From the sermon “His Soul Hateth” — Psalm 11:5, Dr. John Wheeler
People these days have a weird affinity for violence. This too reminds me of …
Proverbs 8:36
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.
Psalm 11
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do? 4The Lord is in his holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. 5The Lord trieth the righteous: But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, And an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.
The depraved human heart loves fights, gore, blood, and killing.
The quickest way to get a crowd when I was in school was to yell fight.
Violence Is Nothing New
Genesis 6:11–13
11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Today, as before the flood, and in pagan Rome, you have violence as an entertainment and violence as a sport. But the question for a Christian is what does God think about that? What does the Bible say?
Responding with Force in the Will of God
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Romans 12:18–21
18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore 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. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
How many times is there a movie or television show where the hero is wronged and goes about taking vengeance (outside of the law)?
To whom does vengeance belong?
Titus 3:2
2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
1. You Are Living in a Theocracy, Under Old Testament Rule, or Under the Reign of the Lord Jesus Christ
1.1 Such as Joshua, David, Nehemiah, etc.
1.2 Jesus offered the Jews both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven.
1.3 Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and the King of Righteousness was in HIS HOUSE in the place where he choose to place His name there forever.
1 Kings 9:3
3And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
1.4 Jesus goes into His house with His authority and does this
Matthew 21:12–13
12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
1.5 But by chapter 23, notice what Jesus says!
Matthew 23:37–39
37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Now things have changed. As the leadership has rejected their Messiah. They wanted the Kingdom of Heaven and the millennial blessings, without the King reigning in righteousness and true holiness.
John 18:36
36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
So it was His house; now it is their house, and as a result in the following chapter, Matthew 23 …
Matthew 24:1–2
1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
1.6 Thank God, things will finally be different when …
Zechariah 12:10
10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Romans 11:26
26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
2. You Are Acting in Self-Defense of Person or Property
Proverbs 3:30
30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.
What About Cursing?
What if someone uses profanity at you in a public place?
Luke 6:28
28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
It is certainly a sin, but not a crime.
“It is not the purpose of Christianity to use force or the threat of force to keep people from sinning.” The Bible commands us instead:
Ephesians 5:11
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1 Timothy 2:1–2
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
The point isn’t that cursing is fine — it’s that reproof, not the civil magistrate, is the Christian’s tool for a vice like cursing. The state’s tool is reserved for actual aggression (threats, violence, theft, fraud).
What if they do that on your property? The Bible certainly does teach private property rights (Acts 5:4-5; 1 Kings 21:1-19; Exodus 20:15).
A church, a home, or a business can absolutely tell someone, “Don’t curse/threaten here,” and enforce it—that’s property rights, not censorship in the constitutional sense.
Being able to censor what is said on one’s property is a mark of a free and ordered society; not to be allowed to censor what is said on one’s property is a mark of an authoritarian and lawless society. — Laurence M. Vance
Even a lost man like Elon Musk got this right when he said:
In a free society, individuals control the speech that is allowed on their property. In a free society, employers make the rules for workplace speech. — Elon Musk
If you want to talk about property rights:
Psalm 24:1
1The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.
What About Threats?
Threats = aggression.
Aggression against another person’s or property is a crime. The government certainly should intervene.
No one may threaten or commit violence — that is, “aggress” — against another man’s person or property. Aggression is the nonconsensual initiation of violence: the threat of violence, coercion, theft, or fraud.
Proverbs 24:11–12
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, And those that are ready to be slain; 12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?"
You have the right and a duty to defend against a violent aggressor.
Threatening to harm another’s person or property is indeed a crime.
Vices are those acts by which a man harms himself or his property. Crimes are those acts by which one man harms the person or property of another. And: government’s legitimate job is “prosecuting and exacting restitution from those who initiate violence against, commit fraud against, or violate the personal or property rights of others” — leaving alone anyone whose conduct is “nonviolent, non-disorderly, non-disruptive, non-threatening, and noncoercive.” — Lysander Spooner
3. You Are A Member Of Law Enforcement And Must Use Force Against A Criminal (someone Who Is Causing Harm To Someone’s Person Or Property).
(Someone who is causing harm to someone’s person or property.)
Genesis 9:6
6Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Romans 13:4
4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
More From the Bible About Violence
Psalm 55:9
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Psalm 140:11
11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Proverbs 10:6
6Blessings are upon the head of the just: But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 16:29
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Proverbs 28:17
17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person Shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
Jeremiah 20:8
8For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; Because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, And a derision, daily.
Jeremiah 22:17
17But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, And for to shed innocent blood, And for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Luke 3:14
14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Luke 9:51–56
51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
God Does Not Think Like We Do
God simply does not think like we do (thankfully).
Isaiah 55:8
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Matthew 5:43–48
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
That’s an assault! A crime.
It’s ok to do wrong (fill in the blank).
If the young man had said “Jesus Christ” name in vain or “God” or “Lord” in vain, no one would have been assaulted and most likely no one would have said a thing.
The Problem: Many Have a Kingdom Here
- The problem is people, especially in America, have a kingdom.
Colossians 3:1–2
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Hebrews 13:14
14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Hebrews 11:13–16
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Matthew 6:19–21
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
But the problem is many do have a continuing city! Many would rather live here than there.
- Because they have a kingdom, not respecting the National Anthem or pledging allegiance to the flag sounds like and is treated as blasphemy.
- And if you believe in Dominion Theology, blasphemy against the state is blasphemy against God and is punishable as a crime (jail, beating/caning, or execution).
- This world is their home, and they are taking up root.
- If you respond in such a manner, you are doing so against the word of God and the Spirit of God, and you are a criminal.
So do we live by the Scriptures when it suits us or is the Bible the sole authority?
Where in the entire history of the New Testament church, Acts through Revelation, do we see anyone using violence to enforce morality or further “the kingdom”? It is the Christians in the New Testament who are the ones being beaten by intolerant religious zealots who are building a kingdom on this earth WITHOUT Jesus Christ reigning in Jerusalem.
Even in the Tribulation, the Jews Are Not Supposed to Stand and Fight
Matthew 24:15–22
15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
The two witnesses announce GOD’S judgments, but only use force personally in self defense.
Revelation 11:1–6
1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
That doesn’t change until the Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory as the KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords. And there are way too many references to give here for that.
Not “Nuke Them All”
We have leaders who will hold the Bible up and turn around and use the F-word. Something is horribly wrong.
Nuke them all is the mentality of many today, but that is not Bible.
2 Timothy 2:24–25
24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
When Christ Reigns
The Reign of Jesus Christ will be characterized by this:
Isaiah 60:18
18Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, Wasting nor destruction within thy borders; But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, And thy gates Praise.