Scourge

Scourge /skûrj/ noun

      1.       A source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.

2.      A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.

3.      A small whip used to inflict punishment

 

Thus spoke Isaiah to the rulers of Jerusalem:

 

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. Isa 28:15-18 

 

 Don't ever fear the scourging that is coming to our country.  It is only for the good.  As was well said, gold doesn't fear the fire, only the dross. 

Somewhere along the line it has been implied that Freedom is the reason that our country was founded, and that Freedom is the purpose of man's happiness.  What rubbish!  Our country was founded upon Freedom of Religion, not Freedom.  Freedom in of itself is anarchy.

In the history of God's dealing with His people, whenever they got out of line, He sent them prophets to warn them of their offences.  When the people would not heed the prophets, God would send in a scourge, which was usually an invading foreign power or natural disaster like a drought, as in the time of Ahab and Elijah.  Ultimately, when the hearts of the people were so hardened as to ignore these things, God would send in Judgment.  Israel, when it had exhausted every means of coming to repentance, was conquered and the people sent into foreign countries as slaves.  Judah came to the same end, not so soon after.  The progression of hardness of heart finally led to captivity!

All across the world in Muslim, Buddhist and communist countries Christianity has made a difference, and although the persecution is great, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ thrives.  In fact, the Church seems to be thriving everywhere except in countries that are "free."  The enemy of our souls seems to think by depriving us of our freedom, he will conquer our souls, but that is not the case at all.  Those who experience the most freedom are the most captive to their own lusts.  Those Christians that have bought into the "Freedom" cult ignore the history of the spiritual decline of our country and seem to think that deliverance means going back to the way things were, so we can all get along.  Make no mistake about it, all the adultery, fornication, abortion, and all other abominations are a result of "Freedom," and the servants of God have no place in fighting for these things.  The Jerusalem of God is no safe haven for Baal.

So, what do we do?  Brother Andrew once pointed out that it is the Church's responsibility to take the Gospel to the world, and if the Church is lax in that regard, God will bring the world to the Church.  The European countries that were adjacent to Communist countries were so busy being free that they never took the Gospel into those Communist countries, so God brought those Communist countries to them.  What was the loss of freedom to so many was an opportunity to those whose eyes were open to the Commission with which they had been entrusted.

Now here's a thought:  Jesus was scourged in our place.

 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isa 53:5 

 I think that is a worthwhile message to proclaim!

 The battle is thrust upon us.  Don't think that you are going to be exempt from it or taken out of the way.  Now is the time to be seeking Jesus, because He only is our refuge and our strength.  Now is the time for valor.  I am reminded of a conversation in, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers:

 Aragorn: You have some skill with a blade.

Eowyn: The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.

Aragorn: What do you fear, my lady?

Eowyn: A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.

Aragorn: You are a daughter of kings, a shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.

(~Al Bacon)