“And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that
are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward
the affliction.” (Zec 1:15 AV)
God has and does allow the actions of the heathen to act as a
chastening to the people of God. And we deserve
it. In Israel’s case, they had neglected
the Sabbath for over 400 years. They had
gone after other gods. They has slipped
into a state of complete immorality. They
risked tainting the blood of the Hebrew so the Messiah could not come. Therefore, the LORD removed His hand of
protection and allowed both Assyria and Babylon to take the nation away into
captivity. God was displeased with
Israel and Judah. Therefore, the heathen
became the hand of God to chasten His people.
However, the heathen went further than the LORD intended. They helped forward the affliction. Yes, the LORD permitted it. But He also judged it.
I was bullied quite a bit in my elementary and secondary school
years. It probably started in about the fourth
or fifth grade and didn’t stop until my parents enrolled me into a different
high school. The affliction was
unbearable at times. Gym class, in particular,
was a nightmare. The cruel of heart can
be very cruel. This is the nature of the
world. They are not kind. As much as they think they are, they really
are not. The proverbial “kick me when I
am down” attitude is pervasive. It is
not enough they see the child of God chastened; they have to add their own two
sense to the matter. Years ago, I had an
acquaintance who was saved, yet severely backslidden. He got caught up in drugs. He had an accident that left him in the
hospital with an apparatus screwed to his skull. I remember observing the difference between
those who loved him and wanted him to get right with God and those who sat in
judgment, often hurling insults or statements of hopelessness his way. It wasn’t enough he sat in bed unable to move
his head, threatened by the possibility of death. Without the ability to pay his bills, he care
became a bit less attentive. Even those
who professed Christ but who were obviously not walking with God supposed to add
to the affliction. This is the way of
life.
Until the LORD returns, the enemies of the Cross will always treat us
worse than we deserve. There is coming a
day when the scales will be even. Yes,
we are not perfect and stand in need of God’s correcting hand more often than
we care to admit. It is part and parcel
of being a child of God. Just as our earthly
fathers corrected us for our own good, so too must our Heavenly Father. This is part of the spiritual experience of
all of God’s children. What the world
does not seem to understand is God’s authority in the matter. Even if they are the means to bring that
correction, that does not excuse taking the correction to a level which the LORD
did not intend. God will deal with
it. In the meantime, we have to get used
to the fact that life is not fair. They
will forward the affliction. At least
for the time being. But the LORD will make
it right. This is a promise.
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