| 9/16/01
A BIBLICAL RESPONSE TO DISASTER
INTRO
I. THE HAND OF GOD IS INVOLVED. There are many wrong views of God. But God is sovereign over all things and it will do us no good to deny this truth.
A. God is sovereign over calamity.
Is. 45:6-7 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. Amos 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it? Lam. 3:37-38 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth? Job 23:14 For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such decrees are with Him. Cf. Isa. 14:24-27; 37:36; 46:11; Zeph. 3:6, 8; Ex. 3:20; Ps. 2.
B. God is righeous in His judgments. Let us also understand that whenever God afflicts, He does so in pure righteousness. “I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me” (Ps. 119:75). “The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?” (Rom. 3:5-6).
II. THE QUESTION “WHY” IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO ANSWER.
Without a true prophet of God, we cannot know with absolute certainty the answer to the question WHY. Some general reasons for divine judgments are:
A. Sin “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23)
1) Our cup of sin overflows in this nation.
2) The church needs to repent over our own sin.
B. Testing - to reveal our character.
Deut. 8:2 "And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
1 Pet. 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Ps. 81:7 "I proved you at the waters of Meribah.”
C. Purification Heb. 12:10-11 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He for good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. James 1:2-3 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Ex. 20:20 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin." (by His appearance on Mt. Sinai) Prov. 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts.
D. God’s glory. John 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 11:4 But when Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Rom. 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, " For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth."
III. WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS DISASTER
A. We cannot put our trust in man. Ps. 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me.
Ps. 56:11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Ps. 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
Ps. 146:3 Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
Ps. 33:16-17 The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
Ps. 60:11 O give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain.
Prov. 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.
Ps. 20:7 Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.
B. Evil knows no limits when grace is gone.
C. Disasters should encourage repentance, Lk. 13:1-5.
E. Trust in God. Ps. 91
F. The need to pray for God’s protection. |