Evidence of Righteous Judgment

The saying is true, things are not always as they seem.  Consider for example Paul’s statement regarding the Thessalonians’ suffering.  Their endurance through persecutions and afflictions is evidence of the righteous judgment of God (2Ths 1:4-5).  Who would ever believe that if the Spirit had not revealed it?  Would any of us consider public reproach, plundering of property, physical abuse and even death the proof that our Father is judging righteously?  To the eye of sense that seems absurd.  But to the eye of faith it is gospel truth.  As the apostle says elsewhere to the Philippians, This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God (Php 1:28).  As the Christian suffers the indignity and pain of persecution at the hands of malicious evildoers, it is a sign of their destruction and his salvation!  It is evidence of righteous judgment!  What strange irony.  In the midst of such hardship it requires a childlike trust in the wisdom and fidelity of our gracious God to think like that.  But then His kingdom is very different from the kingdoms of this world.  Indeed, it is otherworldly.  Its means and ends and principles are vastly different, even diametrically opposed to those of mere earthly realms.  So this should not surprise us.  It is a wonderful paradox characterizing the experience of Christians as we live in a fallen world and make our pilgrimage heavenward.  Things are not as they seem!  In the midst of affliction and persecution, suffering and weakness the church is growing, advancing, and glorifying God through faith in the crucified Christ.  It makes no sense to fleshly reason, but to the sanctified mind it makes perfect sense.  Scripture teaches us how it is in perfect accord with the infallible plan of God.  Our Lord Jesus has overcome Satan and always overrules his schemes.  By His death Christ has removed the evil of afflictions so that all of them without exception only serve the great cause of our salvation.  Are you enduring some form of persecution or hardship at the hands of evildoers?  It is evidence of God’s righteous judgment!  It is a sign of your salvation!  It is proof that God considers you worthy of His kingdom through our great Redeemer King, even Jesus Christ.

Handed Over To Satan

Paul mentions almost in passing the regrettable condition of Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom he had handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (1Tim 1:20). It is a mysterious and spine tingling phrase that is relatively obscure as far as disciplinary measures go. What does it mean to hand over someone to the devil? Is Paul talking about church discipline? Or is he referring to an apostolic prerogative? Or perhaps could he be alluding to some uniquely Pauline measure that consisted in part of chanting imprecatory psalms or offering maledictory prayers? We are left wondering what exactly was involved in this severe measure.

Paul employs the same phrase in the case of the incestuous Corinthian who took his father’s wife, something even the pagans refuse to tolerate. Having already pronounced judgment himself, Paul directs the congregation to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord (1Cor 5:5). This suggests that the measure was not a uniquely apostolic or Pauline privilege. The church herself utilized it with success. The man eventually repented and was readmitted to full fellowship (2Cor 2:6-8). Interestingly, God Himself employed this measure or something like it when He said to Satan, Behold, Job is in your hand; only spare his life (Job 2:6). Of course the rest of the story describes in painful detail the severe physical, mental and emotional assaults endured by Job at the hands of the evil adversary. It was not Job’s sin that demanded suffering but God’s sovereignty that ordained it even though the measure itself seems to have been commensurate with if not identical to the handing over to Satan mentioned by Paul to Timothy.

The precise nature of this spiritual extradition to the powers of evil is obscure. But one thing we may safely conclude is it involved pain and suffering, perhaps physical, certainly spiritual. Hymenaeus and Alexander received a severe censure of church discipline designed to prevent further sin from infecting the church and to reclaim if possible these professing but erring Christians. They must learn not to blaspheme. God would honor this disciplinary measure by lowering His hedge of protection and exposing them to danger. What a terrifying chastisement! Satan is pure evil and a malicious murderer. His nature knows not one ounce of pity. Therefore to be placed under his authority, if even temporarily, would be a frightening and dreadful sentence.

But as Scripture reveals true change in a sinner only comes by way of the cross. It is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1Cor 1:18). The cross was the instrument employed at one and the same time by God’s love and Satan’s malice. Though Satan meant it for evil, God overruled it for good. In like manner, every cross appointed for us is ordained by our heavenly Father who knows what is best and will use whatever means necessary to preserve us from perdition.

Although we may not know exactly what constituted being surrendered to Satan, we do know that like all other disciplinary measures God utilizes it for good – for the good of Christians individually and the church corporately. Let us thank our Lord for His infinite wisdom and steadfast love from which nothing in heaven or on earth can ever separate us.

Hurricanes

The recent hurricanes in New Orleans and Texas have been described as “natural disasters.” Implying the destructive activity of some impersonal force, this explanation contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture. It ascribes to these tempests meaning and purpose arising from the infinite wisdom and power of a personal God. “They saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For He commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea” (Ps 107:24f). As a king directs his army so the Lord raises and commands all the forces of nature. With only a word He wisely orders both winds and waves to mount up and accomplish His sacred aim. “I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things” (Is 45:7).

This of course leads one to ask, “Why did He do it?” Ultimately it is the outworking of His good pleasure. He was pleased so to do. More specifically, according to Elihu, He causes it to happen “for correction or for his land or for love” (Job 37:13). That is, the recent hurricanes were sent for either punishment, mercy, or geographical improvement – or some combination thereof. The U.S.A. has enjoyed generations of God’s mercy, yet today more than ever its moral compass is out of kilter and its sense of gratitude is fast eroding. As a people it seems we have refused to listen, hated knowledge, and forsaken the fear of the Lord. Thus terror has struck “like a storm” and calamity has come “like a whirlwind” (Prv 1:27). This is a critical time. Let us not miss what these disasters are designed to teach. Indeed, as Jesus Himself so solemnly said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:5).

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