And certainly it has been a long awaited day. In the entire history of our country, I don’t think any other single person has caused us more pain, aroused greater emotion, or consumed more of our military and intelligence resources than Osama Bin Laden.
OBL’s death has sparked a litany of thoughts, feelings, and emotion. Millions are celebrating. Vindication seems to be the prevailing feeling. People are proud of our military, who have performed bravely. Those who lost loved ones have a sense of closure.
The death of OBL has also raised questions among Christians. How should we feel about this? Is it OK to celebrate a man’s death? Proverbs 11 provides some perspective:
"When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting."
- Proverbs 11:10
This scripture simply acknowledges the reality that when a evil person dies, people rejoice. People are relieved that OBL can no longer hurt them. People feel a sense of justice. So it should not be considered “wrong” that there is some elation over OBL’s death.
How does God feel about all of this? Certainly no one can claim to precisely know God’s position on OBL, but there are a few biblical accounts that can help us understand.
First I think of the account of Jezebel, one of the most wicked queens that had ever existed among God’s people. She murdered the prophets of God, murdered innocent men for personal gain, and led the nation to worship a false god. God spoke through the prophet Elijah regarding Jezabel:
“And concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
This scripture simply acknowledges the reality that when a evil person dies, people rejoice. People are relieved that OBL can no longer hurt them. People feel a sense of justice. So it should not be considered “wrong” that there is some elation over OBL’s death.
How does God feel about all of this? Certainly no one can claim to precisely know God’s position on OBL, but there are a few biblical accounts that can help us understand.
First I think of the account of Jezebel, one of the most wicked queens that had ever existed among God’s people. She murdered the prophets of God, murdered innocent men for personal gain, and led the nation to worship a false god. God spoke through the prophet Elijah regarding Jezabel:
“And concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
– 1 Kings 21:23.
In the account of Jezebel, recorded in 1 Kings, we see God intervening in the situation using Elijah, Jehu, and a few eunuchs that were standing near Jezebel at an opportune time, and they tossed her out a window.
But there is a flip side, in that while God may intervene to remove a wicked person, that does not mean He takes pleasure in their death. In Ezekiel we read:
Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? – Ez 18:23
In other words, God loves all people, and His greatest desire for an evil person is that they would repent and turn away from their evil ways, worship the true God, and live! Even people like OBL. Just think of what could have been had OBL repented, and renounced violent jihad.
In the account of Jezebel, recorded in 1 Kings, we see God intervening in the situation using Elijah, Jehu, and a few eunuchs that were standing near Jezebel at an opportune time, and they tossed her out a window.
But there is a flip side, in that while God may intervene to remove a wicked person, that does not mean He takes pleasure in their death. In Ezekiel we read:
Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? – Ez 18:23
In other words, God loves all people, and His greatest desire for an evil person is that they would repent and turn away from their evil ways, worship the true God, and live! Even people like OBL. Just think of what could have been had OBL repented, and renounced violent jihad.
2 comments:
What a hard thing to concieve...almost impossiable for many people who have been so directly hurt by the works of this man...but pondering the idea just the thought would be an amazing testament to Gods forgivness and his mercy..and thinking even further what kind of restoration could have come from that repentance... What Amazing Grace...a wretch like him...I prayerfully, carefully think of other possiabilities we consider.. unthinkable...Gods forgiveness is is endless...
thank you brother! having Jesus inside us, i think that our wish should be that no one perish but to turn away from that which condemns us and binds us,, hate in our hearts and joy over someones death makes us no diffrent than the rest,,God is the ultimate Judge
Post a Comment