Getting Ready for Judgment
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Key Verse: “Wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” Selected Scripture: |
GOD WANTS US TO WAIT patiently in all things in our lives. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waited for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”—James 5:7
An example of the value of waiting on the Lord is found in the lives and experiences of Jeroboam and David. Jeroboam as a young man of large natural ability attracted the attention of King Solomon, who could see that he possessed great executive and leadership talents. He had more confidence in himself than he had trust in God. He was also very impatient to become a king. All of these things interfered with his loyalty and patriotic zeal to serve God and his people. He took the selfish course and looked to his own interests. As a direct result, he ended up leading the nation into idolatry. Thus a man of great opportunities and of great natural ability for serving his God and his people dishonored one and led the other astray.
David was anointed king of Israel several years before the death of King Saul. He was content to wait for God’s time to bring him to the throne. God had indicated that he would be king, but he did not indicate that the time had yet come. So David waited on the Lord and meantime learned valuable lessons of self-control and trust in Divine providence. These lessons served him well during his reign. If we have confidence in God as David did, we will also have faith that he will put all things right in due time, regardless of how bad they may become in our lives and in the world. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”—Rom. 12:19
God’s people are forewarned not to interfere with the powers that be. Our trust should never be placed in carnal weapons but rather in the Lord. It is not our duty to pass judgment on public officials or governments, always keeping in mind that we live in a country with one of the best governments in the world. We should never demand justice from others, but always being sympathetic and keeping in mind our own fallen condition.
God has a plan and it is allowing all nations to explore all the selfish avenues that are possible. Rapid communication and travel systems made possible by technology are breaking down barriers of language and bringing the world of mankind into closer contact. Along with this is a great increase of knowledge which is bringing on the restless social conditions. Many nations are being brought together in common interest and activity, but not in brotherly love. Injustice, war, and evil continue to reign in the world, and the only solution to these problems is God’s promised kingdom which will only come when the present political, financial, social, and religious structures of the world are done away with, and earth’s dominion will be transferred to him. “I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”—Ezek. 21:27