Author: Lee A. Robinson

How To Handle Betrayal

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Feelings of betrayal can arise from a range of interactions with others: someone you love and trust may have simply let you down in some way, all the way up to a trusted “friend” intentionally putting you into harmful circumstances. Betrayal hurts deeply in a peculiar way because of the sensitive breach of trust. You made yourself vulnerable to another in love and they exploited that openness to stab you in the back. “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company” (Psalms 55:12-14). As sinful, broken humans ourselves there is a huge temptation to handle betrayal wrongly. We must patiently allow the Spirit of God to teach us how to respond. This article takes a look at the life of a very godly man (King David) who suffered much betrayal and how he correctly responded to it. We’ll mainly focus on David’s interactions with the people of Keilah and the Ziphites (1 Samuel 23) along with corresponding Psalms he wrote during that time in his life – Psalms 52 & 54. 

David didn’t deserve betrayal. He was such a spiritual champion of his time: he had a heart pounding for God; he was a talented musician/songwriter; he was a courageous, powerful warrior; and he was a divinely anointed King. His story intersects with the mainstream when he alone stood up to the giant Goliath, defeating him in an epic showdown. This thrust him into immediate fame, recognition and position. As a result, King Saul ended up contracting severe jealousy (he “eyed David from that day forward”) and became obsessed with killing David. David was faithful to Saul: his greatest warrior, a faithful friend and even comforted Saul through playing his harp for him. What did David get in return for all of the goodness he showed to Saul? Betrayal. A javelin to dodge – twice. Alos, Saul promised David that if he continued to serve him by fighting for Israel that he would give David his daughter Merab to be his wife, but when the time came she was given to another man. Wow, that is so messed up… Eventually David ended up having to flee and hide for his life. One place he came to was a city name Keilah…   

David had heard that an enemy was attacking Keilah so he asked the LORD if he should go help them, and the answer surprisingly was, “Yes, go.” I say “surprisingly” because David was on the “most wanted list” of the King. The most prudent thing for David to do, it would seem, would be to lay low, not to thrust himself out in the public limelight again, but he loved God and Israel, so he went. So David and his small army came to Keilah and ended up saving the city from the Philistines. What kind of relationship and reputation do you think David established with the community in Keilah by doing this? You would think they would be overwhelmingly grateful and feel totally indebted to him, but the opposite ended up happening…Keilah would betray him. 

Saul was delighted when he heard the news that David was in Keilah because it was a walled city – it would be easy to trap David in there, to catch him and have him killed. When David found out that Saul was planning to come, he prayed and first confirmed with the LORD that Saul was intending to come. Then, for some reason, he had a suspicion and asked the LORD, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver thee up.” (1 Samuel 23:11-12) What! Really? Whaaooh… After David and his men just saved your life, your family and your city, you’re now going to turn him in? Yuuup… You’re going to hand him over to a wicked king?… It is what it is. So David fled from Keilah. But that’s not the end of it… 

From there he ended up in the wilderness of Ziph. The long story short here is that the Ziphites proactively betrayed David: “Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doth not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.” (1 Samuel 23:19-20) The Ziphites were not even asked or threatened by Saul, they just went ahead and turned him in. Fortunately, God once again worked in favor of David and delivered him from the hand of Saul.  

You can imagine how the series of events: Goliath – David ministering to Saul and fighting his battles – javelins – to fleeing and barely escaping death – to Doeg turning David in – to Keilah – to the Ziphites… You can imagine that at this point David is feeling pretty discouraged, betrayed, abandoned, alone, etc. How did David handle all of this? Let’s look at a few things . . .      

  1. Pray.

Psalms 52 & 54 were one of David’s chief responses to these betrayals in his life. David was a man of prayer. He prayed about the situation with Saul. He prayed in reaction to Doeg turning him in and killing the priests of the LORD (Psalm 52). He prayed about whether to go up to Keilah and whether he should leave Keilah. He prayed in response to the situation with the Ziphites. In each time prayer either gave David specific direction or comfort through the situation. 

Prayer is a safe place to run to and hide. It hurts to be betrayed. It has a peculiar power of cutting deep into the soul. It’s because the central basis of your relationship was undermined – trust was utilized for personal attack. It is friendly fire. You were stabbed in the back by the exact one who was supposed to watch your back and protect you. It makes you feel like you cannot trust anyone any more. 

BUT…

GOD is truly our sufficient refuge. Run to him in prayer! He will never do you like that. He is too good. God doesn’t need to use us for his own gain: the earth is the LORD’s and its fullness. He doesn’t need to gain any more power: he has all the power. He doesn’t have selfish cravings that need to be fulfilled: he is the source of all things, of Life itself, more pure than rays of light. So when you feel betrayed or forgotten, run to God in prayer. Get alone with Him. pour out your complaints, fears and anger to him. He is the perfect and only completely trustworthy counselor. Ask for his help against those who hurt you. Ask him to deal with them in a saving way if possible, and for him to deal with your enemies in his justice. God will comfort you with his love and he will remind you that even if the whole world would be against you (which isn’t the case) you would still have enough if you only had him. 

  1. Trust God to righteously deal with those who have betrayed you. Don’t revenge. 

David was given the opportunity multiple times to kill Saul and take the crown that God had rightly given to him, but instead he committed the situation to the LORD. We know that in the end Saul was killed in battle and the whole nation came to appoint David as king with great honor and a spirit of repentance & reconciliation with him. This exaltation was far better than what David could have achieved on his own. What probably would have happened if David took matters into his own hands would be that the people would think that David treasonously murdered the King and unrighteously stole the kingdom. Then very few would trust him or be faithful to him. God’s ways of straightening things out is far better than what we can accomplish.  

Psalm 52 is David’s prayer to God to God in response to the situation with Doeg: “God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.” (Psalm 52:5-7) According to Rabbinic literature Doeg died a shameful death as a leper. Either way, everything we know from Scripture would lead us to think that Doeg died a miserable man under the judgment of God for all that he did. 

How are you responding to the person, or people, that have betrayed you? Are you vengeful? Are you looking for opportunities to hurt them? Are you betraying them now? If so, stop. Remember David. Remember Jesus on the cross.  “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21) Whoever your betrayer(s) are, do your best to love them. Wish them well. If possible do them well. In the end God will straighten things out. 

  1. “Trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.” (Psalm 52:8)

The word here for “mercy” is the Hebrew word chesed which in a fuller sense means “loyalty, covenant faithfulness, joint obligation, steadfast love, goodness, grace.” When others betray us we must lean back on Almighty God, Yahweh (the One who always IS), the all-powerful, all-wise, ever present, omnibenevolent God; the One who has promised, secured and guaranteed his favor and loyalty to us through the shed blood of Christ on our behalf. God has given himself fully to you if you are in Christ. If you are a child of God, then God is for you (Romans 8). And if God is for you – who can be against you? It may not seem like God is working (Remember Joseph in the dungeon, or Job in his affliction, or David in the cave, or Jesus on the cross), but he has swore an oath by his own name to work graciously in your life through every detail and event. David learned through all of this “Surely goodness and mercy (chesed) shall follow me (pursue after me) all the days of my life.” “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy (chesed) for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…” (Exodus 34:6-7)

  1. Just continue fighting the LORD’s battles, no matter how counterintuitive it may seem. 

When Saul was saturated in jealousy David continued as a warrior in his army. When David was being spied on and hunted he continued to fight in public. When he was afraid to even live in the land of Israel for fear of betrayal he still continued to fight Israel’s battles. The last thing you probably want to do when you’re betrayed by someone close to you is to continue being loyal and faithful to causes that will benefit those people. Whether at home, church, work or just in the world, continue doing the good thing that God placed you on the earth for. Continue benefiting those who have hurt you. 

It’s not easy: David’s struggle with rejection and excommunication by Saul and others in Israel were a waaay tougher enemy to David than Goliath and the Philistines. After the situation in Keilah and Ziph, it would totally be understandable that David would not want to help out another Israelite town again. But David was able to look over the shoulders of his unfaithful brothers and see the Redeemer of Israel. He had the grace to love the heritage of Yahweh and expend his life for her good, despite the unfaithful in the land. Don’t let your heart get hard. Don’t clam up and hibernate. Move forward. Put one foot in front of the other with humility but confidence in Christ.  

  1. Recognize that you do still have true friends. 

The songs of David reveal how often David felt like he was all alone and how difficult it was for him to trust people, but through it all there were always people who were truly David’s faithful friends. One in particular stands out – Jonathan. Jonathan knew early on that David was a special man called by God to lead the nation. He tried to pacify his father’s anger towards David. After David fled Jonathan met with David and this is the report, “And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.” (1 Samuel 16-18) Joanthan risked his own life to support David. He met him at a critical time in his life to encourage him. He spoke to David about the promises of God and good hope for the future. He vowed to be faithful to David no matter what! 

You may feel alone, but you are not alone. There has always been at least someone who cares about you, who has not forsaken you, who understands you to a degree, out there. It may be a parent, or a sibling, or a friend. You may only see them or talk to them once a year or every few years, but those conversations are more critical than you might imagine. It is important to say here that it is critical to not isolate yourself and shut out other people. “Why would I get involved with other people – it’s just another person who is going to hurt me at some point.” We take risks no matter what we do: isolation has risks just as as building relationships with people. God made us to be relational creatures. We are not sufficient alone. There may be times when the only person we know to look to is God. He is the only one who will always be there for you. However, much of the time God listens to your brokeness through the ears of another person; he embraces you through someone else’s hug; he encourages and motivates you through another persons counsel. Recognize who your friends are, be thankful for them, and continue seeking out new friends. Remember – Jesus was friends with Judas knowing that one day he would betray him. It’s too hard for us to try to judge who will betray us from who won’t. Perhaps our most trusted friends are the ones who we would least expect.    

  1. Have pity on those who betray you instead of bitterness. 

If someone has truly betrayed you then they are weak themselves. They are probably being abused by some kind of besetting sin themselves that they are struggling through. Sometimes, unfortunately, we become the outlet of people’s anger when we didnt do anything wrong. Saul spread terrible rumors about David all over the country. Perhaps the Ziphites received false information about David and assumed that he betrayed Saul and the kingdom, and they thought the right thing to do was to turn him in. The Pharisees sure seem to have been thinking that they were doing the right thing by crucifying Jesus. Of course they were horrifyingly wrong and were superb hypocrites, but they couldn’t see it. So how did Jesus respond? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” When people hurt you, more often than not they don’t see their actions as being as destructive as they are. We’re like that too – we tend to miss our sins and minimize the severity of its effects, while being hyper vigilant about seeing other people’s sins, and the effects of their sins have on others around them. I’m not recommending to excuse anyone’s sin, but I am suggesting that it would be wise to not let them hurt you even more than they have by letting bitterness take root in your soul. Try not to take it personally. You probably don’t deserve the betrayal. People are broken and unrighteously use others. God knows. Job was released from his season of difficulties when he stopped arguing with his friends and in pity started praying for them.  

  1. Continue worshiping. 

When David received the news about the people of Ziph betraying him he said, “I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.” (Psalm 54:6) Don’t give up on God because one (or many) of his followers has let you down. We didn’t come to Jesus ultimately because Christians are so great. We came because we ourselves recognized that we were broken, lost, depraved and hopeless, on our way to eternal death and destruction. We came to recognize that our Creator came in flesh to receive in his own human body the pain, agony and torture for our sins that we deserved. We recognized that we betrayed our God. We left him and went astray. We cold heartedly used the life and body he gifted to us to do all kinds of selfish, sinful things with. Yet, he called us back to himself in love. He bore the consequences of our bad choices. He rose from the dead and has committed himself to us forever in a gracious relationship… This is why we began to worship him, love him, learn from him and serve him. This is why we began to love others in his name. So, continue. Say, “Thank you God for bringing this trial into my life. The blood of Jesus is all the proof I need to believe that this is better for me than if it never happened,” then begin to sing songs of praise to the goodness and faithfulness of God, whether you feel like it or not. 

“If you never speak another word of blessing,

And your silence leaves me with a sense of loss,

I’ll remember when my heart begins to question-

Any doubt that you love me was settled at the cross.”

A Salute To Our Servicemen

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Secondarily, it is also appropriate to recognize all servicemen & women who by mere entrance into the military have been willing to give their lives in service to our great country (especially those who have been deployed into combat situations). It is fitting to honor and bring attention to those who have given their lives in the service. There is no greater price that can be paid than to give one’s life for the benefit of others. As Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) 

To all of those who gave your life so that I might be free: Thank you. 

To all of those who were willing to give your life as well so that I might be free: Thank you. 

To all the families who have lost a loved one: Thank you. 

To all of the families who had to be without a loved one for a long time, and who still struggle with the effects of war and service: Thank you. 

I especially want to honor two specific people that have been close to me in my life. First, my Grandfather (Roy Robinson), who passed away last year at 100 years old. He was born and raised in Illinois and joined the U.S. Navy to serve in WW2. This was followed by a 20 year military career (retired as a Chief). He didn’t talk much about his time in the military, but I’m sure he had many close calls sailing in the pacific during a time of war. He was a very steady, kind and sacrificial man. I’m thankful for the household that he built and for his service to his country and family. May the Lord Jesus help us to live in a way that honors your service. 

I also want to honor my brother in law, Steve McDonough. Steve reluctantly joined the Army in the aftermath of 9/11. He went as a result of feeling led by God to join. He was deployed twice to Afghanistan and experienced all of the horrors of war. Steve and his family have sacrificed so much in love for our country. He has borne the burden of many serious, ongoing physical health issues as a result of his service. The McDonough family is one of the sweetest families I know, who live to serve others, and most of the time under the radar without much recognition. Since retirement Steve and his family have given many years in serving military members in various ways. We love you guys and are so thankful for all that you have sacrificed in the path that you’ve walked with the Lord.        

How can we honor? 

Perhaps the greatest way to honor those who have died is to not abuse the freedoms they helped to secure. The Scriptures say, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Galatians 5:13-14). It is a blessing to be free. Freedom is never free, it always comes at a cost. Those before us courageously and sacrificially did their part to do what was necessary to keep evil at bay enough for us to live in peace. Of course, our nation is in many ways a sinking ship, but we still enjoy the benefits of their service in many ways. So don’t use your freedom to live selfishly with fleshly, ungodly living, but rather use it to build upon, to make your life, your family and our country better and stronger. It reminds me of a man who lived righteously and worked wisely and diligently throughout his life, in order to pass down to his children a strong inheritance. The kids can either continue the tradition to strengthen the estate and make it greater than their father, or they can squander the bounty and end up miserable and broke. We should strive to be the faithful children, who are grateful for our prosperity, and use it to engage in lifestyles that tend towards growth and prosperity. Honor God. You are free to worship God, so worship him. Love the Bible: read it, live it. Be grateful for everything. Use your freedom to work hard and to serve others in some way. Strive to live in moral purity. Goldiness tends towards more freedom, ungodliness to slavery.  

Another way is to follow their example. It may not be your calling in life to join the military, but find a cause that is worth you giving your life for. The best place to look here is to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He left all to be humbled in death so that a lost, fallen world could be saved and set free. We still live in a fallen world that needs to be saved and set free. Allow the love of Christ to sink into your heart and transform you. Let God give you a love for your friends and enemies, a love that desires them to be saved. Learn of Jesus and follow in his footsteps. 

To those whose hearts ache today because of the tragedy of war – May the God of heaven, the commander of the universe, give you a peace that passes all understanding. May your heart be comforted today and at rest. 

And finally, may God revive our nation by His mighty mercy and grace, so that we, as a whole, can rightly see what is good and what is evil. May we have the grace to be humble, to repent of our sins; courage to confront the evil in our own hearts and then the following boldness to confront evil in our neighborhoods, our states and around the world. May this occur, so that those who do desire to defend their country will have the utmost assurance that what they are fighting for is truly justice and righteousness. May the battles of our nation truly be the battles of the Lord. “Father, make your Name, your reputation, honored and recognized in this land. May all of its people bow down in humble reverence at the feet of Jesus Christ. May your kingdom of love, peace, joy and righteousness come to this place. May this be a land that reminds all other lands of the heaven that is to come. Amen.” 

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GRACE REIGNS

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Romans 5:19-21

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

From the time of the first man (Adam) sin and death has reigned among men. Sin and death are likened to a unified dominant king controlling men and their destinies. It’s almost as if we had no choice: we were made sinners by the disobedience of Adam. We were all born sinners into a kingdom of sin. Sin was natural and normal to us. There is such a power in the world, a universal law, that excuses and encourages sin. Sin reigned, and sin finishes its work by ultimately slaying the subjects of its kingdom. We are slaves, low born, disadvantaged, destined for this. 

But there came a new King into the world. One who evaded the natural way of conception through virgin birth. He was born righteous and pure into the world of sin. As the God-Man he triumphed over every temptation to sin. Ultimately he was lifted up, to receive in his body God’s judgment wrought by King Sin and Death, so as to set free those who were all their lives subject to his reign. He defeated Sin and Death and established a new kingdom.
In contrast to the former kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus is characterized by GRACE – favor, benevolence, help, beauty, gift-giving, kindness, compassion, etc. Through the new birth, our nature is changed – we are now naturally righteous and pure. We are also ushered into a new realm of living that is dominated and permeated with these qualities of grace. GRACE REIGNS in the life of a Christian. We are born as spiritual free men: privileged, high class, advantaged. We were made saints by the obedience of someone else – that’s very good news. Our lives are under the control, ownership and supervision of God’s Grace. Grace reigns. I am not the king of my life – Grace is, and because my King is so gracious I can find great comfort in knowing that he will defend me against every enemy in my life, including myself. The King of Sin and Death delighted in deceiving and destroying, but the King of Grace delights in teaching, encouraging, forgiving, restoring, redeeming and resurrecting. Grace is greater than all of my sin and will prevail. All hail King Grace!  

Has God Forsaken Me?

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Feelings of abandonment are not uncommon to Christians. Many heroes of the faith trudged through the deserts of desertion: Joseph’s unfortunes left him alone in a foreign dungeon, forgotten; David was driven into the wilderness, publicly defamed and barred from the house of God – just read the psalms; who did Job have? He struggled immensely with understanding what God was doing; and all we really need to say is…Jesus. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The one who did absolutely NO wrongdoing. There was every reason to believe that there would be continual open lines of communication between the Son and the Father; that there would always be evidence of the Father being with him in a favorable way. But, no, the Son of God himself entered into a spiritual black hole for a season – no evidence but the wrath and displeasure of the Father towards him. So if you are overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness – you’re not alone. 

If you truly are a child of God then GOD HAS NOT FORSAKEN YOU!!! Here are a few reminders: 

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 49:14-16 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Psalms 37:25,28 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Deuteronomy 31:6,8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

There is a divine purpose for the feelings of “abandonment.” 

Why was Joseph undeservingly sold into slavery, falsely accused/imprisoned and forgotten by his friends? Because God had a plan to make Joseph (a Hebrew) the vizier of Egypt in order to save the world. 

Why did God allow Saul to hate David with raging jealousy? Why did God allow one of his most precious worshippers to be banned from his temple? Because God wanted the book of psalms to be written and to comfort untold billions of people throughout world history; because David learned that the way up is down; So Israel would realize how great of a king they had in their midst by David continuing to be faithful to God and his country through all of it. 

Why was Jesus forsaken? In short – the save the world from everlasting judgment in the lake of fire. 

Why have you been abandoned by your friends or family? Why has God not healed you from this unbearable sickness? Why does it seem like the more you try to do what’s right – the more you suffer? Why does it seem like God is not speaking to you or showing up powerfully like he used to? Maybe he is positioning you to save the world? That’s why God did it in the lives of your heroes, why not you? You may not become the catalyst that saves a whole nation or a whole town, but you may be the one who will save your marriage, or your family, or your church, or your town – and you may be the one that God will use to save the world we live in. 

We have the advantage of living on this side of Bible history. I believe Job was the first book of scripture written. What did he have to look to for encouragement through his suffering? He could recount how God was merciful to Adam & Eve, or how God preserved Noah through a dreadful generation. But how much more do we have?! 

Knowing what God did in the past should be of great encouragement to us. God will come through, just like he did in many other lives. 

Joseph may not have felt like God was with him in that dungeon, but the narrative states over and over “but God was with him.” Jesus said about David’s psalms that “the Spirit said” such and such. The point is that God was with David while he “wandered” alone. 

You’re never alone. 

We tend to focus on our problems and overlook our blessings. There may be an array of very deep and prolonged tragedies in your life, but are there really no blessings? Are you really without any friends? Is there really no word of promise from God for you? Are there really no deposits of God’s faithfulness in your life – special provisions? Divine encounters? Unexpected blessings? 

We are fallen creatures. It’s unfortunate but true – it’s easier for us to see our problems and to see them as larger than they are, and to overlook our blessings and to minimize them when we see them. Maybe take some time today to write out all of the reasons that make you feel like you are accepted, loved and not forgotten? Write out on a piece of paper all the things that are right about your life; all the things that are in proper order. Write out as many good things that other people have done for you. I guarantee that you will run out of time or your hand will begin to hurt. 

The LORD is your shepherd, comforter and friend. Like a good parent (but much more perfect), he is always there watching you. Sometimes he stands a little off or will stand around the corner and watch you struggle. He wants you to grow. He wants you to learn. Jesus “learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” He is providentially allowing difficulty with people and circumstances in order to position you in the exact place at the precise time in order to fulfill his perfect plan in and through your life. 

He wants you to trust him. Babies have their mothers over their faces constantly when they are young. The baby needs to hear mommy’s voice, feel her touch and her squeeze and be fed continually. But as the baby becomes a toddler, then a older child, then a teen, their independence from mommy increases more and more. When adulthood comes, there can be a permanent detachment from mommy. There seems to be a similar parallel in our spiritual life (although not perfectly, since we always need God every moment, and will forever): the more someone matures in their knowledge and experience of God, the more likely it is that God will lead you into ways that require greater levels of faith; longer amounts of time where it seems like you’re all alone. After all that Paul did he said, “at my first answer no man stood with me, but all forsook me…” Why was it, that at his greatest moment of need, God allowed it to be the case that no one was there for Paul. Well, Paul then said, “…but the Lord stood with me.”       

I hope something here is an encouragement to you. Be faithful. Trust God. Hope to the end. God has not changed. He knows you – through and through. He knows what you can handle. Put one foot in front of the other and trust that good will come in time. Continue to love God and others. “And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 

“Christian Nationalist” Mayor Addresses Citizens. 

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

To my much appreciated fellow citizens,

Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. All authority has been given to him in heaven and on the earth. Therefore, as Christians desiring to honor his Lordship, we must seek to submit to him as the Lord of our town in all things, just as we strive to do in our personal lives, our homes, and of course, in our churches. 

Following this mindset, myself, together with our City Council Members, in accordance with the wishes of our wonderful townspeople, have unanimously approved the following provisions for our town…

  1. The only public places of worship that are permitted are those who are in agreement with the historic creeds and confessions of the Christian Church. Any form of public devotion to false gods is prohibited. 
  2. The Christian Flag will now be raised from all public buildings. It shall be raised higher than our state flag and all other flags.
  3. A selection from Great Hymns of the Faith will be resounded from church bells on the hour, every hour, from sunrise to sunset. 
  4. All residents are strongly urged to attend a weekly worship service in a Christian church. 
  5. All elected officials must be considered in good standing with a church of our common Lord. 
  6. The Public School system will be closed permanently at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Parents are free to choose the avenue in which they believe best suits their families needs for the education of their children. There are Christian & Private schools available in our districts. A list of those schools are provided in Appendix A. 
  7. Human life begins at conception. Therefore, abortion at all stages of pregnancy in all forms is murder, with the exception of the unlikely and unfortunate event that the mother’s physical life needs to be rescued. Therefore, all perpetrators of willful abortion will be tried in criminal court.   
  8. Homosexuality, transgenderism and all related sexual perversions are prohibited from being practiced anywhere in our district. 
  9. Income Taxes will be set at 10% for the head of each household for every income bracket. All other taxes will be terminated.
  10. No Insurance policies will be required for anything. Citizens may wish to purchase insurance policies if they please to. Those without insurance policies are liable for and fully responsible to requite damage they inflict on other people’s health and property.   
  11. Prison reform: All prisoners will be required to perform a minimum of 40 hours of work per week of some kind of labor that benefits the general society. Tasks such as: growing crops for the relief of the poor; public or charitable construction projects; maintenance of city property (grass cutting, snow removal, etc.); splitting wood and fueling government building wood burners, etc. If a man does not work, neither should he eat. 
  12. Drunkenness and intoxication is forbidden on public grounds or in businesses open to the public. 

These twelve previous provisions were the result of our first meeting to discuss changes. More meetings will be held to discuss how we can as a town submit to Christ in all things. 

I have invited the ordained ministers of our town to come as regularly as they are able to the Town Hall to pray for our city, which many have already begun to do. 

Because of our commitment to walk righteously in a way that pleases our Lord Jesus, we anticipate the help of Almighty God to provide for us, to keep our city peaceful and free from evil, and that a supernatural and surreal sense of tranquility will rest upon us at all times. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Your Mayor and Servant of God,   (insert name here)

Review of Jack Hibbs “Get Rid of The Jews”

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

He opened talking about ungodly, leftist Americans, especially on university campuses defending Hamas and the “palestinians.” I stand against all of that. The leftist radicals are following their principle of oppressor/oppressed groups. Why are liberal American Jews of all people speaking up for Hamas and against their own Jewish people? Because they wrongly believe that “oppressed” groups are always right in their resistance and that “oppressor” groups are always wrong and are justifiably attacked. So in this current situation, Israel is rich and powerful and the Palestinians are poor and are “oppressed” by Israel. Therefore, in their minds, any actions against Israel is the “righteous cause,” etc. 

This mindset has nothing to do with replacement theology. People who surrender to demonic plans for the world may try to use certain aspects of the Bible/truth to support their evil plans (like Satan telling Jesus to cast himself down because the angels would bear him up), but we should never confuse truth with those who try to twist it to accomplish their schemes. Every real Christian I know of that holds to what would be called “replacement theology” is pro-Israel is this current situation and is in no way anti-semitic.   

  • Can you point me to any person alive right now that is a serious Bible student with a good testimony in the church who holds to “replacement theology” who is anti-semitic. I don’t think you’ll find any but if you do I will say beforehand that they are wrong. 

5:00 “What did Covid do? It divided the church. It divided real Christians from pretend Christians. This is a healthy thing. Division is good when it is done on doctrinal grounds.” 

  • I agree that Covid was helpful in purging the church. I also agree about his sentiment on doctrine rightly dividing, but he gives no qualifications at all. Should we divide over every single doctrinal issue? Is there absolutely no room for disagreements in the church? This would be completely unrealistic and impossible. No two Christians agree about everything. So, the natural, right question becomes – what doctrines are serious enough to divide over? This is a key issue and the way we answer this question is critical. Some people think that their own denominational standards or their own traditions are the guide on determining which doctrines should divide. But this is not sufficient. It must be Scripture that informs us what doctrines we must divide over. Where does the New Testament teach us that we should divide from other Christians who have a different view on details about the return of Christ or how the world ends or on the specific nature of what “Israel” is? The Bible is clear when we should separate from others. For example: we should separate from unbelievers (2 Cor. 6), from those who believe salvation by works (Gal 1), or from those who are living in unrepentant sin (1 Cor. 5), etc.
  • Where would you point to in Scripture that God commands Dispensational Premillennialists to separate from those who hold to more of a Covenant Theological position?  

7:45 “In Romans 11 it says that gentile believers have been grafted into the “commonwealth of Israel.”

  • Romans 11 actually says that we have been grafted into the olive tree, which is Israel. The “commonwealth of Israel” language is from Ephesians 2:12. But this is a wonderful point to show that the church has not “replaced” Israel. The church – or the congregation of Israel – expanded to include Gentiles. “Commonwealth” is political/national terminology – Gentiles were invited in to the nation of Israel by way of Christ. God only has one “nation”: Israel, His Church, His special, chosen, beloved people. The God of the Old Covenant Congregation (Church) is the same God of the New Covenant Church. When we read in the OT “the congregation of Israel,” this is the same as saying the “church of Israel.” the word church and congregation mean the same thing – an “assembly.” In the OT the church (Israel, God’s chosen people) had genuine believers in it as well as merely professing believers, but mainly everyone was ethnically Jewish. When the New Covenant was established the church of the OT stretched out its tent stakes to include gentile believers. The church expanded beyond the borders of Israel and flooded around the world. Read Isaiah 54 with this in mind. It is so beautiful. 

There is so much that can be said here, but I’ll just leave it by saying that the church in the new testament is called all the same things as Israel was in the OT: God’s people, the chosen people, the vine, God’s house, God’s temple, a peculiar people, the beloved, etc. There is only one olive tree, not two. God only has one true people – those who are in Christ. All of the promises of God in him are yea and amen. Therefore, if you are in Christ (Jew or Gentile) all of the promises pertain to you. If you are outside of Christ (Jew or Gentile) then you are outside of the promises of God.  

  • How many special, chosen people’s does God have – one or two? 
  • Will there be an eternal distinction in heaven between Jewish believers and Gentile believers, or are we one? 
  • The New Heaven and New Earth, New Jerusalem – who will it belong to? Only believing Jews, or also believing Gentiles? If both, then the land promises and all of the other everlasting, unconditional promises made to Abraham were ultimately not for his physical seed, but for his spiritual seed. Ethnic, unbelieving Jews will not inherit the promised land eternally, but believing Gentiles will. 

8:35 “Are you going to have a woke view of your theology?” “If you are going to approach the Bible based on your feeling you don’t have God.”

  • He is strongly, erroneously mixing the views of radical leftists with careful, sound, conservative Bible believing people. This is weird and dangerous. Additionally, he is inferring that if you hold to any form of “replacement theology” you are an apostate, an unbeliever.  

9:20 Didn’t God give Abraham the boarders of what would be the land of Israel? Is God a liar? . ..  God symbolically told Abraham what the borders of the promised land would be…

  • God did in fact promise his people a land to live in (The Promised Land). There were specific borders given. No, God is not a liar. What happened though, eschatologically, is that the land promise was expanded in the New Testament to include the whole world: Romans 4:13 “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

The land promise is not to Abraham and all of his physical descendants (such as Ishmael and Esau and their descendants), but is rather to Abraham and all of his spiritual descendants. Read Galatians 3 & 4 carefully with this topic in mind. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ…And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The promises made to Abraham are fulfilled in Christ – Abraham’s one faithful son. Christians are the true children of Abraham and the covenant made between him and God. If you are not in Christ (Jew or Gentile) you are under a curse, not a favorable covenant. 

So, no I don’t take the “land promise” as symbolic. Abraham and his true descendants will inherit the whole entire physical world. Just as Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

10:07 “My view is not my view. I don’t want my view. What I believe is based solely upon Scripture.” 

  • It sounds like Pastor Hibbs believes that all of his interpretations of the Bible are infallible. All true Christians confess the Bible as our ultimate authority. We all want to think that our views are the correct, Biblical view. So why are there so many differences in beliefs amongst Christians if we all have the same goal? The difference lies not in what authority we appeal to, but rather in interpretation. The Bible is perfect, but not one Christian is a perfect interpreter. Pastor Jack’s theological views were not formed in a vacuum. He wants to think that he is theologically unbiased, but he cannot be. He has been influenced heavily by the people, teachers, sermons, books, and tradition that he is a part of. We can all say all day long “I only believe the Bible,” but at the end of the day it is our interpretations of the Bible that we hold to, which is not infallible. Pastor Jack, along with many other Christians, must come to the realization that there are Christians with opposing views who are just as capable, well meaning and committed to the authority of Scripture as he is. That would really help out. 
  • 4:00 He called any eschatology opposing his “pathetic.” There are so many heroes of the faith: ancient, modern, of all different denominations and nations and languages that have a differing view of eschatology that Pastor Jack. It feels kinda arrogant to lump such a huge group of faithful Christians/Bible students together and think their view is “pathetic.” He’s a little too confident in himself. 
  • Do you believe that your own personal understanding of the Bible is perfect? If not, then what areas of Bible doctrines do you think you might be a little shaky on? 
  • Are you willing to admit that your current theological convictions have in large part been shaped by the influences that you have received?   

11:00 “Does Israel exist today? If you say, “Nope.” then you know not God, my friend.” 

  • Yes, Israel exists today. There is a true Israel of God on the one hand, and a heavily secular, primarily ethnically Jewish nation called Israel on the other hand. The Blessings promised to Abraham are for those who are in Christ, the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16). The Blessings of Abraham are not for those who are only members of the secular, earthly nation of Israel. I do believe there is a promise from God in Romans 11 that the ethnically Jewish people as a whole will one day be given repentance and faith and come back into the true olive tree (true Israel), but until then they are cut off from the true vine and the blessings which flow from it. Isn’t this what Romans 11 (The olive tree) says? The natural branches have been cut off. Cut off from what?  
  • If I hold this view, do you think that I know not God, like Pastor Jack seems to be implying?   

14:30 “If you are into Replacement Theology and think that Israel is illegitimate…” “people say that Israel is not even supposed to be existing today.”  15:50 “there is no Israel that is viable today.” 

  • Any person I have heard from a Covenant Theology viewpoint does not believe that Israel is illegitimate. This is a weird claim. There are people with extreme views in every camp – he must be listening only to them. My view is that Jewish people have a right to their homeland and to be a politically sovereign nation just as any other legitimate nation does, and they have a right to defend themselves. You don’t have to believe dispensational premillennialism to allow that, unlike Jack thinks.  

“Some of you say that Jesus is not returning again.” 

  • Yes, some people say that, but not the overwhelming majority of Bible believing theologians that hold to some form of what would be called “replacement theology.” By the way, most people who hold to that view do not like the term “replacement,” because it’s not actually what they believe. It is a mischaracterization of what they believe. They would prefer a terms like “Covenant theology” “expansion theology” “fulfillment theology” which points to the fact that God has in very deed kept his promises to Israel, but the promises were bigger than anticipated originally: the promises included the Gentiles and the whole world, not just Jewish people in a small part of the middle east. This is the “mystery” that was hidden since the foundation of the world that was revealed to the apostles of Jesus. The Old Testament was unclear, but now it was made fully known. Read the second hald of Ephesans 2 – God broke down the dividing wall so as to make in Christ one new man. Covenant theologians think that God has had one plan all along: Christ, his kingdom and his people. Dispensationalists think that God had a plan, but the Jews messed it up because of their unbelief, so God switched to plan B, which is to make a completely new program with the NT church. This plan B would in turn help out to get plan A back in order, which is God working at the focal point of an ethno-political centered kingdom.    

17:00 “Jesus is going to return to Jerusalem to establish his throne as is written in the OT prophets.” 

  • If Jesus has not yet established his throne then he is not king and his kingdom has not yet begun. To me it seems clear that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords now and will be forever. He ascended to sit on his throne in the heavens and he rules over all of the earth, now. Matthew 28 “All power (authority) is (present tense) given to me in heaven and on the earth. Psalms 2:7-8 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Dispensationalists think that when Jesus comes again he will on one day kill all his enemies and the world will be basically perfect then. But Jesus said that the kingdom grows slowly like yeast in dough or like a tree grows (Mat. 13). Also the Bible seems to me to indicate that Jesus returns after he has put all enemies under his feet, as opposed to coming in order to put all enemies under his feet. 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till  (he is reigning now, until) he hath put all enemies under his feet.”
  • Do you believe that Jesus is sitting on his throne now, or is that only future from now?
  • Has the kingdom of God come or is it only future? 

Acts 2:29-36 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted (Jesus is presently on David’s throne ruling and reigning), and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool (Jesus will rule and reign until every enemy is destroyed). Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord (king) and Christ.

17:20 “The tribulation has nothing to do with the church nor is the church mentioned.” 

  • This is pretty much correct. Why would the church be a focal point in a massive outpouring of God’s judgment on the world or on Israel? Why does it matter if the church is mentioned or not? 
  • Also, if you believe that there are Christians in “the Tribulation” then wouldn’t they be a part of the church, God’s ekklesia? Or do you think it is possible for someone to be a Christian and not be a part of God’s Church? It seems clear to me that everyone born again is a spiritual member of the church of God regardless of whether they officially become a member of a local church or not. 
  • How do people get saved in the Tribulation? This is how dispensational premillennialism goes: Jesus comes in the clouds and the church is raptured out of the world. Every single believer is removed from the earth. Also, the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth as well (1 Thess. 2). This begins a time of judgment. Then, all of a sudden, there are 144,000 Jewish evangelists converting people… The question I have is: If every single Christian is removed at the rapture, and also the Holy Spirit is removed, where do all of these Jewish evangelists come from and how do people get saved? If there are no Christians then there are no preachers. And if there are no preachers then there is no Gospel being proclaimed and people won’t believe. Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

And most importantly, if there is no Holy Spirit at work, there is no conviction of sin (John 16), no drawing of the Spirit, and no regenerating power of the Holy Spirit available to people. This doesn’t make sense. 

17:35 “Is there a future, according to the Bible, for Israel and for Jerusalem? Does the Bible say that Israel will be forever”

  • I say yes to all of that. The difference lies in the nature of what you mean by Israel. Jack believes that it means ethnically Jewish people. I think Israel means God’s true believing people. Ruth and Rahab were gentiles, but they were counted with Israel because they were genuine believers in Yahweh. What is the destiny of unbelieving people with Jewish blood running through their veins? The same as non-Jews: they will not live in the promised land forever. It is only death and hell, unfortunately. God has only had one plan for history: early on his people were mainly ethnically Jewish and confined to a small portion of the middle east, but when Messiah came, his people, his nation has been growing through the whole world to include ethnic gentiles as well. Israel (God’s people, God’s nation) will never fail, but will destroy in time every form of demonic oppression and will in the end inherit the earth.

20:20 “Jesus is going to rule and reign on earth for a thousands years. Some of you do not believe that . . . some of you say, “that is typological metaphor. Thats not real!” . . . If you approach the Bible like that, how are you going to know that you’re saved? Oh it was a metaphor. . . Don’t let your feeling get in the way of your theology.” 

  • Underlying what Jack is saying here is our view of hermeneutics (Bible interpretation). Jack prides himself in holding to a very literal interpretation of the Bible. The literal approach is the correct approach (I would want someone to take my words at face value). Many literalists, though, create a false dichotomy: they say there are only two approaches: totally literal or totally metaphorical/symbolic. But this is not true. Everyone allows for both. The question is a question of degree. Jesus said that he is the door? Does this mean that he is made out of wood? No. He is not a physical door in any way shape or form. It means that he is the entry point; you get access through him. 

When the Bible says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills – Does this mean that God only owns the cattle on 1,000 hills and not 1,001 hills? Or is the phrase symbolic of every hill? The context answers the question: Psalms 50:10,12 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills…If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.” The same could be said for where the Bible promises blessings or judgment on descendants to a thousand generations. Does it mean only a thousand? Because that would be the strictly literal interpretation. No, it means forever. So when the Bible says that Jesus will reign for a thousand years, does this mean that he will only reign for a thousand years and no more? No, it means that he will reign for ever and ever. 

Jack doesn’t allow for the reality that the Bible is made up of different kinds of literature, and that in order to interpret literally we must seek to find out what the author actually meant. We should not interpret Revelation like we do Proverbs or John. If you interpret every detail of visions, dreams and prophecy strictly literally you will miss the literal point of the author. For example: In revelation there is a beast coming up out the sea with horns. If we interpreted this literally we would be wrong. The great enemy of mankind is not a sea creature. The beast is symbolic for a ruthless, powerful, satanic world leader.   

  • With this in mind, no I don’t doubt my salvation at all. The Bible is very, very clear on this matter. There are scores and scores of verses to support the promise of eternal life, and many are written in books like John which is a historical account or Romans which is a legal defense – no strange symbolism, dreams, or visions here. Thankfully, we do not base our assurance of salvation mainly from a book of apocalypse or prophecy. 
  • Also, just because something is “symbolic” or “spiritual” doesn’t mean it is not “real.” In Romans 9 Israel is likened to an Olive Tree. This is symbolic. It doesn’t mean that Israel is not real. It is using the Olive Tree as a beautiful word picture to describe the nation. 
  • Question: Do you allow for Scripture to speak metaphorically or symbolically? What rules do you apply to try to come to a wise, prudent use of scripture to determine what should be strictly literal from what should be seen as symbolic? 

21:20 “If the church has replaced Israel…we should let Hamas slaughter every Jew.” 

  • What!? This makes no sense at all. How is he bridging this gap? I don’t know who Jack has in mind, but he is mischaracterizing and generalizing those who hold Covenant Theology in a massively big way. This is actually embarrassing. It’s like saying, “All northerners are mean people.” That logic is so childish and silly. I honestly do not think that Jack understands covenant theology at all, like even a basic level. If he did, he would not be making such outlandish statements like this. He demeans other believers by saying that they follow their feelings and emotions rather than the Bible, yet he is saying things like this. No Christian I have ever heard who holds Covenant Theology thinks this. If they do, they are insane and probably not a true Christian.   

27:30 “Beware everybody, of those who are replacement theology heretics. . . they are wrestling the Scriptures to their own destruction.”  

28:35 “Replacement Theology is from Hell.”

  • It seems pretty clear here that Jack is saying that if you hold to “replacement theology” then you are not a Christian- your profession is false. Jack is consigning to Hell – I would guess – half of the evangelical church in America and half if not the majority of Christians of history. I do have to give Jack some grace here though because I don’t think he actually knows what he’s talking about. He has someone specific in mind that is not the majority of Christians who hold to “replacement theology.”. If he is talking about some kind of trans, leftist, socialistic, atheistic, apostate “Christian” in name only, then yes I agree with him, but he is mixing that kind of person with sound, conservative Bible believers who have a different view than himself on eschatology. This is very dangerous talk. He is the one promoting unnecessary division in the body of Christ through this language.     
  • Do you think that I am an heretic and wrestling the scriptures to my destruction? 

I do pray for the peace of Jerusalem and I do witness to Jewish people. I also pray for the peace of well-meaning palestinian people who are enslaved by terrorists but don’t know how to get free. I desire to witness to them as well. Terrorists deserve to die and they should. But just because someone is a Jew or a citizen of Israel does not leave them off the hook if they do evil things as well. 

Conclusion – My greatest concern for the church at large and for people who I know personally is not that we would have to try to get everyone to agree on every particular about these topics, but rather that we actually hear each other out, agree to disagree and be united in our fight against evil. I am concerned that Pastor Jack’s rhetoric is not careful and is causing unnecessary division, but even still I would stand arms locked together with him in the Gospel and would worship together with him. Eschatology is important. Yes, it does matter, but when details of Christ’s coming and the end of the world divide believers it is so unnecessary and hurtful.

Thanks for reading! Shalom, Lee