"Thou Shalt Not Be Forgotten Of Me"

by J. PEDDIE | Category: General | Dec 1962

Whilst the prospect of the soon return of the Lord Jesus for the Church, which is His Body, His Bride, with all its attendant blessings should bring joy to the heart of the believer, conversely the things which must shortly come to pass, hereafter, fill the mind of the enlightened Christian with fore-boding, as he contemplates the impending doom, destined to fall on the unregenerate. "For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24.21).

The world is fast approaching the time of the end, predicted by Israel's ancient prophets. Writing of Israel's tribulation at that time, Jeremiah declared: " We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it : it is even the time of Jacob's trouble but he shall be saved out of it" (Jeremiah 30.54).

Precious will these closing words be to the believing remnant in that day, of which we read in Zechariah 13.8, 9.

Divine judgement upon this guilty world, ripe already for judgement, is inevitable, because the Word of God, which foretells its doom, is irrevocable. Sin has caused the havoc. This period of fearful struggle, which will surpass even the atrocities of infamous modern tyrants, is the direct outcome of disobedience to God. In the world today the hearts of some men are beginning to fail them for fear, and for expectation of the things that are coming on the world, yet, strange to say, many others ignore the signs of the times.

As fast approaches the time of Jacob's trouble, which will take place in the second half of the seven years of Daniel's seventieth week (Daniel 9.27), it behoves all Christians to obey the divine injunction to pray for all men. The house of God is to be "called an house of prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56.7). Let us pray for all men who are travelling the broad road which leads to eternal destruction! Let us pray for our friends and kinsfolk who are without God, and without hope in the world! Let us intreat our God for Israel.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

They shall prosper that love thee" (Psalm 122.6).

"Ye that are the LORD'S remembrancers, take ye no rest, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (Isaiah 62.6, 7).

Abraham saw the plight and imminent peril of Lot and his family dwelling in Sodom. How fervently and effectually he interceded on their behalf, pleading with God that the righteous be not destroyed with the wicked

Moses stood in the breach between a holy God (jealous for His great Name, which His sinning people profaned in the sight of the heathen) and averted God's righteous judgement. Such was his selfless love for his brethren that he requested God to remove his name out of the book of life rather than that the nation of Israel be blotted out and be no more in remembrance.

Samuel, warning Israel of the consequences of disobedience and of coming judgement, said, "God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12.23). The heart's desire of Paul and his supplication to God was that Israel might be saved. He could wish that he were anathema from Christ for his brethren's sake, his kinsmen according to the flesh. Can self-sacrifice go further? We would do well to emulate these great men. Considering the issue of their lives, let us imitate their faith.

The signs of the times point to the imminent return of Christ for His Church. Let us, in the short time that is left to us, as we work and pray for the salvation of Jews and Gentiles, remain true to the words of the title of this article, which God once spoke, and still would speak to Israel: "Thou shalt not be forgotten of Me"

(Isaiah 44.21).

J. PEDDIE | Dec 1962
General