Behold, O God, What Cruel Foes
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Have you ever faced cruelty, injustice, or abuse? Chances are all of us have experienced this at some point in our lives. Usually injustice happens in the world by people who have authority over us or by people who have the influence or wealth to abuse others. In most cases the one who is abused, mistreated, or wronged has no power to deliver themselves and unfortunately the victim of injustice and abuse are never heard.
Even worse those who are abused, mistreated, and unheard respond in violence. Martin Luther King Jr., who as we know was passive, said that violence was the voice of the unheard.
How do we respond to injustices? How do we defend ourselves? How do we deal with unfair treatment? Well I’m gonna give an answer none of us want to hear and then look at more details later. The answer is wait upon the Lord!
Waiting is not easy but I want us to note this morning that God will take care of us. The battle really is his. And, not one tear, not one heartache, not one wrong against us will go unnoticed.
Look with me in Revelation 8:7-13
7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. 13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
What we see is a chain of events. The first four trumpets are cataclysmic judgments that affect the whole earth. But, the 5th and 6th seals are judgments that destroy those who are not marked as God’s children.
Remember chapter 7 the multitude who are saved during the tribulation and chapter 5 the martyrs who are pleading for justice. Those are the sealed of God.
In verse 7 a thunder, lightning and hail storm like the world has never seen will destroy the trees and vegetation. Forrest fires, crop destruction.
In verse 8-9 a meteor of asteroid hits the seas and kills a third of the sea life. Do you know how much food has just been destroyed by these two events?
In verses 10-11 some sort of warhead strikes the freshwater supply and makes it toxic.
In verse 12 one third of the sun dies which will have effects that we cannot even imagine.
In verse 13 an angel or eagle depending on your translation of the Greek announces that things will only get worse.
The interesting thing about chapter 8 is not just the judgments that take place, but for us it is why? Look with me in Revelation 8:1-6
1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
The reason for the judgment upon the earth and the inhabitants of the earth is the promised judgment, justice, and vengeance of the Lord for the saints.
Verse 1 begins with this dramatic pause. All of heaven is silent in awe and expectation of God. This long awaited reckoning when the tables turn. Those who have abused their power, manipulated, hurt, and taken advantage of others will answer to the almighty.
The systems that have been put in place by men to subject and exploit others will face the judgment of God.
Notice verses 3-5: The thing that kicks off this devastating judgment is the worship, pain, and prayers of the saints that have come up before God. I was reminded of Romans 12:14-21
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Oh dear Christian, do not fear, do not retaliate, but leave place for the wrath of God.
So, in the meanwhile how do we deal with injustices? Let me give you three powerful exercises.
Pour Out Your Complaint Before the Lord.
Pour Out Your Complaint Before the Lord.
Notice in our text that the fire of judgment is mingled with the prayers of the saints.
If you want to put up a fight, fight through prayer. Take everything to the Lord in prayer! Remember Philippians 4:6-7?
The apostles when punished and threatened by the authorities in Acts 4, took the threat before the Lord in prayer. Listen to Acts 4:29
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
The title of the message this morning is a song title by Doctor Isaac Watts that was adapted from Psalm 79. Babylon has come in and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. The good and the bad are swept away in the devastation. Listen to the lament of the psalmist.
1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. 2 The dead bodies of Your servants— They have given as food for the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem, And there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, A scorn and derision to those who are around us. 5 How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place. 8 Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name’s sake! 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let there be known among the nations in our sight The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed. 11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your power Preserve those who are appointed to die; 12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. 13 So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.
This psalm is a perfect example of how we are to lament before the Lord our abuse, injustices, and cruelty.
Focus on the Change Through the Situation, Rather than Changing the Situation.
Focus on the Change Through the Situation, Rather than Changing the Situation.
Another way of saying this is rest in the providence, process, and vengeance of the Lord.
The Bible speak often about the refining effect of adversity and suffering.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Trials test our faith and perfect our patience. Dr. Warren Wiersbe said, “A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted.”
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Every situation that we find ourselves in has the God given potential of making us stronger, better, and more glorifying of God.
Joseph is a wonderful example of this very thing.
Trust God Enough to Give Him the Pain
Trust God Enough to Give Him the Pain
In chapter 7 we saw God wiping away all the tears caused by injustices.
Here we see God confronting the foes of the saints.
One of the unchangeable attributes of the triune God is justice. Not one injustice will slip by His judgment.
We are not to be controlled by anything other than the Spirit of God therefore our need for revenge or retaliation must yield to His Lordship.
We can trust Him with our cares. 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
The exercise of casting is letting go of cares and concerns that are too much for us.
We can’t right all the wrongs in the world. Even if we could, the world would still be fallen. We can bear our responsibilities and cast our concerns, knowing that God’s justice may not be immediate, but it is thorough.
Let’s pray.
Response:
Response:
What is God doing through your circumstances?
Calling you closer to Him.
Calling you to Him
Making you more into His image.
I don’t know, but I do know the answer should be Yes!
What is God calling you to release this morning?
What are the responsibilities He requires you to carry and what are the cares He wants you to release?
What are you having difficulty trusting God with this morning?
That’s the thing He wants you to give Him this morning.