Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:23:15 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 26); BP: Ps. 35; RBTTY: I Pet. 3; Ez. 27-29
November 26 "The God Who Vindicates"
"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me. . .And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say, ‘Lord, Who is like unto You, Who delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him—yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him’?"
Psalm 35:1, 9-10
There’s no need for us to defend or justify ourselves when we remember Who’s our Defense Attorney (I Jn. 2:1).
No one likes a bully. We’ve all known them at one time or the other—whether it be on the playground at recess during our elementary years or in the office when co-workers are jockeying for position.
Sadly, such behavior also happens within the church, where some don’t like the direction the church is going or dislike the one who’s leading. Yes, "turf warfare" and "power plays" quite often find their way into church business meetings, even as they do within corporate boardroom meetings.
Although we don’t know what was going on behind the scenes in today’s Manna, it’s clear that David was meeting with open opposition and active persecution. His words of "them that strive (Heb. ‘yariyb’—‘to be contentious, an adversary, to contend with, grapple with, to hold a controversy against, etc.’) with me". . . "those that fight (Heb. ‘lacham’—‘to battle against, to consume, devour, prevail over, war against, etc.’) against me". . . "them that persecute (Heb. ‘radaph’—‘to run after with hostile intent, to chase, put to flight, to hunt, etc.’) me" (v.3). . . "they hid for me their net in a pit" (v.7). . . "false witnesses did rise up" (v.11). . . "they rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling (Heb. ‘shekowl’—‘to cause bereavement, grief over the loss of children, to miscarry, to deprive, etc.’) of my soul" (v.12), etc., cause us to wince in pain because of his abuse. Or, it makes us want to grab a sword and cut off a few heads.
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, did not Jesus Himself say to Peter, "If you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword" (Mt. 26:52)? And, didn’t the Apostle Paul remind us that "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds" (II Cor. 10:4)?
Assuredly they did. This doesn’t mean there’ll not be a time when we’ll be moved to righteous indignation over injustice or the mistreatment of others and lead the charge in "the cleansing of the Temple." However, today’s Manna reminds us that it is the Lord God Who vindicates us, not us. He doesn’t need our help in showing we are His disciples who "know the truth and are basing our life on His Word and Will" (Jn. 8:31). Jesus said "By their fruits you shall know them" (Mt. 7:20) and "the truth—i.e., the reality of your life of faith and fidelity—will set you free" (Jn. 8:32).
That’s why we must not "grow weary in well-doing," Pilgrim, "for in due season we shall reap" (Gal. 6:9). The time will come when the Lord of hosts will arise and reveal whose life is built on the Rock or upon the sand (Mt. 7:21-23). Until then, may our "tongues speak of His righteousness and praise all the day long" (Ps. 35:28).
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