"It Just So Happened"

"For behold, Your enemies make a tumult....They have said, 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more'....They form a confederacy against You....Deal with them...."  (From Psalm 83)

It "just so happened" this is the 17th of the month.  It "just so happened" I read our text this morning.  It "just so happened" I saw the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel hate demonstration today.  Right, like it "just so happens" that you and I live in a world of hate, hatred for Jews, for their Land and nation, hatred for the Church, and for everyone who loves the Holy Trinity, Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit. 

Our text was written as early as 2800 years ago, yet it is as though one is reading the Washington Post, Berlin Morgenpost, or Herald Tribune.  I am continually amazed just how "relevant" is the "God-Breathed" Word.  While professional religionists attempt to limit the Word of God to their kingdom building, Jesus, Word of Father, just keeps revealing His Eternal plan and purpose to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts/minds upon which He can write His Word-- "[He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth."  No one or nothing on earth or in the heavens can frustrate His "Plan!"

There is a cry-out prayer in verse nine of our text, "Deal with them;" and that He will.  But most of the time through the centuries God has dealt with His enemies through His People.  We can sit and debate this fact, some may not like this fact, some may call for the "separation of church and state" to keep us out of "politics," and societal-cultural- ethnic strife, and wars between nations---- but, alas, all to no avail. 

I am currently rereading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Christ the Center.  It is a series of lectures which he gave at the University of Berlin in 1933, the year of the rise of National Socialism.  Bonhoeffer was only 27 years old.  What a genius in grasping the struggle between the Church and state.  It is absolutely the best on the subject I have ever read.
You know the life of Bonhoeffer, early on believing Christians should stay out of "politics," confined to "parish work," yet later on involved with the Abwehr in the plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler.  Sit in our morning devotional chairs all one may; you and I will indeed be involved one way or another in the events which are escalating.

I confess an anger when I viewed the video which I sent to you, and the prayer of our text came to my lips, "Deal with them."  But along with this prayer came a concern for the salvation for the Arab-Islamists which are driving, and seem to be leading, the global hatred against not only Jews, but also you and me as Followers of Jesus Christ.  And, as you and I, they need the same Precious Blood of Jesus, Forgiveness of sin, and names written in, "The Book of Life."  May God have mercy on us all! 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that not I but that You, "Deal with them."  I pray I will, "be willing in the day of Your power."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2