“If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.”
Proverbs 25:21-22 NLT
There seems to be debate among scholars as to the meaning of this verse, even different versions read slightly different.
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
Proverbs 25:21-22 ESV
Am I heaping shame or coals?
What does this mean and what do we do with it? The English Proverb of “kill them with kindness” comes from this verse. Does it then mean that we should use this tool to bring harm on someone who is your enemy?
Should we do good with malicious intent? Should we choose a gentler option of repaying evil with good so that it would make them feel guilty for what they have done? All of these would seem to run counter to the rest of scripture.
Jesus said:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43-44 ESV
Keep your heart right before the Lord and do good because we are called to do good. And when we follow the commandments, we can know that God will work out the results.
Paul wrote:
“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”
Romans 12:19 NLT
The Lord will make all things right. It isn’t up to us to figure out how. But this verse is an indicator that as we do good, the Lord may use that very thing to deal with our enemies and reward us for being obedient.
This week, seek to do good knowing that God will use your actions to accomplish His purposes.
In His Hands,
John
