The Slaying That Saves

"When he slew them, then they sought him." Psalm 78:34

This passage is the constant refrain of Israel, the church, and our own unfaithful hearts. I'd like to report that the word 'slew' in the Hebrew means something other than kill. It doesn't. It means just what it says. And once you pause and think of how many times vast swaths of Israel were slain by an enemy, as God's own judgment, you begin to see the meaning of the text. Every time, Israel suffered loss due to rebellion, a remnant melted, became soft in heart, and promptly returned to Jehovah. (Exodus 32:25-28, Numbers 14:39-45, Judges 2:11-16, Judges 3:7-9, Judges 3:12-15, Judges 4:1-3, Judges 6:1-7, Judges 10:6-16, 1 Samuel 7:3-6, 1 Samuel 12:10-11, 2 Samuel 24:10-25, 2 Kings 17:13-20, Nehemiah 9:26-28)

If we think the Western church today is dilapidated for any reason other than her rebellion, we are greatly mistaken. Israel may have been guilty of idolatry and unbelief, but we are awash with liberalism, secularism, gnostic mysticism, and spiritual consumerism. Israel's biggest problem was they were constantly looking over the fence at the nations around them and lusting. So has the Church. I don’t think God is visiting our nation in judgment; He's visiting His Church. We're somehow always looking 'out there' for someone to blame for the darkness of our land. We need look no further than our hearts. This present darkness is directly proportionate to the lack of light from us, the church of the Living God.

Does the blame lie with the church alone? No, other contributing factors are real, and won't be addressed here. But to clarify, a church is not a 501(c)(3), a building, or a creed. A church is made up of her members, just like the bride of Christ.

"When he slew them, then they sought him."

What if we are praying wrong? What if we need to stop praying against the darkness in the world and instead against its entrance into our hearts (and thus the church)? What if genuine persecution is the only thing that will wake up the body of Christ, and we see great loss? What if this verse is for the church presently? As men must come to judgment, so they must be judged according to their light. If judgment begins at the house of God, then woe to those who profess Him in hypocrisy and rebellion. Our comfort has led to our apathy, and our apathy to compromise.

The truth of this passage is clear. We don't look for food when we're not hungry. We don't look for water when we’re slaked. We don't look for a physician when we are in perfect health. We don't look for relief when we are not in pain. But we will turn to God if it looks like He's about to slay us. Is that how we feel yet?

It isn't politics or policy that's the problem of the day; it's personal. It's us. In times of great trouble, men will seek God more earnestly than when they are at ease and full of this world.

Adversity has ever been the catalyst of great awakenings and reformations in the church. But till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet. The LORD's people never prize Him so much as when they feel the burden of their sins and the weight of His judgments. God’s sharpest dealings with His people are often preparatives to His sweetest visits. When the world can give us no shelter, no food, no warmth, then we seek refuge under the wings of our gracious God. So, God often withdraws His earthly comforts to make us seek true comfort in Him alone.

Perhaps that's what He is doing now. It feels like we’re being slain. May we encourage our hearts with the rest of this precious verse…

"...And they returned and inquired early after God.

And they remembered that God was their rock,

And the high God their redeemer." (Psalm 78:34–35)

Amen.