"Floods Of Ungodliness"

In the day when the Lord delivered David from the hand of all his enemies he was moved by the Holy Spirit to write a notable song of triumph which is twice recorded in Scripture (2 Sam. 22 and Ps. 18). David looked back over his experiences of injustice, oppression and evil. "The floods of ungodliness made me afraid", he recalled. "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple" (Ps. l8:4-6).

"Floods of ungodliness"! How vividly this describes the great upsurge of evil in our time, and it may well make us afraid. Like David, our refuge is in the living God who alone can preserve His people and bless their witness despite the menacing power of ungodliness in today's world. As we approach the close of another year may we be stirred to fresh awareness of our need to call on the Lord to help us to be "unblameable in holiness" (1 Thess. 3:13).

A United States commentator recently referred to widespread anxiety about what many see as "a moral breakdown in American society". They have in view such developments as "more than sixteen million abortions performed since 1973; the fourfold increase since 1970 in children raised by unwed mothers; the rise in drug abuse; the emergence of gay liberation and the glamorization of promiscuity".-

Similar concern was expressed early this year about moral standards in Britain. "Daily we are confronted with facts on increased crime, drug abuse, baby battering, violence and racial tension. Facts which call for our compassion and care, but also deep concern about the state of our nation. Behind the facts are changing standards. The Englishman's word is no longer his bond; millions of unborn babies have been denied the right to life, but the rights of homosexuals have become firmly established; live in lovers cause no comment as thousands of illegitimate children are growing up with no concept of family life; the elderly are abused and abandoned".

We recognize, of course, that in the United States, Britain and Europe many organizations vigorously protest against such evils as abortion, homosexuality, drug addiction, pornography and the like. Many people work sacrificially to provide remedial care. A Mori Poll carried out early this year indicated that two out of three adults in Britain would support the setting up of an organization to promote higher moral standards - only 6 per cent would oppose it. This suggests that many are alarmed at the social effects of declining standards and wish to see the trend reversed. Yet without spiritual revival to provide the motivation how will the powerful desires of the flesh and of the mind be controlled?

For a vital factor contributing to such decline is abandonment by many of faith in Scripture as the Word of God. As a result "there is no fear of God before their eyes". Standards based 'on truths of Scripture, formerly commanding wide respect, are now regarded as irrelevant. Accountability to God is dismissed as a scaremongering myth. They "seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?" (Is. 29:15).

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Is. 59:19 AV). In its context this verse is a prophetic word about the future deliverance of the Israel nation. We borrow it for the moment in relation to the vast onslaught by the enemy of souls as he directs the floods of ungodliness in our time. They are frightening indeed! Yet we are not alone. The Spirit of the Lord is with us. His almighty strength will enable us to stand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. Each disciple of Christ may be an overcomer, however strong the currents of ungodliness.

The Lord Jesus spoke of His disciples as "the salt of the earth", "the light of the world" (Mat. 5:13-15). Having themselves escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust (2 Pet. 1:4) their influence is likened to the preserving quality of salt; but how vital it is that the salt should not lose its savour! Themselves once in darkness, but now light in the Lord, His disciples are urged to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even to reprove them (Eph. 5:8,11).

unknown | Dec 1986
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