In the times of David of old, many people don’t realize that persecution was on the rise. Evil people were burning down God’s synagogues, sanctuaries, and most likely their homes. They did this by desecrating the buildings and then destroying them completely. Even many priests and prophets were killed because of their faith in God. At this time, God’s people waited for the Lord to step in and help them, but it didn’t come. Many times it would take many years before things changed and got better. David wrote about these dark times and said, “they have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.” (Psalm 74:7-9) What they went through is similar to what we see in the Middle East and other Islamic places around the world now.
How long will God allow this calamity to take place? This is what the Jews were asking themselves often. They could see the people blaspheming His Name, but nothing was done to stop them. So in their prayers, they asked God why He wouldn’t help them. They prayed for deliverance but were still allowed to suffer for a time and space. David wrote about this and said, “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom. For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psalm 74:10-12) It is amazing to see David having high hopes when it comes to God and delivering them. He mentioned how God is His king, of whom worketh salvation. Amen to that. The truth is, God steps in to help us when it is necessary. Sometimes people have to learn their lesson the hard way by persecuting God’s people. As for the afflicted, we are to stay upbeat and in constant prayer. Amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for the persecuted and afflicted in all the world. Many churches have been burned down, along with believers’ homes. People’s lives have been taken away in the millions over the years all because of their faith in You, God. Even now, people’s lives are being threatened in the Middle East, Islamic countries, and many other places. God, why is it that people are so angry with your people? Help many of them learn their lessons so that many persecutors will also turn to Christianity in the end. Lord, I am praying for every person who is in the mission field when persecution is fierce. I am praying for people who live in these countries and are unafraid of their faith in You. May laws be in their favor, so that persecution will slow down for a time. I am asking for Your favor, God. I know You are there and will step in when the time is right. Sometimes we must be afflicted for a time and a season before we see the promised land. Only You can give us the peace we need to get through this. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
I was listening to an on-line sermon today about how God uses even the most evil rulers to accomplish his plan. Hitler was among the most evil to walk the earth. Out of destruction came the rebirth of Israel.