Outrage
Posted by: forthright <forthright@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
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Who ever heard of such a thing? This is
outrageous!
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COLUMN: Understanding the Times
Outrage
by Emmett Smith
"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in
vain?" (Psalm 2:2 ESV).
The second psalm predicted the evil one's plot
against Christ. Interestingly, the plotters'
emotional state is described as rage.
There's a lot of rage these days, too! How often
do you hear some news talking head or read some
article in which someone is described as being
outraged? I know I've noticed it a lot in the last
few years. Today, just as nearly 2000 years ago,
people want to "burst their bonds apart, and cast
away their cords from us" (v. 3). They don't take
kindly to being told they're doing wrong!
It's nothing new. The Sodomites took umbrage at
Lot telling them they would be wrong to forcibly
gang rape his visitors. They were outraged! They
said, "This fellow came to sojourn, and he has
become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you
than with them" (Genesis 19:9 ESV).
Unfortunately, there are lots of Sodomites these
days who are waging a strategic battle to coerce
acceptance of their immoral and unhealthy
lifestyle. And they express outrage at the least
disagreement with their statements. The same goes
for the animal rights activists, as well as many
others. Judging by the majority of news accounts,
these people are in a state of perpetual outrage.
That shouldn't surprise us. A brief reference to
the Revelation of John explains the source of all
this rage. "Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you
who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and
sea, for the devil has come down to you in great
wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
(Revelation 12:12 ESV). The devil's great wrath
was the ultimate source of the rage that was
directed against Christ. And it's undoubtedly the
source of the "outrage" mentioned so often in the
news accounts.
However, let's not forget the last three verses of
this Psalm. George Bush, Tony Blair, Vladimir
Putin, Jaques Chirac, et al. would be well advised
to heed these words! The King is certainly angered
by rebellion. But all the outrage, all the
rebellion, will surely come to naught. Let's make
sure we choose the right side!
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in
the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed
are all who take refuge in him" (Psalm 2:12 ESV).
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