For more go to braggingonjesus.com
Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. 23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
Alright… you know, some may thing that here in verse 21 Solomon is saying that if you’ve always wanted to burn your enemies or get back at them… well, this is the best way to do it without sinning. Hold on to your horses partner... The Apostle Paul gives us some help on this and actually mentions this verse in Romans 12.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.h Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave iti to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Now Paul’s exposition of Solomons words indicate no evil intent but rather to bless those who are against us and do not curse them. Seek peace, don’t avenge… do not repay evil for evil… don’t be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. If there is any vengeance deserved, Paul says that’s God’s business; ya see, it’s above our pay grade… leave it in the Lords hand… don’t let vengeance steal your joy… keep loving and doing good to your enemies… It will drive away evil and show them that the Lord is glorious.
You know… the truth is that fighting evil with evil only feeds wickedness in both parties. It breaks down the walls of our own hearts to let more evil in. Verse 23 says: The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. So if we fight evil with evil there will be more evil… it is an unending circle until one decides to forgive and love.
So what might be the context of doing good is like heaping burning coals on your enemies head. Well, what we know for sure and have verified with Paul is the main call to action from the verse and that is… love your enemies; right?
The first thing that comes to my mind about putting coals of fire on someones head is that it’s gonna hurt… This is gonna hurt your enemy. If coals of fire are poured on someones head it is likely to kill them. If this is the context of the metaphor Solomon uses I am wondering what is the spiritual truth of coals of fire… So I keep thinking about this… Now showing the love of God to others who are hurting us defiantly will confuse them. In some countries of the world this kind of forgiveness is very foreign to people. I asked a missionary friend in a Muslim country about this and he indicated that many are taught that offenses are to be met with retribution. So when they are shown this forgiving love it opens their eyes to something they’ve never known or even considered. Love that is given in the name of Jesus has a way of killing sin and death whether physical or possibly in this case spiritually… hurts as though coals of fire are poured on us. This is a purifying fire.
The reference Solomon makes with the coals of fire may also connect to Leviticus 16:12 where the high priest brought a censer filled with coals of fire to burn incense on the Day of Atonement. Solomon and Paul both may have been associating this as a symbol for the purifying or driving away of sin.
So in conclusion I would say godly love in action is inexpressibly better than trying to defeat evil with evil. Love is better both for ourselves and our enemies as we show it to them.
