When the "Godly One Is Gone"

For Times Such As This

As society becomes more secular it also becomes more bitter and twisted in its attitudes toward the Messiah and Christians.  This is not unexpected.  There is safety in numbers and when it becomes clear that the overwhelming social attitude towards Christians is scathingly negative, folk are emboldened.  When they find that anti-Christian sentiments and actions are cheered and celebrated they wind up their Dutch courage and double down.

As Christians read both the Scriptures and Church history they soon realise that such times have often existed.  In fact, so common and frequent have they been that it is not exaggerating to assert that opposition and persecution of Christians and the Church throughout its history have been the norm.

For example, below is a Psalm of David.  When it was written is not clear.  But it was probably penned when David was an outlaw, hunted by Saul.  During those dark days if anyone went to David's aid they risked not just persecution, but slaughter.  [I Samuel 22 provides a graphic account of just such an instance.]


Psalm 12 [English Standard Version Anglicised]

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
    for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbour;
    with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that makes great boasts,
those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
    our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord;
    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
The words of the Lord are pure words,
    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.

You, O Lord, will keep them;
    you will guard us from this generation for ever.
On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

The final verse is an apt description of what is increasingly the case in many Western countries: "on every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man."  Refuse to comply with homosexualism and trans-genderism and you will immediately get the point.

But the Psalm also affirms that it is precisely at such times the Lord stretches forth His arm to defend and protect His people.: "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs."

As the needy groan may God arise and place them in the safety for which they long.