"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it." - Exodus 23:4,5
The Word discerns the deepest thoughts and intents of our hearts. It pierces our very heart and convicts us of sin. It shines a bright light into the deepest recesses of our soul and lays them bare for us to see ourselves as we are. How often have we rejoiced in the misfortunes of those who have treated us badly? 'Serves them right' ... 'God is judging them'.... 'what goes around - comes around'... are phrases that give us consolation and secret/public glee... and we certainly don't feel obliged to lift a single finger to help an enemy trapped in those circumstances. It feels natural and right... but this attitude is wrong!
The Word, counterintuitively, tells us that we must Love our enemies! We may think this is purely a New Testament doctrine based on the Gospel teachings of our Lord...( "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;" Matt 5:44,45 (also Luke 6:27) but this weeks text clearly shows us that doing good to our enemies is called out in the Law as well! Who can say that Grace is absent in the Old Testament?
There are at least three other lessons to be drawn here..
First, the text enjoins us to be kind to animals. This is the first instance where we see humane treatment of animals commanded in the Law, and the principles here have very broad applications. At a minimum - domesticated animals are to be assisted with their burdens and returned to their rightful owners ( as they would be unable to fend for themselves in the wild ). If one is to assist an enemies animal, how much more so those belonging to ones friends or ourselves - therefore this law can safely be understood and extended to cover all domesticated animals. Our God is not only concerned with feeding the birds of the air, (and His eye is on the sparrow) - but the lowly donkey, humble ox, and a single lost sheep are equally the subjects of His loving concern. How much more concern do you think He has for His children who are the apple of His eye?
Second, we may discern that our feelings towards our enemies are not to be extended to any things related to them ( Animals in this instance ... but a larger principle may reasonably be inferred ). We are asked to Love our neighbors ( and by extension - our enemies ) and not covet anything which is theirs...( 10th commandment ) therefore it is probably safe to say that anything belonging to an enemy is similarly to be exempted from our hate or mistreatment. Don't kick his dog, help him with his flat tire, don't tar his friends and relatives with the same brush, respect and return his property if lost... you get the picture! Do not transfer your hate of your enemy to people and things related to him, but who have not wronged you as he may have!
Lastly, this is not one of those - "if you can and are so led..." types of instructions. " You shall surely " is repeated for emphasis here! We should SURELY love, bless, do good to, and pray for those inimically opposed to us. The Matthew 5:43-48 passage gives us the reason why. We are to do it as sons/children reflecting the nature of the Father who gives those who hate Him all the benefits of those who love Him ( exemplified by rain sent to the just and unjust alike ). He is Perfect in His attributes and we are to reflect that perfection!
In today's dog-eat-dog world this seems to make no sense at all! Hate and anger seem to be the prevailing sentiments polarizing the world and even within our nation. Even so-called Christian people indulge in angry and hate filled rhetoric against those opposed to their point of view.
Praying for our enemies makes sense only if we understand that we need to make a distinction between our actions and our emotions. We can act to oppose those opposed to us, but we do NOT have to hate them as part of that process!
Somewhere along the line we seem to have confused and conflated logical disagreement with emotional anger, leading to the death of civilized debate - and peaceful and lawful opposition. It is very freeing to cast aside anger, fear, hatred, and instead, in love, stand fast on the Rock of the Word and let God do His work in the life of the enemy.
"... avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." 2 Tim 2:23-26