“They compassed me about also with words of hatred;and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” — Psalm 109:4-5
Our ‘Nugget’ for today is found in what is called an imprecatory Psalm—one in which the spokesman calls down judgment on the heads of his enemies. And the scope of this judgment is awesome, as even a cursory reading of the whole Psalm will reveal. It is the flip side of Calvary, not often thought about and seldom preached on.
Our ‘Nugget’ for today is found in what is called an imprecatory Psalm—one in which the spokesman calls down judgment on the heads of his enemies. And the scope of this judgment is awesome, as even a cursory reading of the whole Psalm will reveal. It is the flip side of Calvary, not often thought about and seldom preached on.
If these words are viewed only as the words of the Psalmist, they must be seen as vindictive, and hard to reconcile with the principle of Him Who said, “Love your enemies…” and Who cried from the awful agony of the cross, “Father forgive them…, for they know not what they do.”
Yet it is from His lips, ultimately, that we must hear this awful call for judgment. For to whom else can the words apply, They “…fought against Me without a cause,” and “For My love they are My adversaries?” From the day of His crucifixion even until now the world has hosted a great company hostile to the Savior, and for no other reason than that He told the truth, did the truth and is the Truth (cf. John 14 :6). And, anticipating the cross, He took these words upon His lips, saying, “If I had not done among them the works that no other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause [John 15:24-25].”
For now, wonder of wonders, we hear only His compassionate plea, “Father, forgive them…” That was then . And thankfully, is now, as well. The astonishing day of God’s grace continues as the world goes on becoming increasingly indifferent or hostile toward the testimony of Jesus. But not forever.
Once before, when God demonstrated His remarkable patience and love, His hand restrained judgment. Noah, under God’s direction, constructed an ark and preached, for 120 years, a warning and undoubtedly an invitation. God said, “My Spirit will not always strive with man.” (Gen. 6:3) Men failed then, as they do now, to recognize that there is a limit to God’s patience, and one day “the flood came and destroyed them all [Luke 17:27].”
So, one day hence God will lift His mighty hand in answer to the prayer of His Son recorded here and justice will overtake mercy. For the moment sinners are in the hand of a merciful God. In that day it will be ‘sinners in the hands of an angry God.’ The apostle Paul warned, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape [I Thess. 5:1-3].”
When God sealed Noah in the ark, only one man’s family was inside. The day before the door was open and “whosoever” would heed the warning of the ‘Preacher of Righteousness’ could have joined him and found salvation from the impending judgment. But that day it was too late. And so will it be for the generation that witnesses the Father’s answer to this prayer:
“As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul [Ps. 109:17-20].”
God has given us a graphic preview of that day. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? [Rev. 6:15-17].”
If you perchance are not saved, don’t delay. Turn to Christ; let Him embrace you in His love and prepare you to escape “the wrath to come.” Tomorrow could be too late!!
For His glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
No comments:
Post a Comment