HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Apr. 30, 2006 “19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139: 19-24) There is a way to hate the enemies of God that will not offend God. God “abhors” sin. There cannot be a much stronger adjective against sin and blasphemy against the true God than abhorrence. The Psalmist says he has “nothing but hatred” for those who display hatred against the True God. He “counts as enemies” those who exclaim lies against God and the salvation he has provided for the race of men. But notice the Psalmist’s exclamation: “If only you would slay the wicked, O God!” This man realizes it is not his position or authority to act upon his hate. His hatred may be justified but to act upon it would be the wrong means of easing his duress. God is the judge. God is the one who protects the believer against these enemies. He says “Search me O God.” He does not want to do wrong in his hatred against the enemies of God. We who understand our relationship with the godhead understand that it is right to reject sin. The rejection of sin is not a judgment based in ignorance. We who have read the testimony of God clearly see the results of sin upon races and even upon the chosen peoples of God. When they disobeyed God they were punished. The scriptures tell the Christian that those God loves he chastises. If we are not directed rightly we fail to bring glory to our Lord. There is a time for judgment and there is a time for hatred. We say Jesus displayed a type of righteous anger when he cleared his Father’s house of the moneychangers that were stealing from those who came to worship. When we see such evils perpetrated in the name of God we should be no less angered and prepared to cleanse the temple of God. How many letters did Paul write to Corinth to rebuke the sinful practices that had infiltrated the church there? What of his other letters that were reminders to keep from sin and not practice anything that would cause a brother of the faith to stumble? God will search you as you ask him to. When those feelings of anger or hatred rise you must be sure that you look to God to give direction for that anger. Jesus said that we were not to sin in our anger, that we were not to let the sun set on our wrath, not that we would never experience wrath. There is a way act upon our anger that will not break our spiritual link with the godhead for even a moment. I have found that praying for an enemy settles my mind and brings me contentment. Jesus taught that and I hold that as a rule of faith. So do not be concerned about feeling of anger and hatred against the enemies of God. Such feelings are absolutely normal for someone indwelt by God’s Spirit. But ensure you talk to God in such times. Ask him to search your spirit to ensure you are not offending him with your anger. He will bless your patience and protect you from these enemies of faith. ------------ Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
