The persecution of the saints of God has been happening for thousands of years. Satan has been targeting God’s people, in order to see them fall. However, his endeavors has never been good enough as to outlast the patience of God’s people. The children of God understand the mercies of the Lord and that is more important than life on earth. If they die, they will soon be with the Lord. Their trust is with Jesus who saves. No matter if people they love or themselves are scorned, they will rise up, one day in heaven, to be with the Lord. David spoke about this uprising against God’s people. 1“O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.” He records the many people that loved the Lord and were killed for their love for Him. Even until death, they wouldn’t deny their faith in the Lord. This is happening, even now. ISIS is going into cities and killing Christians and burning down churches. Like the people in David’s time, their pour bodies 1“have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.” This type of torture is very sad. I am so saddened to hear and see this happen. God’s wrath is surely upon those people that have persecuted and killed His beloved children.
When David saw God’s people being killed, he asked God, 1“How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.” He couldn’t stand to see such evil men doing such things without God’s intervention. He desired that God step in and avenge the blood of the saints who died because of their faith in Him. His soul must have been sinking, just thinking of such things. The trials must been so hard to bear. I thank the Lord for lifting up David’s spirit, in this moment of sorrow and grief. What David prayed next, was uplifting, after seeing so much death. 1“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.” Even after all the persecutions and death, he continued to trust in the living God to rescue them from their sins. The blood of the saints will cry out against the evil men and women of the world. At the same time, God’s people will never stop praising the Lord. To the Lord, they 1“will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.” Nobody can stop the work of God. His people will continue to stand strong till the end.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I know that loving You is tied to persecution. I take it all for Your glory. People can beat me and scourge me, but Your love will stand strong. If I am to go out of this life wounded and beaten, I will go faithfully to Your presence. What matters most is that I will be with You and the rest of the saints of God. After all is done, we will stand and forever give You praise. To stand before You and to be in Your presence is what I look forward to. I can’t wait to be there with You Lord. You sustain me. You give me strength that I might bear the temptations in life. If I sin, I pray that You forgive me. Your mercy keeps us going strong. Help me rise up even stronger than ever before. May my faith be raised up in honor to Your Name. My life is for You. I live to follow You. Till the end, I will go where You lead me. No matter what happens, I will take it all with joy. You are my Savior and it is a great pleasure to follow You. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 79 (KJV)
1 O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5 How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.