4. Thunder: High Trees Fall First! Psalm 29:5


Text:  “The voice of the Lord breaketh (breaks, and continues to break) the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.”

                                                                                                                     Psalm 29:5.

Good morning, politically oppressed Christian!  Unlike the author and many others here in the Western Hemisphere, you are perhaps compelled to worship Christ in some secret place away from the eyes and ears of political tyrants who in their rebellion against the Living Lord God have embraced false religions, and now seek to persecute all those under their tyrannical power who dare to call themselves Christian.  Well, this morning I have a message of encouragement especially for you: having read to the end of God’s Book - the Holy Bible - I can fully assure you that YOU are on the winning side!  Hallelujah!  The Lord will soon deal with all such persecuting tyrants.  Amen.

Whether it be the recent case of the Christian woman, Meriam Ibrahim in Sudan; or Christian believers being burnt in their churches in Nigeria (see below) - one thing is certain - political tyrants worldwide, in the highest of political offices, are either encouraging the most violent persecution of Christian believers, or turning a blind eye as others carry on this slaughter of Christian innocents. Beware, tyrant!  God is watching you, and will not be mocked by your pathetic cruelties towards His people!

True Church, waken up! Pray fervently now for these our brethren!  Lift the telephone!  Write to your government! Sign email petitions! Demand that all Christian Aid packages to oppressive countries be suspended until Christian believers can worship Christ and practice their Bible-believing Christian faith in freedom!  Act NOW!

“Persecution of Christians in Sudan

Meriam Yahia Ibrahim was sentenced to death in Khartoum on 11 May for 'apostasy' (converting to Christianity), and up to 100 lashes for committing adultery. She refused to renounce her Christian faith. According to reports, the judge told her: "We gave you three days to recant but you insist on not returning to Islam. I sentence you to be hanged to death." Meriam calmly replied, "I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy."

Nigeria: More Sunday attacks
30 June 2014

Four churches were torched and worshippers killed during Sunday services when suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Kwada village close to Chibok in Borno State on 29 June. Three other villages were also attacked; the bodies of at least 40 civilians and six militants have been recovered from the region so far.

Churches attacked

The attackers sprayed gunfire at worshippers and torched four churches, including the Protestant Church of Christ, the Pentecostal Deeper Life Bible Church and Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa (Hausa for 'Church of the Brethren' in Nigeria). A witness said the attackers then went on to neighbouring Kautikari where they shot at villagers and burned homes. It is believed that suspected Boko Haram militants delivered a letter to Kautikari in April threatening imminent attacks.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) estimates that there are between 350,000 - 470,000 internally displaced people and refugees who have left home due to the violence in northern Nigeria. Open Doors is supporting Christians facing violence to stay and serve their broken communities. Find out how you can strengthen widows and pastors in Nigeria here.”

Source: Open Doors; BBC; UN OCHA

Verse 5.  “The voice of Jehovah.  It is a diabolical science, however, which fixes our contemplation on the works of nature and turns them away from God.”  (John Calvin 1509-1564)

Here in Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK, we have a wise old adage that teaches, ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall.’; and this is especially true concerning political tyrants, and physically powerful bullies of all description.  No matter how powerful, or how physically strong tyrants and bullies seem, there is always someone or some other entity more powerful to overthrow the tyrants and humble their overbearing spirits.

“He (the Lord God) shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.”  (Psalm 72:4)

Verse 5.  “…The cedars of Lebanon.  These mighty trees of God, which for ages have stood the force of the tempest, are the first objects of the fury of the lightning, which is well known to visit first the highest objects.”  (Robert Murray M’Cheyne 1813-1843)

“The voice of the Lord breaketh (breaks, and continues to break) the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.” (Psalm 29:5)

Notice it is ’the Lord’ that breaks, and continues to break, down these high tree tyrants, but He often uses other human forces to do so.  Look, for example, at the long list of dictators throughout the world who have been suddenly renounced, deposed, and brought down into the depths of death and Eternal doom: Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Nicolae Ceausescu;  Saddam Hussein; Muammar Gaddaifi; etc.

Thought: These tyrants - and many others from all over the world and throughout history - rebelled against the Living Lord God, and dared to set themselves and their political ideologies and regimes above the Lord God; and went on to persecute His people.  Yet, suddenly, the voice of the Lord thundered from the Heavens, and down they came, and the fall of their cruel dictatorships was terrible and devastating.  God is not mocked!   Christian, take heart!






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