PRÉCIS ON RESCUE FROM THE HATERS: A PERSONAL PROMISE

SCRIPTURE. “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on an inaccessibly high place away from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who practice wrongdoing, and save me from bloodthirsty men.” – PSALM 59:1, AMP

KEY TERM: “DELIVER.” ‘Natsal’ [נָצַל]: “From a primitive root meaning, ‘To snatch away [from dangert]!’Also, to defend or escape without fail [some snare]; to pluck, preserve, recover or otherwise save or rescue; implies the overcoming the power of another; signifies a warrior’s deliverance [of those requiring defense or protection]; to be torn away or stripped of [that which could do harm].”

QUOTATION. “Our behavior is different. How often have you seen a headline like this? — TWO DIE ATTEMPTING RESCUE OF DROWNING CHILD. If a man gets lost in the mountains, hundreds will search and often two or three searchers are killed. But the next time somebody gets lost just as many volunteers turn out. Poor

arithmetic, but very human. It runs through all our folklore, all human religions, all our literature — a racial conviction that ‘when one human needs rescue, others should not count the price.’” ― ROBERT A. HEINLEIN, Starship Troopers, 1959

COMMENTARY. “In these words, we hear the voice of David when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ when surrounded by His merciless enemies; the voice of the Church when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian when under temptation, affliction, and persecution. And thus, earnestly should we pray daily, to be defended and delivered from our spiritual enemies, the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of our own hearts. We should fear suffering as evil-doers, but not be ashamed of the hatred of workers of iniquity. It is not strange, if those regard not what they themselves say, who have made themselves believe that God regards not what they say. And where there is no fear of God, there is nothing to secure proper regard to man.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK. In this pernicious AGE OF TRUMP that has cast so much Darkness across virtually all American institutions these days (including the Church), we often feel surrounded by what David and Jesus and the Apostles and the martyrs experienced in their times: ‘Hatred’ from many. Most painfully, very often from close Christian friends or even members of our own family.

But here’s the very good news, beloved: If we are hated for Christ’s sake, then we are among the most highly blessed followers of His imaginable! In possibly the least favorite passage in the New Testament, the impetuous APOSTLE PETER reminds of this in typically passionate terms:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ‘Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.’” – 1 PETER 4:12-16, NKJV

CODA. It has been said and written that one cannot fully know The Christ without what PAUL called, “The Fellowship of His Sufferings,” beloved (Philippians 3:10). I know this is true. During the last seven years of being fired and marginalized and slandered and hated by the Establishment American Church, I have discovered THREE JOYS that exceed all that I have previously experienced as a Christian of over 40 years.

• INTIMACY. I have never before felt, literally and figuratively, the presence of the Lord in my daily life. This includes being able to hear ‘His Voice’ more clearly than ever before, a blessing beyond measure for the difficult days ahead.

• WISDOM. Growing directly out of the much deeper communion with Christ by the Holy Spirit, it’s as if the Scriptures have been opened to me astonishing new ways. God gives us ‘New Eyes’ when we decide to totally submit to His Lordship.

• PROVISION. ‘Unexpected Benefits’ have accrued by being mysteriously more able to meet our material needs than when I was working for a firm or an institution. And my health has improved in extraordinary ways as my weight and strength are better now than 20 years ago.

In closing, the Magnificent Irony in all this is, just as He promised us, there is more joy and exquisite beauty found in being willing to die for Christ than when we hold on to it with all our might. It’s truly crazy, beloved, but in all the most amazing ways! Selah.