GOD makes no apology for HIMSELF nor does HE need give any defense for HIS actions. HE simply says through the prophet Isaiah, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isa 45:5-9)
Yet we find the vast multitude of those who claim to believe in the GOD of the Bible, recoiling at HIS own declaration. Some often spend many words and much effort, trying to explain why the LORD didn’t mean what HE said. I have heard men claiming to believe in a Sovereign GOD who yet think that it is possible to accuse GOD of doing wrong. Whatever GOD does is right because HE is GOD, HE is above reproof. Let the potsherds of the earth strive with the other potsherds of the earth, but let GOD be true and every man a liar, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Psa 115:3)
When the LORD revealed HIMSELF to Moses, HE simply said that HIS name was I AM. HE would leave no doubt in Moses’ mind that HE was that ONE who was and is and is to come, the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END. HE is the first cause of all causes and events and all things were created by HIM. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)
There is nothing that exists that did not have its origin with GOD. The LORD said that HE created evil and yet some tell us that it could not be so. We are sure that Satan is the father of lies, yet we are also certain that the everlasting and holy GOD created Satan, out of nothing that did then appear, in order to fulfill HIS divine purpose. We are also certain that all evil will serve the purpose of GOD and can in no wise occur apart from HIS divine decree.
Not only that but that GOD did create and form HIS own enemies in order to display HIS mighty power in their destruction and cause the glory of the redemption of HIS people, to shine brightly in contrast to their utter destruction. “For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” (Rom 9:17, Ex.9:12-16)
So, the enemies of GOD, can in reality do nothing to thwart HIS way, but rather, they fulfill HIS very purpose for them with their every action. They include those who have a contempt and disregard for HIS truth (such as Pharaoh) and those who are religious and value their own religion and righteousness as being quite acceptable in HIS sight (such as the religious Pharisees). They have demonstrated a true hatred for HIM by a disregard for HIS truth, and HE will utterly destroy them forever. Paul describes them as those who are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Tim 3:7)
We see the inexorable and certain justice of GOD towards HIS enemies, demonstrated in David’s command to his son Solomon, concerning Shimei. David, being a “man after GOD’s own heart” demanded that Solomon not let Shimei die in peace but to execute him.
Shimei is a good example of the enemies of GOD who rail upon the rightful king. Not only was the king the object of his scorn and ridicule but also those who were the servants of the king and heirs of the kingdom. He threw rocks at them all. This is not surprising since he arose from the house of Saul, from whom the kingdom was stripped. (see II Sam.16:5-10)
There is a natural enmity, that abides in the heart of men, against CHRIST the KING, (and was demonstrated by the religious Jews) and except it be taken away everyone would express themselves in cursing HIS name. Yet the LORD in HIS mercy has not ordained that all of those born of woman should be HIS enemies, rather HE has ordained that some would believe and follow HIM. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)
Shimei, (even though he was the enemy of king David) was nonetheless the recipient of David’s mercy and longsuffering. He could have ordered Abishai to remove his head immediately but instead he suffered him to live. A thing no doubt enjoyed by Shimei even if he was not thankful, thinking perhaps that he deserved such blessing. “What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.” (Rom 9:22-23) So GOD is often pleased to shower HIS enemies with prosperity and make them to appear wiser in this generation than the sons of GOD. They are often allowed to drink their fill of this world’s pleasures, but nothing will change their rebellion against the authority of GOD nor their relentless pursuit of their own destruction to which they are ordained.
Solomon, David’s son, whom he chose as the heir to his throne, had all judgement and justice committed into his hands. (see John 5:22; Jude 15) He issued clear warnings to Shimei of his impending doom and what would precipitate it. Yet Shimei was heedless of these warnings and demonstrated his own contempt of Solomon’s admonition by doing exactly what Solomon warned him against, even as Adam was heedless of the command of GOD. (see I Kings 2:36-46) Perhaps he was as the self-righteous who thought that lip service to an approval of Solomon’s decree was the same as obedience to it. “Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mat 15:7-9)
Solomon’s kingdom was established by the destruction of his enemies and so it is with that of the LORD JESUS CHRIST as HE has made HIS foes HIS footstool and triumphed openly over all powers and principalities. In flaming fire HE shall wreak vengeance on all those who are found HIS enemies in the final day. What a contrast is seen, in their destruction, to those who are the objects of HIS mercy and not appointed unto wrath who even though they were “sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.” (Col 1:21) “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Rom 5:9-11)
mam