Redemption in the Kingdom: Love Your Enemies

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His.  He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others…

For instance,

To King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel says,

Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

After you, King Nebuchadnezzar, will rise other kingdoms and rulers,

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.   Daniel 2:20-21, 37-38, 44-45 NIV

Yes,

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.  Mark 15:42-47 NIV

As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”  Romans 9:33 NIV

Glory!

Jesus is alive!

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! Psalms 18:46 NIV

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; Isaiah 51:1 NIV

…our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” Psalms 137:3 NIV

Can it be?

Happy is the one who seizes (Babylons) infants and dashes them against the rocks.  Psalms 137:9 NIV

For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.  Deuteronomy 23:14 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44 NIV

For as Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar it will be through the Wisdom of God, Jesus Christ, that nations are conquered and won over.

(It is)…Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.                     1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

Yes, redemption is close at hand,

Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, He has this name written: king of kings and Lord of Lords.  And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.” Revelation 19: 13, 15-18 NIV

Again,

“It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.   1 Samuel 2:9b-10 NIV

Yes, the nations see a great Light!

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.  For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:2-7 NIV

So,

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Praise God He has enlarged the nation!  With grateful hearts we lift up praise.

You have enlarged the nation, Lord; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.  Isaiah 26:4, 15 NIV