies that is complex and requires a more thorough understanding and grasp of scripture than I have.  However a few things are apparent to my untrained mind. As I have read and reflected it seems that often God uses the "enemy" nations as places or agents of discipline for His people.  It is interesting to note that God also seemed  to care about these nations as He often warned them prophetically.   Other times they were even used to provide protection and even blessing for His people. 

For example Abraham went to Egypt during a famine (Gen 12:10).  Israel went to Egypt during a famine (Gen 47:47).  Even though it ended up being a slavery situation, Israel came out with the riches of Egypt (Ex 12:35-36), having multiplied and ultimately prospered. We also see that Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape the threat of King Herod (Matt 2:13).  Rather than always being considered an enemy, we find that ultimately Egypt is prophetically called "my people" in Isaiah 19:23-25 NIV:

[23] "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. [24] In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. [25] The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance. ”

In these passages we see God's plans for Assyria as well, even though the nation was considered an enemy of Israel.   It was warned a few times in the Old Testament (Jonah and Nahum) and while there are different kings over time, much like Israel, some good some bad, ultimately God's heart appears for them.  In the verses above there is a clear prophetic destiny of Assyria as "my handiwork".

Babylon appears often as an enemy nation, and the Jews were sent into exile there.  It is an interesting study in that Daniel was written in Babylon, Ezra and Nehemiah are written about the restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem from Babylon and went with riches provided by the people of Babylon (Ezra 1:6-7).  In the book of the prophet Jeremiah God spoke to His people and told them to pray for prosperity while in Babylon. Here are those verses - Jeremiah 29:4-7 NIV:

[4] "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5] “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. [6] Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. [7] Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

I find that there are those who often would prefer to gravitate to the black and white ideas where enemies are enemies, and those verses where God calls for the destruction of enemies, but to do so one must ignore much of the scriptural record, for there is more to scripture than just the Old Testament and prophecies about destruction of enemies.  God doesn't think or act like humans (Is 55:8-9) and His perspective is clearly more complex.  If God really hated these nations, one would think He wouldn't send prophets to warn them, or speak about prophetic destiny as His people.  He wouldn't give them a chance to repent like He did through Jonah.  In fact Jonah was angry after Nineveh repented, he wanted God to destroy them, not relent because of their changed heart (Jonah 4:1-2). 

In our present day, we can tend to equate "sin" and "sinners" with these Old Testament enemies, and can embrace Jonah's mindset, but this is just not accurate portrayal of how we should act or think.  Jesus said He was sent to these very people - Luke 5:31-32 NIV:  "Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. [32] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Secondly in the New Testament, it is clear that all nations are meant to be blessed and invited into the Kingdom of God (Mark 13:10;  Matt 28:19; Luke 24:47).  Jesus specifically talked about His Father's attitude towards all nations, good and bad, even those considered enemies. This is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-48 NIV:

[43] “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [47] And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Clearly the call is not to call down judgment on sinners or even enemies, but rather to love and pray for them.  Again God's perspective is so much wider than we commonly understand.  If the early Church took those words of Jesus to heart, they would have been praying for a certain individual named Saul who was leading the persecution against them.  Paul (formerly Saul) had a very interesting perspective about his life as a "sinner" that he shared in 1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV: 

[15] "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst. [16] But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. [17] Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Oh, that we as the church would learn to walk in love for all!  Oh, that we would pray for all that don't know the Lord, even those that persecute us, rather than calling down judgment upon them!  Oh, that we would open wide our arms and invite them into relationship!  Oh, that we would be good representatives as children of our Father in Heaven! Oh, that we would understand that our salvation and redemption brings Glory to the Lord, for we were and are sinners,  and yet are given the gift of eternal life through Jesus! 

Oh lord, help us all!