FROM EXPERIENCE = LIVING AND COPING WITH INJUSTICE AND HURT (THIRD PART) – GUIDELINES – (THE RETRIBUTION OF GOD – PART 8 IN THE SERIES)
[7]. GOD IN RETRIBUTION
There are some parts of the Atacama desert in South America which have never seen a drop of rain for 400 years. If you lived there and every day from the age of five you studied the heavens for the possibility of rain that day, could you possibly imagine how you would be warped in your thinking, attitude and behaviour by the time you reached 50? Christians who go around expecting to see the retribution of God, if not this day, then the next, would slowly become like the sad Atacaman.
Don’t necessarily expect to see the retribution of God even during your lifetime. God may not choose to raise His hand for you in this matter so it should not be your occupation. True, it is not easy to cope with the matter when so much wrong has been done by numbers of people but the whole subject of retribution rests in God’s hand and in God’s timing as we have already seen. All we need to remember is that God will avenge; He will repay; He will recompense the harvest that was sown against you.
Paul had a problem in his ministry, but how did he solve it? This is what he shared privately with Timothy – {{2Timothy 4:14 “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.”}}
The first thing to note is that Paul did not blab it all over in his letters to the churches. Yes, Alexander did a lot of harm to Paul but he was content to share it only with Timothy. The second thing we note is that Paul did not add any sort of “cursing” upon Alexander, but what did he do? He was content to let the matter rest with the Lord. Jesus is the final Arbiter and we must be humble and let it rest there.
There is a problem in modern society especially in the USA where is seems fashionable always to be suing someone. In the New Testament era there was the facility where one could take another to court but it seemed to be for really concrete matters. Today it seems to be for anything. Be very careful if you are considering suing a Christian brother, for not only does Paul forbid that in Corinthians, but you might be guilty of taking the matter out of the Lord’s hands.
A Christian can suffer loss and gently suffer that loss and not rise up in judgement. The Lord repays His own saints with far more than they could ever lose, in eternity!
It might be that you may see where God has repaid those who have raised themselves up in unjust opposition against you. If that is so then praise God for His faithfulness and be humble before the presence of God. If God’s retribution or judgement is not seen, then do not be disheartened. In a significant sense it is not your concern. God’s plan for you is wonderful and you must accept it totally on that basis.
The illustration found in the parable in Luke 18 of the unjust judge is worthy of reflection. The woman in this example came face to face with injustice because she had no option other than to depend on this man for justice, but she received it not. Unjust judges are a scourge of the worst kind and along with false shepherds (spiritual leaders) are singled out the most for condemnation by the prophetic writers. Unjust judges and magistrates one day will receive the harshest penalty.
The woman kept persevering at wearing the judge down until she was granted her desire, which for her, was proper justice. How could we best apply this example to us so we can obtain something meaningful from it? Often the means of obtaining justice in this world are not open to us as they seemed to be to this woman. You may have to accept injustice and live for Christ in spite of it, but our loving Saviour will minister to you in a very special way.
This parable is often used as an example of persistent prayer. The following fitting quotation comes from August van Ryn in his book, “Meditations in Luke”.
[[ “Here in our parable, and in so many other places, our Lord shows how evil will triumph, and oppression rule. Our Lord said that in this world we should have tribulation. Paul said the same, as do all the writers of the New Testament.
“The elect are pictured in this parable under the figure of a ‘widow,’ a familiar figure in the scriptures for believers dependent on God alone, for He is the Husband of the widow; it is to Him alone she can look. And this widow cries to a judge who feared not God nor regarded man. She cries to be avenged of her adversary. We know who the adversary of the Christian is, of course - the devil. His very name means just that. He is the oppressor and opposer of the saints, and he uses men as tools to carry out his nefarious purposes. And alas, the Christian is in a world that is ruled or judged by those who often have no regard for God or man; by ruthless men working their own will. We do and can thank God for the comparatively good government we enjoy in the favoured land in which we live (U.S.A.); [Writer’s Note - BUT IT IS FAST DECLINING] and yet even here injustice and oppression often abound, and the believer is the first to suffer under it. But oh, how much God’s people have suffered throughout the ages in many lands, for Christ’s sake.
“Finally, says our Lord, this unjust judge listens to the widow’s cause, not because he wants to, but to get rid of her persistent calls. And then our Lord applies this to how our God is beseeched by His saints. Surely, He is not an unjust Judge; surely He loves to hear the prayers and cries of His own. He bids them to pray and thus not to faint. Those that wait upon the Lord shall walk and not faint. It is either praying or fainting; praying without ceasing.
“But apparently our God often seems to be like this unjust judge. That judge refused to come to the widow’s aid; refused to avenge her of her adversary. And so often it seems that evil triumphs; as if our Father in heaven does not hear our cries. He lets us suffer; His people are persecuted, despised, oppressed. Does He not care? Oh yes, indeed He does. But He has plans and purposes to fulfil, and all His ways with us are with His own infinitely wise and gracious purposes in view.
“Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him? Of course He will. Day by day He hears their prayers, stores them up, gathers their tears in His bottle. Yet He does not deliver them out of the many trials, persecutions, and often even martyrdoms. The day of vengeance has not come yet. He is bearing long now - verse 7, but some day He will avenge them speedily. There appears to be a distinct contrast between bearing long and answering speedily, but there really isn’t. God waits in patience, permits His own to be tried and afflicted; allows the world often to triumph in its wickedness, because He is long suffering. But when the day of vengeance does arrive, vengeance will fall swiftly and speedily.” ]]
[8]. HANDLING THE EVIL ONES
How do you handle the evil ones, those men and women who have committed the injustice with which you have to live? That is a difficult matter to work through because the old flesh wants to stand on its back legs and assert itself in resentment and vengeful thoughts when the injustice applies to you. Now in our world throughout, and increasingly so in our western democracies, unjust decisions are wilfully made by evil men, affecting everyone. The only answer we can give is the one we find in the sermon on the mount {{Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you ...”}} I believe it is GOD’S GRACE as He ministers it to us, that enables us to pray for our enemies, for sometimes it is the last thing we want to do. The two examples that speak loudest to us are again, our Lord and Stephen.
[9]. NEGLECT NOT THE HYMNS
Many of our wonderful hymns were written as consequences of deep personal experiences in the lives of the authors. Hymns have resulted from profound sorrow and pain and personal loss as well from joy and thanksgiving. There is often great comfort in meditating on the words of a hymn as the writer has usually composed the words and thoughts from the innermost emotional trials and experiences. When you remember that most of the Psalms came from songs David wrote out of inner turmoil, those words contain deep truths and maturity. Jeremiah wrote Lamentations through the depths of sadness. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians partly revealing his own personal conflicts with being true for the Lord. The hymns of the 17th – 20th centuries mainly, resulted from a very solid doctrinal base and from depths of spiritual maturity these writers had. It is a disgustingly retrograde move that these writings are generally thrown out by most churches in preference for jingly doctrinally incorrect, subjective and ego-centric rubbish that has come from a froth and bubble society. Not always, but frequently.
I shall provide just one example. The following words from a well known hymn could be of great comfort when turmoil has come because of rejection or injustice. Read through thoughtfully and slowly.
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said -
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
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“Fear not, I am with you - O be not dismayed,
For I am your God, I will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.
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“When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of woe shall not you overflow;
For I will be with you your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.
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“When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;
The flame shall not hurt you - I only design
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.
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“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell shall endeavour to shake,
I’ll never - no, never - no, never forsake!”
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A number of books have been produced giving the stories behind hundreds of hymn compositions. Working steadily through one or a few of those books was a most rewarding experience for me. Often we can identify with the hymn writer in the tone and background and words of the hymn. Hymns can be of great value for spiritual meditation just as the Psalms are.
Some books available for you to explore in this area are as follows. For a time I found these books to be of much help to me -
“Singing With Understanding” by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel. ISBN 0-8254-3414-9.
“101 More Hymn Stories” by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel. ISBN 0-8254-3420-3.
“Stories Hehind Popular Songs and Hymns” by Lindsay Terry. Published by Baker. ISBN 0-8010-8896-8.
“A Hymn is Born” by Clint Bonner. Published by Broadman Press. ISBN 0-8054-6801-3
The next posting will be the last one in this series on the Retribution of God with all the various aspects.
