The Word for today:
Psalms 75, 76
Psalms 75, 76
mark this: Psalm 76:10 --
Surely the wrath of man shall praise You.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise You.
We sometimes worry that media yesmen, or the yahoos next door, or the dipstick in the cubicle two down, or the smarter-than-thou professors at the local diploma mill can somehow knock Jesus down a peg with their criticism and disdain.
Scripture's attitude (and attitude it is!) says, "Bring it on. Pour it on. Because every criticism will in the end lift God higher. The spite and the hatred will bring honor and glory to his name."
If you are having a hard time understanding how the wrath of man will end up praising God, then I refer you to the cross...
What caused me to stand in awe of Jesus Christ's sheer bravery? The wrath of man:
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands. (John 19:1-3)
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands. (John 19:1-3)
What causes us to praise his amazing grace? The wrath of man:
When they came to a place called the Skull, the soldiers crucified Jesus and the criminals -- one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:33-34)
When they came to a place called the Skull, the soldiers crucified Jesus and the criminals -- one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:33-34)
What brings us to an understanding of his utter compassion? The wrath of man:
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23:26-28)
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children." (Luke 23:26-28)
It was at the hands of his tormentors, subjected to their fists and their frenzied flogging, that he defined love:
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. (John 15:13)
So don't you fret when they say the awful things they say about Jesus. Adopt the attitude (and attitude it is!) of scripture. Tell 'em, "Bring it on. Pour it on. He's getting bigger with every puny little word you lisp."
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