The Book That Converts Enemies

Psalm 119:145-160

145I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD!

I will obey your principles.

146I cry out to you; save me,

that I may obey your decrees.

147I rise early, before the sun is up;

I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

148I stay awake through the night,

thinking about your promise.

149In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry;

in your justice, save my life.

150Those lawless people are coming near to attack me;

they live far from your law.

151But you are near, O LORD,

and all your commands are true.

152I have known from my earliest days

that your decrees never change.

153Look down upon my sorrows and rescue me,

for I have not forgotten your law.

154Argue my case; take my side!

Protect my life as you promised.

155The wicked are far from salvation,

for they do not bother with your principles.

156LORD, how great is your mercy;

in your justice, give me back my life.

157Many persecute and trouble me,

yet I have not swerved from your decrees.

158I hate these traitors

because they care nothing for your word.

159See how I love your commandments, LORD.

Give back my life because of your unfailing love.

160All your words are true;

all your just laws will stand forever.

During World War II, Jacob DeShazer hated the Japanese. They were the enemy, and as a pilot he enjoyed the chance to rain flaming death on them. But then his plane was shot down, and he began a thirty-two month period of solitary confinement in a Japanese prison camp. There he turned to the Bible. Through its pages he became a Christian. He resolved that, if he ever made it out alive, he would become a missionary to Japan, bringing them the love of Jesus Christ instead of bombs.

In less than four years after his release, he returned to Japan as a missionary and wrote a tract about his experiences. Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese squadron commander who led the air raid on Pearl Harbor in 1941, was one who read the tract. DeShazer had testified of the power of the Bible in his life, so Fuchida decided to read the Bible for himself. Before finishing the first thirty pages the Japanese officer accepted Christ as his Savior. Shortly afterward, DeShazer and Fuchida sat together on a platform at an evangelistic meeting in Tokyo. The two former enemies were now brothers in Jesus Christ.

Throughout this section of Psalm 119, the psalmist expresses his confidence in God’s Word and his concern about his enemies. As DeShazer discovered, it is possible, through the power of the Word, for enemies to become friends.

Are you willing to pray for your enemies in that way?

Thy word is power and life;

It bids confusion cease.

And changes envy, hatred, strife

To love and joy and peace.

JAMES MONTGOMERY

A Word on Words

In Hebrew, verses 150 and 151 both begin with the words be near. The enemy is closing in and the Lord is nearby. At such a time it is good to remember that you can count on God’s Word (see verse 152).