The term
“terrorism” has become a household word in recent periods. We are inundated
with the term in the media. Terrorism is a word that is used almost every day
when we read the daily newspapers, when we search the Internet, and when we sit
down to watch or listen to the world news. It is a word that evokes unpleasant,
sorrowful, and dreadful memories, because of the inhumane act of a handful of
brutes on the American soil in September 11, 2001.
What is “terrorism?” Webster defines terrorism thus, “The
systematic use of terror, [especially] as a means of coercion.”[1]
This does not give us the full import of the meaning of the word. Therefore,
let me move to other aspects of the word “terror.” Webster states the synonyms
of “terror” as “to frighten, to be afraid, to tremble.”
Several nuances accompany the
word “terror.” First, it means a state of intense fear. Second, it denotes
something that inspires fear. Third, it conveys the idea of a reign of terror.
Finally, it connotes the notion of “violence (as bomb-throwing) committed by
groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their
demands.”[2]
The use of these techniques is
forms of intimidation for people to get their way. This is the route that Usama
bin Laden and his terrorist networks have taken. What makes terrorism more
fearsome and dangerous is when it is perpetrated by religious fanatics, who
claim to be doing the will of God.
The final definition is the
vivid picture of what we are experiencing in our world today. However, I would
like to submit to you that terrorism and terrorists are not new. The concept
may be new to us today, but it has been in existence from time immemorial. When
the nation of Israel settled in the Promised Land, they were terrorized by the
other nations, which surrounded them.
The people of Israel were always
living on the edge during the times of the Judges, until David became king.
There were enemies all around them that threatened the very existence and
survival of the fledgling nation of Israel. Even then, David had to fight the
enemies of Israel until he eventually conquered them all. Today Israel lives
under the constant threat of terrorism.
The terrorist plots did not stop
during the reign of David. There were personal enemies that terrorized David
before and after he took the reins of the monarchy. Psalm Thirty one is a
typical example of a period when an enemy or enemies terrorized the Psalmist.
Scholars differ in their judgment of the literary genre of Psalm 31 as such
this has led to the view that it is a composite work from anonymous authors. In
spite of this, the parallels in language between Psalm 31 and other Psalms and
the prayers of Jonah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations lead to the conclusion that
this composition is an original work.[3]
While different authors have been suggested for Psalm 31, I am of the
persuasion that David penned this Psalm.
My concern in this chapter is
not terrorism per se. The question I would like to consider is: should we lose our attitude of gratitude
because of terrorism and terrorists? God provides an answer in His Word for
us through Psalm 31. This passage teaches that in the midst of the imminent
threat of terrorism, we can still demonstrate unfeigned gratitude to our
heavenly Father on daily basis.
Limitation of space precludes
detailed treatment of all the verses or stanzas of Psalm 31. The Psalm can
easily be divided into two sections. The first part can be classified as Prayer (vv. 1-19), and the second half is Thanksgiving
and Praise (vv. 20-24). I intentionally limit the treatment and application
of this Psalm to verses 9-24. When the Psalmist was confronted with the threat
of his life, he did not resign to fatalism—what will happen will happen.
The Psalmist did not ignore or
live in denial of the menace that he faced. He acknowledged the real danger
that he was facing at the time. Today, I do not think that it is in the best
interest of the United States to blame one another for the threat of terrorism
that we face; neither are we to acquiesce to their threats nor demands. We have
to admit that we face relentless enemies that cannot be pacified or placated to
stop their carnage to humanity. Some people want us to admit that it is our
fault that has unleashed terrorist attacks on the United States. That kind of
reasoning is unconvincing and unacceptable.
In verses 9-10 we observe that
the feelings of confidence of the Psalmist ebb away in the flood of tears. The
Psalmist was in much distress and fear. We have to admit that we live in fear
of terrorism today, because of that some people have given up traveling to
other countries. “After the terrorist bombing in Bali [in Indonesia] in 2002,
one man reacted by giving up traveling. Three years later, he finally took his family
for a holiday in Bali, together with 50 tourists from Newcastle, Australia. The
trip ended in tragedy when his family was caught in suicide bombing at café on
Jimbaran Beach.”[4]
In the case of the Psalmist the
enemies created distress by their ridicule and shunning. These people were
agents of death (vv. 9-11), but the LORD is the Author of life. The sad thing
about the contemporary terrorists is that they claim they are fighting a “Jihad” in the name of God.[5]
However, the Lord is not helpless and impotent that anyone should fight His
battle for Him.
While the United States as a
country should defend itself against terrorism, Christians in this land should
take a different approach as the Psalmist has taught us in this Psalm. In the
distress of the Psalmist, he cast himself on the mercy and favor of the Lord.[6] As
believers the Lord is our Warrior and our Defense. Therefore, in the event of
any threat or assault, He is the one in whom we must take refuge.
The Psalmist took his distress
to the Lord. He knew that by virtue of the irrevocable covenant, he had the
right to expect the Lord to intervene. The Psalmist was so desperate that he
cried for mercy. He describes his desperation as physical collapse. His joy in
life has vanished and his strength has abated. The enemies have affected him
deeply by their slanderous schemes (v. 13). He feels forgotten by his
contemporaries.
This despair is similar to the
way some of the Western countries have reacted to the actions of the United
States. Whereas the military intelligence might have erred in their
intelligence gathering concerning Iraq on the issue of weapons of mass
destruction, the fact still remains that Iraq can become the terrorists’
stronghold if the United States withdraws now. If Iraq is not important to the
terrorists, why is it that they are waging a relentless battle in Iraq today?
However, the Western nations that are pointing accusing fingers at the United
States are not safe from terrorism either.
The Psalmist acknowledged that
there was terror everywhere (v. 13b), and these enemies conspired against him
to take his life. This verse “sums up his concern with life over against death,
with justice in opposition to injustice, and with Yahweh’s fidelity in contrast
to the treachery of man.”[7]
Despite the deadly danger and ostracism the Psalmist was experiencing, his
trust in the Lord was steadfast (v. 14). He makes a bold confession, “You are my God.” It is a trusting and
confident statement, and it is also an affirmation of loyalty to God.[8]
I believe that the reason some
Christians are living in fear and trepidation today is that they do not know
that our God is sovereign and omnipotent. David acknowledged the sovereignty of
God when he said, “My times are in Your
hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me” (v. 15). It
was Charles Haddon Spurgeon who said that the believer is immortal until
his/her work is done. When you walk in the will of God there is nothing that
can happen to you unless the Lord allows it. David knew that his life was in
the hands of God whether in adversity or in prosperity.
The Psalmist commits himself to
the favor and love of God (v. 16). God has promised in His Word that He will
neither forsake nor abandon His people in their distressful situations in life.
The Psalmist prays for a resolution to the terror that he faces; he asks for
the demise of his adversaries. Here is where we have to exercise caution and
restraint.
In the New Testament, Jesus and
the Apostles teach us to pray for our enemies, not for their destruction. To
pray for the demise of an adversary could be a selfish prayer, because
sometimes God uses our enemies to refine our character and conduct. When you
pray for the destruction of your enemies, you have usurped the role of God. God
commands us to leave vengeance to Him, because His judgment is fair and just
(Rom. 12:19). Instead, God urges believers to overcome evil with good. Prayers
for those who misuse us mark a definite Christ-like mark for Christian prayers.
Gratitude to God helps to actually engage in the prayers even for those who
misuse us.
David’s
Praise and Thanksgiving to the Lord (vv. 19-24)
In his thanksgiving the Psalmist
affirms the goodness of God in His acts of righteousness, love, and grace (vv.
19-22), and an encouragement for the godly to persevere in trusting the Lord
(vv. 23-24).[9] First,
the Lord is “good” by working things out righteously for those who revere Him
(v. 19; cf. Rom. 8:28). The wise put their confidence in Yahweh because they
know that He does not bring them to shame. Even when the people of God are
oppressed like a “besieged city” (v. 21), they are protected in the shelter of
Yahweh’s presence (v. 20).[10]
David knew that God would not abandon His children, especially at the time when
they need His help, care, and protection. The Lord preserves His own in His
dwelling place (v. 20).
One of the characteristics of
terrorists is slander against the innocent but God expresses His righteousness
in the context of injustice and adversity. God reveals His marvelous love in
loneliness and abandonment. Furthermore, God is the God of compassion and
grace, responding to the cries of His children (v. 22). In this era of
terrorism what believers need to do is to cry to our compassionate and gracious
God as David did in his time of terror and calamity. In spite of his wavering
trust, the Lord intervened in the life of the Psalmist. The Lord came to the
aid of David and he blessed the Lord for His deliverance.
Second, the Lord is “good” to
His people (vv. 19-22). Yahweh relates to His covenant people with
loving-kindness (hesed) and fidelity so that they may enjoy the benefits
of His loving acts.[11]
Nevertheless, God’s people are those who submit themselves to Him in reverence.
They are His saints, His faithful ones, and those who love Him. The godly who
persevere in love and devotion will be the beneficiaries of the Lord’s loving
acts.
In verses 23-24 the Psalmist
confesses his frailty in having questioned by despairing in his state of “alarm”
(v. 22). The Lord proved him wrong and Yahweh triumphed. God did hear the
Psalmist cry for help and came to his rescue. Therefore, the Psalmist
encourages the godly to learn from his experience. He exhorts the righteous to
persist in trusting the Lord, regardless of their circumstances in life.
The righteous must be committed
to the Lord in faith and love regardless of their outward circumstances. This
faith is not a one time commitment. On the contrary it is a radical call for a
lifetime of commitment. Commitment is the abandonment to the living God who has
promised to protect His own (v. 23). Such is the life of faith. The consequence
is uncertain, but faith allows God to be God—“observing [His] word, and by
waiting in the hope of redemption.”[12]
The twenty-first century
terrorist activities that we are witnessing globally, is the act of human pride
that has been clothed in and given legitimacy by a false religious persuasion.
However, any human pride “is essentially a self-exaltation, but since the only
truly exalted one is God, it follows that the proud man is often in danger of
setting himself in opposition to God.”[13]
The Scripture has much to say
regarding the perils of the last days. Apostle Paul provides a litany of
aberrant human behavior and societal disintegration that would characterize the
eschaton, and what the response of believers should be in 2 Tim. 3:1-16. Now
there is terrorism in schools not only in the United States, but also in
countries such as Russia, Germany, Japan, etc. The school campus that used to
be a safe haven for students and their teachers has become terrorists holding
where students and teachers are indiscriminately massacred.
What should be our attitude and
response in these days of terrorism? Should we throw up our hands and resign in
pity, apathy, and fear when the terrorists are terrorizing our children in
schools? It is time that Christian parents bathe our children and their schools
in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving before sending them on their way to school.
The goal of the devil and his agents is to assail and besiege us with
intimidation, false guilt, and fear. However, in our response we are not to
cave in to their threats and brutish acts. While the United States government
should do everything within its power to protect its citizens, Christians like
the Psalmist, are to direct our concern to God and continue to maintain our
attitude of gratitude.
In his time of unprecedented
persecution against Christians and his banishment to the Island of Patmos, the
Apostle John records for us what the exalted Christ revealed to him in Rev.
22:11-13:
“Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the
one who is filthy, still be filthy; and the one who is righteous, still
practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man
according to what he has done. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the
last, the beginning and the end.”
These comforting words of our
Lord Jesus Christ should instill in believers joy, hope, and confidence to
continue to live for Him and serve Him, because He has already won the victory.
The victorious Christ is coming back to establish His eternal reign and the
scales of justice will be balanced and the redeemed will be vindicated
ultimately. The truth is that the attitude of gratitude is a choice that every
believer needs to make. On one hand, when you live in constant fear of
terrorism it is a choice that you have made deliberately or unwittingly.
On the other hand, when you
maintain a thankful heart it is also a deliberate choice that you have made. In
these days of terrorism, my family and I have chosen the attitude of praise and
thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus Christ. What about you? We have resolved to
praise and thank God, because we acknowledge that He is sovereign, majestic,
and in complete control over the affairs of the universe. Jesus Christ has won
the victory and He has and will prevail against those who rise in opposition
against His children. As the world grows darker, the promised return of Christ
grows brighter.
[5]Lewis
M. Hopfe and Mark R. Woodward, Religions
of the World, Ninth Edition (Upper
Saddle River , NJ Ravi
Zacharias, Light in the Shadow of Jihad:
The Struggle for Truth (Orlando ,
FL
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