Silence the Enemy – Psalm 8:2

“Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”

Strength is the last thing we think of when we hold a baby in our arms.  What we see, besides precious life, is the complete dependence upon another for food, care and protection.  That God has ordained strength, means He has set the foundation.  “You have ordained” in the Hebrew is ‘yacad,’ which means ‘to found, fix, establish, lay foundation’ according to Strong’s, #03245.  So God has laid the foundation for strength to come out of the mouths of babes and infants.  It still does not make much sense until the Holy Spirit, through King David, gives us the ‘because.’  “Because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”  

The Enemy:  When we think of an enemy of God, we typically consider Satan.  Any enemy of God’s is an enemy of ours.  Scripture tells us “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8)  Peter penned those words through the Holy Spirit, and Peter was acutely aware of the devil’s desire to destroy him.  One of the most frightening verses of scripture, at least to me, was when Jesus warned Peter about his future denial of the Messiah: “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.’”  (Luke 22:31)  Yes this enemy, the devil, wants us to fail, he wants us to blaspheme God with our mouths, with our thoughts and with our deeds.  He stands ready to accuse us before God.  I have no doubt that he has plenty of material on each of us.

The Avenger:  To avenge means ‘to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party.’  (Websters)  This would seem to be a righteous action against a wrongdoer.  In the Old Testament, Joshua prescribes ‘cities of refuge,’ as a place for a person to flee for a trial when they need protection from an ‘avenger of blood,’ whose duty it is to exact punishment on a murderer of his closest relative.  In the New Testament, when the Apostle Paul is instructing the Thessalonians in how they should live and act, he warns “that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:6)  So why would God want to silence this ‘Avenger?’ 

Because we have a sin problem, and because He loves us anyway.  Every single one of us has missed the mark, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  The truth is we are stuck between the enemy and the avenger.  Satan has no need to make up lies about us to God.  Satan has plenty of true material to accuse us before God.  By our own thoughts and deeds, we were once, or may still be, enemies with God.  The avenger is righteously justified in carrying out our punishment, in delivering the wrath of God.  But God…what two wonderful words to find in Scripture:  ‘but God.’  We mess up right and left…‘but God.’  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:8-10)

We must believe in salvation through Christ as a child.  Jesus said “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:15)  And we must openly confess Jesus as our Lord and God.  “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

How then are both the enemy and the avenger silenced?  They must be silenced when we receive Jesus with the faith of a child and openly confess Him with our mouth.  For those who do not receive Jesus and confess Him, there is no protection against the enemy or the avenger.  Yet, for those of us who do receive Jesus and confess Him, we will someday experience ultimate victory:

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”  (Revelation 12:10)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Watch! – Mark 13:35-37

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

The talk that Jesus gives to His disciples in chapter 13 of the Gospel of Mark is sobering.  There are no promises of prosperity, no promises of a peaceful life.  Jesus told them the temple would be destroyed.  Their questions were “when will these things be?  And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” (Mark 13: 4)  Before Jesus answers them, He gives them a warning: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.” (Mark 13:5-6)

Jesus does not give a day, month or year.  He describes the troublesome times to come, involving wars, earthquakes, famines, Christians being arrested and beaten, brother betraying brother, children betraying parents, and much more.  Yet these are only the beginnings of sorrows, they are not yet the sign of all these things being fulfilled.  Next, Jesus goes on to describe the Great Tribulation, the beginning of which is identified by the ‘abomination of desolation’ which will be ‘standing where it ought not’.  Further, of the Great Tribulation, Jesus says “such has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.” (Mark 13:19)  During that Great Tribulation false christs and prophets will show signs and wonders that deceive many people, and if possible, even the elect.  Jesus warns that He has told them of this beforehand, so they will not be deceived.  Next, Jesus says after THAT tribulation, the Great Tribulation, the “sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heaven will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven.”  (Mark 13:24-27)

Jesus told them that no one knows the day and hour, but “when you see these things happening, know that it is near – at the doors!” (Mark 13:29)  He gives them the parable of the fig tree to help understand the timing.  The fig tree is representative of Israel.  As J. Vernon McGee says “Israel is God’s timepiece.”  It is the clock we can observe for God’s timetable.  Jesus admonishes His disciples (and us) to “take heed, watch and pray.”  Then He gives the above parable where the doorkeeper is commanded to watch. 

These are not words that help most people sleep at night.  If you read or somehow relate the contents of Mark 13 to others, most people will be anxious about the wars and rumors of wars.  Most people will have fear about earthquakes and famines.  Most people will worry about protecting themselves during this Great Tribulation.  Then again, most people have not surrendered to Jesus Christ.  Most people are not sealed by the Holy Spirit.  Hopefully, you are not like most people.

Jesus says to “watch.”  He says it several times and He says it emphatically.  My question for you is similar to a question posed by J. Vernon McGee, and that is with what attitude do you ‘watch?’  Do you watch with fear and trepidation?  Do you watch with dread over what is coming?  Or do you watch with anticipation so that you are ready for the reign of our Righteous King?

According to scripture, we should watch and not be deceived.  If we watch, take heed, pray, and know that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, we will not be fooled by a new or different gospel.  “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrine of demons.”  (1 Timothy 4:1)

According to scripture, we should watch and take heed that we are living a godly life.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”  (2 Peter 3:10-12) 

According to scripture, we should watch and abide in Him.  “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)

According to scripture, we should watch and increase in our love toward one another.  “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”  (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

According to scripture, we should watch not only with anticipation for the reign of our Righteous King, but all the more vigorously persist in sharing the truth with others.  “For this they willingly forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.  But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some county slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (1 Peter 3:5-9)  Jesus does not want us to be surprised if sharing the truth with others is something that happens during persecution, for His purposes with the persecutors.  “You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.”  (Mark 13:9b)

According to scripture, we should watch and endure.  “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Mark 13:13)  Each of the letters to the churches in chapters 2 and 3 of (The) Revelation (of Jesus Christ ) include a promise of something from Jesus for “he who overcomes.”  You may find a bit of doubt creeping in about your ability to endure the future that Jesus has described.  Keep in mind this scripture:  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  (1 John 5:4)  Remember in Whom you believe!

Friends, consider the state of the world.  Can you agree that we are in the beginnings of sorrows?  We have wars and rumors of wars.  There is an increase in the frequency of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.  We are beginning to see new pestilence, and the return of old diseases.  There are many countries that could claim their people are suffering from famine.  We have seen brother betray brother and child betray parent in the killing of Christians.  According to Jesus, none of this is going to get better for the world. 

We are still this side of Heaven so we are not at the end.  But can you say it is ‘at the doors?’  If it is not at the doors, it is very close indeed.  And if Jesus should come suddenly, how will He find you?  Are you sleeping?  Time is short.  We should pray, know the Word of God, and not be deceived.  We should take heed and abide in Jesus and live a godly life.  We should show love toward each other, and love all people in the world so much that we share the truth with them regardless of the repercussions to ourselves.  We should endure, and be urgently witnessing to and praying for those who have not surrendered to Jesus Christ, that they might be saved before Jesus does come like a thief in the night.  After all these things will be fulfilled, it will be too late. 

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Wickedness of the Wicked - Psalm 7:9-11

“Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.  My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart.  God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

In Psalm 7 we see David’s frustration over false accusations.  In other Psalms, we see David confess of his sins and beg for mercy.  But this Psalm is different, he is claiming that he has been falsely accused of a wrong-doing.  Most scholars connect this Psalm with a false accusation that David was seeking King Saul’s life.  “And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?”” (1 Samuel 24:9)

To the contrary, David’s life was sought by Saul while David was careful not to injure Saul or allow his supporters to bring harm to Saul.  For example, when Saul went into a cave to relieve himself, a cave where David and his men happened to be hiding, David did Saul no harm other than to cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.  “Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.  And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.”  So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul.  And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.”  (1 Samuel 24:5-7)

How frustrating for David to be accused of the very thing he deliberately avoided.  More than once he had an opportunity to bring harm to Saul.  This situation did not drive David to attack his accuser, rather he turned to God.  “The injuries men do us should drive us to God, for to him we may commit our cause. Nay, he sings to the Lord; his spirit was not ruffled by it, nor cast down, but so composed and cheerful that he was still in tune for sacred songs and it did not occasion one jarring string in his harp. Thus let the injuries we receive from men, instead of provoking our passions, kindle and excite our devotions.”  (Matthew Henry)

David calls out to his God in this psalm:

“O LORD my God, in You I put my trust…”

“O LORD my God, if I have done this…”

“Arise, O LORD, in Your anger…”

David wants this solved by God, in God’s anger, not in David’s anger.  We have much to learn from this psalm, or at least I do.  Rarely, if ever, do we solve any problem in our own anger.  What we find is that by our own hand the problem becomes inflamed, worsened.   

When we act in anger, we are usually being driven by pride.  We know what pride comes before (a fall.)  ‘But I have been wronged’ we might cry out.   David was wronged, and of the worst kind.  He was falsely accused of something he specifically avoided.  He had integrity and his accuser did not, but the lies that were spread told the opposite story.  “Behold the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.”  (vs 14)  The wicked ‘conceive’ trouble.  They make it up, they create trouble where it did not exist before.  It truly is wicked.

But we are children of the Most High God.  We are not to return evil with evil.  We are to turn to God, increase our devotions and time with Him and let Him deal with the wicked.  As difficult as it may be to not take things into our own hands, consider this:  God is all knowing, He can deliver the wisest judgment for every situation.  If we try to deal with it ourselves, we may find ourselves at the wrong end of God’s judgment.  Besides, you are a child of God.  You know it bothers Him to see His children wronged.  If it appears He is slow to respond, He has his reason and purpose.  Would it not be better if the wicked was to come to repentance?  We serve a good God that gives sinners many opportunities to repent.  God’s ways are above our ways.

David was given ample opportunity to harm Saul, yet he only cut his robe and, on another occasion, took his spear.  “Saul himself owned both these to be undeniable proofs of David’s integrity and good affection to him. If we render good for evil, and deny ourselves the gratifications of our passion, our so doing may turn to us for a testimony, more than we think of, another day.”  (Matthew Henry)  That testimony can give glory to God.

In the midst of troubles from a false accusation, we should take it to God in prayer and strive to leave it with God when we do like David as he finished this psalm:  “I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”  (vs 17)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.