May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded. May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away. May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues. For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul. May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into their own destruction. Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.
I was conflicted because of other messages in the Bible that seem to contradict this line of thinking. After talking this over with Joseph I came to a conclusion that I wasn't quite yet settled on - that there is an appointed time for everything, just as Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Later I asked God for guidance and a verse came to mind:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:22
This echos the hot coals in Revelation. Then another came to mind:
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21
Is this how a rod of correction is given by us? This is not the message of Revelation 18 though. It says to repay according to the evil done with torment and sorrow. Is this the conviction a wicked person is supposed to experience in the face of one who repays good for evil? As I said, I'm conflicted over these seemingly contradictory messages. It is clear that those who are nearest to God in Revelation are rejoicing in the recompensatory side of shalom (salem or salam) which not only means "peace" but "repay." Think about that. According to "normal" human understanding these two concepts are a dichotomy but in God's terms they are complimentary.
Consider Revelation 18 again where "she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see mourning.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and misery and famine; and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
This is the attitude of many Christians today. They refuse to accept that God will lead them into suffering to be refined in His fire. They cling to peace and security because they think this is what God wants. My brothers and sisters, He DOES want this, but the time in which we live is a conflicted time. We might choose to cling to the peace and joy of the Lord in the midst of a storm but what about stepping out into uncomfortable territory to be tested and tried as gold? Are you willing to walk where the Lord would lead you even if it means giving up your comfortable life, your dreams, ambitions, even the very desires you claim that He has granted you in your Christian liberty? Consider that there are greater blessings awaiting you. Consider your attitude toward the times in which we live and what He has declared in His prophetic Word.
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
It was reported that Abu Hurairah (A Muslim scribe) said "When one of you joins a gathering, let him say 'Peace'. When he wants to get up and leave, let him say 'Peace'. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salam
Many church leaders are rubbing shoulders with universalism. The Rick Warrens of our day are rising up saying, "Peace, peace!" when there is no peace.
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain. From prophet to priest, all practice deceit. They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 6:13-15
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD. Because they have led My people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built, tell those whitewashing it that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. Ezekiel 13
It doesn't seem to me that a "rod of iron" is unconflicted peace and security. The Christian walk is a conflicted walk, yet our rest in is knowing Him and His plan of salvation. We are to expose spiritual wickedness in high places. We are to be our brother's keeper.
I prepared this response to send to Joseph, yet after waiting to send it the Lord showed me another verse:
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time (or the proper time ie; moed?), casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11
He has confirmed that our attitude at the present time should be humble, loving but honest and sincere, and we should bear the rod of correction only by His Spirit. We should not be led astray into a false sense of "peace and safety" but know that the suffering we must endure will bring about great transformation in our spirits, souls and bodies, the kind that only He can produce at His appointed time. Only when He has declared, "Come out of her my people" should we stand up and leave. Only when He says, "Repay her double" should we repay. As David waited for the reign of Saul to be over according to God's will, and as he also waited and prayed before taking back Israel's captive women and children, so should we wait on Him.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
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