Surviving Hurts From Others Series

(4) Don=t resent it. Resentment never helps. Yet, when people hurt us we become bitter, angry, cynical. We close ourselves off and pity self. Job 18:4 "You are only hurting yourself with your anger."(TEV) Bitterness hurts you far more than any hurt you will ever receive. Bitterness is a poison that will kill you. It eats you up on the inside and becomes more deadly then the original hurt..So when you=re hurt, don=t ignore, run, hide, or resent it. But take God=s prescription, His antidote for the hurt. What is it? It=s right here in Psalm 23.

II. THE PRESCRIPTION: GOD’S ANTIDOTE-

In vs:5 David uses a very familiar image to give us three illustrations that describes three steps we need to take in order to let God heal the hurt. They are: (1) "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. (2) You anoint my head with oil. And (3) My cup overflows."

(1) When David says - AYou prepare a table before me..@ He is saying the first step in overcoming the hurts of others is to let God settle the score. This is such a key attitude to have. David is saying, "When you’ve been hurt, don’t try to get even, don=t seek revenge, don’t try to think of ways to retaliate. Let God handle it."

Philip Keller, an author and Austrailian shepherd says that David is referring to a pasture scene here. You see, when David talks about a Atable@ he=s not talking about an eating table, he’s using the word that means "tableland." A level, flat-topped, grassy plateau. According to Keller, the shepherd early in the spring would go ahead of the flock finding the best high, summer range for his flock. Once he=s found it he looks over it with great care. Keller writes: AHe will check to see if there are poisonous weeds appearing, and if so, he takes drastic steps to eradicate them. ... Plus, while looking over this tableland the shepherd keeps a sharp eye out for predators. He will look for signs and spoor of wolves, coyotes, bears. If he finds evidence of these wild animals he will look for another place or hunt down the killers and kill them or at least drive them from the tableland. All this prepares the Atable@ in the presence of the enemy.@ The point here is that God will take care of our enemies. Remember, sheep are very defenseless animals. They don’t have sharp teeth to bite with or claws to scratch with. They can’t kick. They can’t run fast. They are absolutely defenseless. They need protection.

The spiritual application is clear. God says, "Let me handle those who’ve hurt you." See Rom. 12:19? "..do not try and punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,= says the Lord."(NCV) God knows the people who’ve hurt you. He saw it and He cares. He can settle the score. In fact it says, He will one day, settle the score. And when you think of it, doesn=t He have far more resources to settle the score than you? But you=ve got to decide. Are you going to get revenge or are you going to get well? You can’t do both. Bitterness, resentment, revenge doesn’t work. It always backfires. It’s like the old Amos & Andy television show. Kingfish, a character on that show was always being slapped on the back by Andy. And Andy slapped hard. Finally, one day, Kingfish had enough and he said, "I know what I=m going to do. I=ll fix him. I=ll tape a stick of dynamite to my back under my shirt and when Andy hits me- boom! He=ll blow his hand clear off!" When you hurt back you only hurt yourself. When you retaliate all you do is escalate the pain. It doesn’t relieve the pain. There’s only one way you’ll ever get the relief and that’s turning it over to God. One of the words the Bible uses for that process is forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you say "It’s OK that you hurt me." Forgiveness is not saying, "What you did is not bad." Forgiveness is not saying, ALet=s be best friends again@ or AI trust you completely.@ Forgiveness means giving my hurt to God and letting Him settle the score. After all, He=s the only one with perfect judgement. Sir Francis Bacon said, AIn talking revenge a man isn=t even with his enemy, he only becomes as low as they. But in passing over it he becomes superior, for it is a prince=s part to pardon.@ Trust God to handle the situation. Let Him prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Let God settle the score.