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| Volume 20 Number 12 December 2018 | Page 9 |
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| Volume 20 Number 12 December 2018 | Page 9 |
David
Thomas Baxley
After the period of the Judges came the period of the United Kingdom. Saul’s reign was not one characterized by a seeking after God, nor much military conquest, like it was during the day of Joshua and the taking of the Promised Land. However, all that changed with David. David was by no means perfect, but he did more to honor God and bring glory to Israel than any of the other kings of the united monarchy. It was David who brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, something that had gone completely forgotten during the reign of Saul. It was David who first desired to build a permanent house for God and the Ark. It was David who subdued Israel’s enemies, paving the way for peace and prosperity for his son. It was David who became the image of what the Messiah would be like, the conquering king who would shepherd His people (Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24; Hosea 3:5).
Andy Robison
Discouragement can overtake a soul who tries to make sense of the world events and the attitudes of the populaces involved. It is sickening to see violence. Racism is inexcusable. The mistreatment of women is despicable. Religious persecution is wrong. Trafficking of human beings is slavery resurrected and incomprehensible to any mind with any sensitivity.
In addition to the events, one might be overwhelmed by the direction of the discussions. Many times, they are fueled by issues of personality rather than by substance. Truth often has no place in a discussion, on either side of an issue. It is all about feelings—how one side feels hurt and another side feels empowered, or vice versa. Facts and even reality are distorted. It seems that no one cares.
In vain I search each way for truth,
In vain I look for reason.
My people turn with every wind
To values of the season.
What once was right is wrong this day;
What once was wrong is right.
My wicked people are destroyed,
Our ignorance the plight.
The God of Heaven Who reigns above
Has taught us truth from error.
His mercy saves all those who hear,
But rebels reap His terror.
One day all people shall be judged;
The standard is the Lord’s.
His righteousness has been revealed
In His own Holy Word.
Oh, help me find the truth, dear God
Through all the darkest clouds.
And help me as a candle shine,
One light for dismal crowds.
This disheartenment is nothing new. It might be granted that it feels new to a generation that was raised in an era where most people had morals, sensitivity and sense. Nevertheless, in every age, in some places, there are the barbarians who wage war against truth. Once the idea of truth is deleted from the public mindset, anything goes. It starts with the supposedly pleasurable practices of immorality, drunkenness, drug use, etc. Then, it spirals into the senseless violence that will simply be in a godless society.
Think about it, without any concept of God in a culture, there is no reason to behave, no responsibility to be felt and no consequences if one does not get caught. This leads to the chaos.
The only way to achieve some kind of solace is to place hope in God’s Word. It is and always will be true, and the Word of God will outlast all nations and cultures, especially those that rebel against it (1 Peter 1:22-25; Psalm 9:17). Truth will prevail. God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17). It is to be absorbed and cherished.
“Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23). Find the truth through study (2 Timothy 2:15). Stand by the truth. Live by it. Think through the issues. Come to the right conclusions. Proclaim the Word of God. The world needs it desperately. It will be unpopular; God’s ways have always been unpopular. Yet, the world needs the Truth. Children need skills of critical thinking, and they cannot have that without the Truth being presented as at least one option.
The devil will wage war to suppress right ideas and reasonable thinking (Romans 1:18). God’s people must wage the good warfare of Truth in the marketplace of ideas. Be reminded, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).