May 12, 2009

“An Evil Time - Part 2”

Blessings Folk!!

Throughout the Word of God we see descriptions of what the Lord calls “an evil time.”

Hear the Word from the prophet Micah.


Mic 7:1-9
1 Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, Or a first-ripe fig which I crave.
2 The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among men. All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net.
3 Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul; So they weave it together.
4 The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen, Your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur.
5 Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips.
6 For son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man's enemies are the men of his own household.
God Is the Source of Salvation and Light
7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord ; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the blight, And I will see His righteousness.

NASU

I find this description sadly familiar.

The evil time is a time when…

  • the godly person has perished from the land
  • there is no upright person among men
  • all lie in wait for bloodshed
  • they hunt each other...seeking to set traps
  • concerning evil...it is overt...there is not even the attempt to “look good” with one hand and do evil with the other. Both hands do evil equally well. The pursuit of evil is without restraint.
  • The prince asks, the judge bribes, the great man speaks the desire of his soul...so, they weave it together. The leadership is in cahoots to bring forth evil...sounds like the leadership we are experiencing. The best of the leadership is like a briar...the most upright is a thorn hedge...whoa!!...yet, there punishment will come.
  • no neighbor can be trusted
  • there is no confidence in a friend
  • one must even guard his lips from his wife
  • sons treat fathers contemptuously
  • daughters rise up against mothers
  • daughter-in-law against mother-in-law
  • A man’s enemies are the men of his own household!! Jesus told us of such…

Luke 12:51-53
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

KJV

This was the Lord’s description of evil in the day…

The same is happening today.

Evil men abound.

Corrupt.

Without the Lord.

But!!!

As for me…

I will watch expectantly for the Lord.
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
Though I fall I will arise.
Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is with me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I sinned against Him. He forgives, but I may have to bear the fruit of the sin…

God will plead my case.
God will execute justice for me.
God will bring me out to the light.

Do not rejoice over me enemy.

I will see the righteousness of the Lord!!

Blessings!!