June 29
2 Kings 15:1-16:20 | PS 147:1-20 | Prov 18:4-5 | Acts 19:13-41
It has been said that "There is nothing new under the sun". So, as we see waves of protests, massive numbers, some looting, some yelling, some peaceful, many if not most of those assembling have been paid to be there, are there to join the crowd (not necessarily that they understand the cause) and of course some are there for their beliefs. We read in Acts 19:32, "Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there." Everyone should realize that the Jewish people have always been God's children. When you choose to march against them you are on the wrong side of biblical history. I don't care if you like their leader, or some of their positions, but to march for their enemies or for their destruction will one day be shown for the wrong side that this is. Ignorance and simply getting paid to be there will not exonerate anyone.
Evil must be called evil, and when evil is seen it must be dealt with decisively. Those of us in a position to do something must do so, even if it costs us our life, our reputation, our jobs, etc. We read of a situation which should have never been allowed, and yet it was facilitated by the high priest at that time, Uriah. He knew better. It was through him as an intermediary that the people related to God, and yet we read in 2 Kings 16:10-16, "King Ahaz then went to Damascus to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. While he was there, he took special note of the altar. Then he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail. Uriah followed the king’s instructions and built an altar just like it, and it was ready before the king returned from Damascus. When the king returned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it. He presented a burnt offering and a grain offering, he poured out a liquid offering, and he sprinkled the blood of peace offerings on the altar. Then King Ahaz removed the old bronze altar from its place in front of the Lord’s Temple, between the entrance and the new altar, and placed it on the north side of the new altar. He told Uriah the priest, “Use the new altar for the morning sacrifices of burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, and the burnt offerings of all the people, as well as their grain offerings and liquid offerings. Sprinkle the blood from all the burnt offerings and sacrifices on the new altar. The bronze altar will be for my personal use only.” Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz commanded him." This is an example of what not to do when confronted with evil.
As an example of what to do when evil is seen for what it is we read in Acts 19:17-20, "The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect." Many years ago there was a campaign "Just say no" in conjunction with young people and the use of illegal drugs. When evil is confronted it is not to be reasoned with, debated with, it needs to be seen for the evil it is and rejected. Edmund Burke rightly said many years ago, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". Sadly, we are seeing evil loudly paraded in our streets and for the most part it is tolerated, celebrated, advocated for, etc. This cannot end well unless we wake up and speak against it and confront it.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: