How can we respond when others repay us "evil for good" like in Psalm 35:12? Facing Evil Repaid for Good (Psalm 35:12) “They repay me evil for good and leave me bereaved.” Honest Lament and Prayer • Scripture never asks us to ignore betrayal. David pours out his pain to the Lord, trusting the inerrant Word that God hears (Psalm 62:8). • Bring the facts to God: “I am hurt; I tried to bless, and they wounded me.” • Psalm 35 models petition: ask God to vindicate, but leave timing and method to Him (Psalm 35:23–24). Choose to Bless, Not Retaliate • Romans 12:17: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” • 1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.” • Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” • Responding with blessing is not weakness; it is obedience that trusts God’s justice. Keep Doing Good • Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” • The temptation is to pull back from kindness; the command is to persevere. • Acts 7:60 shows Stephen praying for his killers even as stones flew—evidence that the Spirit empowers sustained goodness. Guard the Heart • Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” • Refuse bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). • Replace resentment with gratitude—list specific ways God has been faithful even through the trial. Trust God’s Justice • Romans 12:19: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” • Psalm 37:5–6: “Commit your way to the LORD… He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn.” • Confidence in God’s perfect judgment frees us from scheming our own payback. Look to Christ’s Example • 1 Peter 2:23: “When He was maligned, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” • Jesus fulfilled Psalm 35 perfectly—betrayed after healing and feeding, yet He bore the cross to secure our redemption. • Following Him means mirroring that same trust and forgiveness. Practical Takeaways for Today • Name the wrong honestly before God. • Pray blessing over the offender daily for thirty days; watch how the Spirit softens your heart. • Keep serving faithfully in your church, workplace, family—good done unto the Lord can’t be wasted (Colossians 3:23–24). • Speak truth in love if reconciliation is possible (Matthew 18:15), but set healthy boundaries when needed (Proverbs 22:3). • Memorize Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” God’s unerring Word assures that evil never has the last word; obedience and trust do. |
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