Understanding how the Lordship of Jesus Christ extends to all areas of life.
Muammar Gaddafi
In the recent news of the reported death of Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi, I was able to catch up with a couple of well-known Bible scholars to get their perspectives on this situation. First, King Solomon had this to say:
King Solomon (c. 1011- c. 931 B.C.)
“Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man’s house, do not raid his dwelling place; for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?” (Proverbs 24:14-22)
When I asked Matthew Henry to comment on Solomon’s perspective, he added this:
Matthew Henry (1662 – 1714)
1. The pleasure we are apt to take in the troubles of an enemy is forbidden us. If any have done us an ill turn, or if we bear them ill-will only because they stand in our light or in our way, when any damage comes to them (suppose they fall), or any danger (suppose they stumble), our corrupt hearts are too apt to conceive a secret delight and satisfaction in it-Aha! so would we have it; they are entangled; the wilderness has shut them in-or, as Tyrus said concerning Jerusalem (Eze. 26:2) I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste. “Men hope in the ruin of their enemies or rivals to wreak their revenge or to find their account; but be not thou so inhuman; rejoice not when the worst enemy thou hast falls.” There may be a holy joy in the destruction of God’s enemies, as it tends to the glory of God and the welfare of the church (Ps. 58:10); but in the ruin of our enemies, as such, we must by no means rejoice; on the contrary, we must weep even with them when they weep (as David, Ps. 35:13, 14), and that in sincerity, not so much as letting our hearts be secretly glad at their calamities.
2. The provocation which that pleasure gives to God is assigned as the reason of that prohibition: The Lord will see it, though it be hidden in the heart only, and it will displease him, as it will displease a prudent father to see one child triumph in the correction of another, which he ought to tremble at, and take warning by, not knowing how soon it may be his own case, he having so often deserved it. Solomon adds an argument ad hominem-addressed to the individual: “Thou canst not do a greater kindness to thy enemy, when he has fallen, than to rejoice in it; for them, to cross thee and vex thee, God will turn his wrath from him; for, as the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God, so the righteousness of God was never intended to gratify the wrath of man, and humour his foolish passions; rather than seem to do that he will adjourn the execution of his wrath: nay, it is implied that when he turns his wrath from him he will turn it against thee and the cup of trembling shall be put into thy hand.”
This year, a number of Muslim leaders from around the world have called for an Islamic uprising. Some places that have sought political and religious tolerance and freedom have been met with severe dictatorial cruelty to crush protests. In the past year, we have seen political uprisings in Yemen, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco & Bahrain.
Louis Farrakahn
Now American leaders like Louis Farrakhan (famous for the “Million-Man March” on Washington, DC) are calling for American Muslims to be prepared to cause unrest and protest here in the United States.
Louis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. (born Louis Eugene Walcott; May 11, 1933) is the leader of the Chicago, Illinois-based Nation of Islam (NOI). In a vitriolic speech before 16,000 devoted followers (and many thousands more over live broadcast) at the Saviour’s Day event in February 2011, Farrakhan stated that this is a time of war. He says Armageddon is coming.
“Even OUR blood, will soon be running in the streets, ” Farrakahn said.
Farrakhan instructed his people to head to Middle-America and seek refuge from impending natural disasters (the judgment of God) that will hit the East, South and West.
Using Apocalyptic language, and quoting many Bible passages, Farrakhan claimed that Elijah Muhammad was the Messiah, and Farrakhan’s role is to build the Kingdom of God on earth. He harkened to the Battle of Badr, where the Prophet Muhammad had to fight and kill members of his own household. Farrakahn even quoted Jesus to support this kind of Jihadist rhetoric. He also called Caucasians “Sociopaths” who need to be expelled from society.
Farrakhan is a close friend and ally with Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator who once in 1996 tried to give Farrakahn and the Nation of Islam a $1 Billion gift to undermine the American Republic.
On Friday, June 3, 2011, American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn called on American Muslims to buy guns and carry out one man terrorist operations killing American citizens. He released a two-hour video entitled, “”Do Not Rely on Others, Take the Task Upon Yourself,” saying:
“Let’s take America as an example. America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms. You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle, without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?”
While national political leaders still continue the rhetoric about Islam being a “Religion of Peace,” there is undoubtedly a radical Islamic element who takes the rhetoric of Jihad literally and is seeking to instill fear in the hearts and minds of peaceful citizens. This is certainly something of which we need to be aware and prayerful. We need to also do whatever we can to reach our Muslim neighbors with the true gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, before the shooting starts. Here is the unedited speech by Mr. Farrakhan:
Osama Bin Ladin
In the recent news of the reported death of terrorist Osama Bin Laden, I was able to catch up with a couple of well-known Bible scholars to get their perspectives on this situation. First, King Solomon had this to say:
King Solomon (c. 1011- c. 931 B.C.)
“Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man’s house, do not raid his dwelling place; for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?” (Proverbs 24:14-22)
When I asked Matthew Henry to comment on Solomon’s perspective, he added this:
Matthew Henry (1662 – 1714)
1. The pleasure we are apt to take in the troubles of an enemy is forbidden us. If any have done us an ill turn, or if we bear them ill-will only because they stand in our light or in our way, when any damage comes to them (suppose they fall), or any danger (suppose they stumble), our corrupt hearts are too apt to conceive a secret delight and satisfaction in it-Aha! so would we have it; they are entangled; the wilderness has shut them in-or, as Tyrus said concerning Jerusalem (Eze. 26:2) I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste. “Men hope in the ruin of their enemies or rivals to wreak their revenge or to find their account; but be not thou so inhuman; rejoice not when the worst enemy thou hast falls.” There may be a holy joy in the destruction of God’s enemies, as it tends to the glory of God and the welfare of the church (Ps. 58:10); but in the ruin of our enemies, as such, we must by no means rejoice; on the contrary, we must weep even with them when they weep (as David, Ps. 35:13, 14), and that in sincerity, not so much as letting our hearts be secretly glad at their calamities.
2. The provocation which that pleasure gives to God is assigned as the reason of that prohibition: The Lord will see it, though it be hidden in the heart only, and it will displease him, as it will displease a prudent father to see one child triumph in the correction of another, which he ought to tremble at, and take warning by, not knowing how soon it may be his own case, he having so often deserved it. Solomon adds an argument ad hominem-addressed to the individual: “Thou canst not do a greater kindness to thy enemy, when he has fallen, than to rejoice in it; for them, to cross thee and vex thee, God will turn his wrath from him; for, as the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God, so the righteousness of God was never intended to gratify the wrath of man, and humour his foolish passions; rather than seem to do that he will adjourn the execution of his wrath: nay, it is implied that when he turns his wrath from him he will turn it against thee and the cup of trembling shall be put into thy hand.”
