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Note: Please use discretion in passing this message on to others.
"O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?" (Psalm 94:1-3). "I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me" (Deuteronomy 32:41).
An astounding aspect of yesterday's terrorist bombings is the jubilance expressed by those motivated by a specific religious system. It's just sickening to read.
Today's subject is a bit deeper and distinct from my typical writing. Some may even find it offensive, but I share what's on my heart. Early this morning I received a note from a friend whom I have observed having a Christlike outlook on life for many years. In dealing with current events he shares from his heart and pleads, "I would urge all to pray that God would work powerfully in the hearts and lives of (members of this particular religion) to save them from the vicious lie of *** and that *** itself would be destroyed." * This is to me a prayer that rings altogether valid, appropriate and Biblical.
My friend's heartfelt expression is similar (although actually much milder) to a type of writing found all throughout the Psalms and some of the prophetic literature that may trouble many of us. From our perspective we may find it out of character for the writer or even as an expression in God's Word. I am referring to what is known as imprecatory. In fact as I prepared this message I examined a number of these Psalms and just didn't feel comfortable about using several of them as the daily text! They can really be vivid. (See Psalm 69 for instance)
The first daily text is a milder form of imprecation but an earnest plea by the psalmist for God to act in judgment. Does he not powerfully express how we feel? "How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?" It sure seems to me that, like us, the biblical writers struggled with the apparent delay in the imposition of God's judgment.
But the second daily text expresses a truth directly from God that is repeated twice in the New Testament. "I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me." Of this we can be sure. Scripture is abundantly clear concerning judgment and indeed I do believe we rightly express ourselves similar to the Psalmist or to my friend when we plea for this judgment.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's Note: For many of us our surroundings are so comfortable and our freedoms abound which makes it very difficult to be vigilant in our prayers for those who undergo persecution. When we hear these horrible events in the news and see television coverage we are reminded once again of the need for daily, earnest prayer for those who stand in harm's way. I'm also mindful that we must pray for justice, wisdom, discernment and guidance for those in authority. And our heartfelt prayers go out to those whose family members are grieving a loss today. May Jesus Christ be a tremendous comfort and may He speak to hearts everywhere about the need to live godly, honorable lives and prepare for the life to come. And certainly we must be in prayer for the hearts of those terribly brainwashed by a senseless and false religion whose strategy is to bring death, destruction and utter chaos upon innocent lives. Indeed may God bring judgment speedily.
Here is all of Psalm 94
Here is a brief helpful explanation of this subject. "The term 'imprecatory' is applied to certain Psalms and other portions of Scripture that invoke or threaten evil upon the wicked, or contain solemn warnings of the inevitable punishment of sin. It must be admitted that many of these passages do contain imprecations and utter solemn and awful curses against the incorrigible sinner. We might, perhaps, with more propriety term these Psalms the "Justice" Psalms, but we accept the terms commonly applied to them, confident that no matter how severely they may be characterized there is abundant justification for their presence in the Word of God."
Here is more study material for any who desire to research this subject more thoroughly:
http://www.christiancourier.com/feature/may2001.htm
http://www.forerunner.com/puritan/PS.Prayer.html
http://www.house-church.net/imprecat.htm#intro
* I do not identify the specific religion in this message but you can fill it in.
Note: Please use discretion in passing this message on to others.
Friday,
July 8, 2005
"Rendering Vengeance"
"Rendering Vengeance"
"O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?" (Psalm 94:1-3). "I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me" (Deuteronomy 32:41).
An astounding aspect of yesterday's terrorist bombings is the jubilance expressed by those motivated by a specific religious system. It's just sickening to read.
Today's subject is a bit deeper and distinct from my typical writing. Some may even find it offensive, but I share what's on my heart. Early this morning I received a note from a friend whom I have observed having a Christlike outlook on life for many years. In dealing with current events he shares from his heart and pleads, "I would urge all to pray that God would work powerfully in the hearts and lives of (members of this particular religion) to save them from the vicious lie of *** and that *** itself would be destroyed." * This is to me a prayer that rings altogether valid, appropriate and Biblical.
My friend's heartfelt expression is similar (although actually much milder) to a type of writing found all throughout the Psalms and some of the prophetic literature that may trouble many of us. From our perspective we may find it out of character for the writer or even as an expression in God's Word. I am referring to what is known as imprecatory. In fact as I prepared this message I examined a number of these Psalms and just didn't feel comfortable about using several of them as the daily text! They can really be vivid. (See Psalm 69 for instance)
The first daily text is a milder form of imprecation but an earnest plea by the psalmist for God to act in judgment. Does he not powerfully express how we feel? "How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?" It sure seems to me that, like us, the biblical writers struggled with the apparent delay in the imposition of God's judgment.
But the second daily text expresses a truth directly from God that is repeated twice in the New Testament. "I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me." Of this we can be sure. Scripture is abundantly clear concerning judgment and indeed I do believe we rightly express ourselves similar to the Psalmist or to my friend when we plea for this judgment.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's Note: For many of us our surroundings are so comfortable and our freedoms abound which makes it very difficult to be vigilant in our prayers for those who undergo persecution. When we hear these horrible events in the news and see television coverage we are reminded once again of the need for daily, earnest prayer for those who stand in harm's way. I'm also mindful that we must pray for justice, wisdom, discernment and guidance for those in authority. And our heartfelt prayers go out to those whose family members are grieving a loss today. May Jesus Christ be a tremendous comfort and may He speak to hearts everywhere about the need to live godly, honorable lives and prepare for the life to come. And certainly we must be in prayer for the hearts of those terribly brainwashed by a senseless and false religion whose strategy is to bring death, destruction and utter chaos upon innocent lives. Indeed may God bring judgment speedily.
Here is all of Psalm 94
Here is a brief helpful explanation of this subject. "The term 'imprecatory' is applied to certain Psalms and other portions of Scripture that invoke or threaten evil upon the wicked, or contain solemn warnings of the inevitable punishment of sin. It must be admitted that many of these passages do contain imprecations and utter solemn and awful curses against the incorrigible sinner. We might, perhaps, with more propriety term these Psalms the "Justice" Psalms, but we accept the terms commonly applied to them, confident that no matter how severely they may be characterized there is abundant justification for their presence in the Word of God."
Here is more study material for any who desire to research this subject more thoroughly:
http://www.christiancourier.com/feature/may2001.htm
http://www.forerunner.com/puritan/PS.Prayer.html
http://www.house-church.net/imprecat.htm#intro
* I do not identify the specific religion in this message but you can fill it in.
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