Bad Things Done by Bad People

When bad things happen to us, some people will remind us that God is in control.

God is sovereign, so we can trust Him.

That is a biblical truth, but often in the depth of the crisis, it's hard to see how God is in control. When it's hard to see, we don't want to hear it either.

This week I was thinking of the evil things that women in the Bible had done.

The first one that came to mind was Queen Athaliah. When she realized that her son, Ahaziah, was dead, Athaliah killed the rest of the royal family, so that she could be queen of Judah (2 Kings 11:1-3).

Then Delilah, a prostitute in the land of the Philistines, who whined to Samson until he revealed the secret of his strength. Delilah was paid handsomely and Samson was captured and had his eyes gouged out (Judges 16).

But as I thought through the next chapters of the events, it became clear that God was in control of these evil women and their evil actions.

A nurse had hidden one of the royal sons, who was presented as king seven years later. Athaliah was executed and revival came about under the leadership of Joash. The temple was repaired and the Word of God was honored (2 Kings 11:4-12:21).

Samson was left in prison, but his hair began to grow out. As the lords of the Philistines mocked this once mighty warrior of Israel, the blind Samson knocked down the pillars of the building, killing more of God's enemies at that time, than he had in any other battle (Judges 16:23-31).

And the longer I thought about it, it wasn't just evil women with evil plans. Evil men with evil plans remained under God's control, bringing about major events displaying God's glory.

So when evil men or women do evil things against us, rather than looking at them and their evil, we can look to God. We can ask ourselves, "What good will God bring out of this?"

I've Got Everything Under Control

I’ve Got Everything Under Control

1 I’ve got everything under control; no worries. I can take care of myself!

2 Everyone, listen to me! Look to me for help! I’ve got it all under control; I’ll tell you what needs to be done.

3 Nothing can move me; I’ve got my life all planned out and ready to go!

4 No one can surprise me with their tricks; I’ve always got an escape plan.

5 I’ve got everything under control. I’m a self-made man and I can do it myself!

6 Religion is for wimps; You’ve got to help yourself!

7 Victory over others is key; don’t worry about the emotions!

8 I’ve gotten myself out of a lot of messes before; I stand on my own two feet!

9 Look at me! I’m victorious. Tired and worn out, but I’ve won again!

10 I’ve left a wake of pain behind me. It’s not been a pleasant life. And I’m getting old and worn out.

11 I don’t have many friends. My neighbors hide if they see me coming. Most people hate me.

12 Most people have forgotten me. Some wish I were dead.

13 I am sure that they are plotting a scheme to take over.

14 But no worries! I’ve beat them at this game before, I’ll do it again!

15 I’ve got my strategy all figured out. They won’t outsmart me!

16 I’ll be happy when I’ve won again!

17 They won’t be able to embarrass me, because I’m the best! Everyone will forget about the other guys, but they won’t forget me!

18 If I have to lie to get my way, that’s okay. And if the good people suffer, that’s alright, too.

19 I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and I’m not going to let anyone get me down.

20 I can protect myself! I don’t need help from anyone else. Let them say what they want! I will overcome!

21 I can remember the victories of the past, reminding myself of how great I am.

22 Even if everyone else forgets me, I’ll still remember myself, my conquests and my victories.

23 Everyone should love me! I’ll help those who help me and crush those who hate me.

24 Come join my side! We are bound to win, because I’ve got everything under control.

Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit (Psalm 31)

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; 

4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. 

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. 

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 

8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. 

9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 

10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 

11Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 

12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 

13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror on every side!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 

14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 

15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

  

16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 

17 O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 

18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 

20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 

21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 

22 I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 

23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 

24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!

The Light of My Life

My Family is the Light of My Life

1 My family is the light of my life and my reason for living, yet I live in fear. My family gives me a reason to keep on going, yet I am afraid of losing them.

2 When others criticize me, I put up a barrier and justify myself.

3 When my wife criticizes me, I crumble in fear; if the children won’t listen to me, I am afraid that I’m doing something wrong again.

4 But I only want to keep my family together and happy. That’s all I really want. To be able to sit together around the table and talk about the day. To enjoy Christmas dinner with the grandkids.

5 But when trouble comes they abandon me; they go after their own dreams; they build their own families; they don’t even call.

6 So I hang my head in shame, I've got nothing to offer, no reason to rejoice. I’m alone.

7 Why won’t the children tell me what I did wrong?

8 I only wanted to make them happy. Everything I did was to help them.

9 Yet they've turned against me. They won’t talk to me. They won’t answer my calls. I've been abandoned, forsaken by the ones in whom I had placed my hope.

10 I don’t even fit in with my own family.

11 It seems that everyone is looking for a way to trip me up, waiting for me to fall again.

12 I might as well give up to what they want me to do; whatever I do, it’s the wrong thing, and people are just plotting against me.

13 Life is only going to get worse. What’s the point?

14 I’m tired of waiting for my family to come back to me; I’m going to die a weak and lonely old man.


But,

If the LORD is the light of my life...

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 

5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 

8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 

9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 

14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

(Psalm 27)