Hinge Verses:Psalm 94:21-22
The Just Judge is the headline of Psalm 94. The Psalmist (thought to be King David, although he is not credited specifically.) is asking for the True Judge to rise up and judge the earth. He is pleading for the proud to get what they deserve. Echoing the Psalms we've already read with this study, the cries are directed toward the easy life the wicked seem to be living and the unfairness of it. Not only are they wicked, they crush those who are trying to follow the LORD. They kill widows, aliens who live among them, fatherless. Not only do they kill them, they're not one bit concerned with whether God knows it or not. The author is livid that the killers and murderers think the "God of Jacob" isn't paying attention to their wickedness. "Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise?" the author rages. Of course God hears, of course he sees. He's the creator of both senses! God created us and He wrote the instruction manual on how His creation can live the best, abundant life. He knows that takes discipline (not necessarily the spanking we think of when we hear discipline, but training.) But the thoughts of His creation are useless. They don't see the happiness and relief that comes from the teaching of the One who loves us and knows us best. The LORD will win in the end, bringing justice for the righteous.
The author turns his thoughts for himself and how unfairly he's been treated. Who stood up FOR him? Who stood AGAINST the wicked? One answer--The LORD Himself. Even the righteous are in danger of their foot slipping as they navigate life, but God's faithful love supports.
God has no harmony with corruption and evil. Corruption and evil join forces against the righteous and sentence them to death. But God...He is the hideaway. He is home base. He will take their sins and evil, destroying them, because they have stored up wrath for themselves for that day. Romans 2:5
The Salem Witch Trials are a stain on the fabric of American history. They took place in the late 1600s in colonial Massachusettes. I have done a deep dive into the stories behind the trials, and it's really hard to discern rightly the mindset that drove this. Especially with the use of Google, AI, Wikipedia, and others, which allows people to interject opinion, which then allows the story to be skewed a certain direction. So I'm going to follow the story of two people.
Rebecca Nurse was a well-respected member of the Salem community. Rebecca, together with her husband, Francis, had 8 children. Francis was an artisan who was frequently asked to be a mediator in community matters. Rebecca was considered to be untouchably loyal, reverent, and benevolent; as a wife, mother, and community member. In March of 1692, only a month after the Salem Witch Accusations and Trials started, Rebecca was accused of being a witch. When an accusation was made, the magistrates (judges) in charge would usually claim that if someone was accused, they were probably guilty. But for Rebecca, they prayed if she was innocent, that the Lord would make it obvious, because "It is a sad thing to see church members accused." At the time of her arrest, Rebecca was 71 years old and frail. She was not allowed to have a lawyer, yet many spoke on her behalf. "The afflicted"--those who showed signs of "fits" in response to the presence of a witch--had outbursts in Rebecca's presence, to which Rebecca responded "I have got nobody to look to But God." (emphasis mine.)
Rebecca Nurse was hanged on July 19, 1692.
Ann Putnam Jr., as a 12 year old girl, was a primary accuser in the Salem Witch Trials. Some of Ann's closest friends claimed to be "afflicted"--physically and mentally tormented by the dark magic of the witches. Ann followed their lead, also claiming to be tormented. Ann alone accused 62 people, which resulted in the execution of 20. One of those accused and executed by Ann was Rebecca Nurse.
14 years after Rebecca's death, Ann consulted with the pastor of their church, who helped her write a public confession of the part she played in the trials. Rebecca's son, Samuel, was allowed to read the confession ahead of time and deeemed it satisfactory.
Ann desired to read her confession and declare her faith at the same time. On August 25, 1706, a large crowd gathered, and Reverend Green read the confession to them while they sat and Ann Putnam Jr. stood.
"I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my father's family in the year about '92; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say, before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any person, for I had no such thing against one of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan. And particularly, as I was a chief instrument of accusing of Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire to lie in the dust, and to be humbled for it, in that I was a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offence, whose relations were taken away or accused.
[Signed]
"This confession was read before the congregation, together with her relation, Aug. 25, 1706; and she acknowledged it."
"J. Green, Pastor."
After the reading, Ann confirmed that this was indeed her confession and her signature, and received communion.
"They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death." Human Nature. "But the LORD is my refuge; my God is the rock of my protection." The nature of God. Rebecca Nurse said when accused, "I am innocent as a child unborn but surely, what sin has God found me unrepentant of, that He should lay such an affliction on me in my old age." Ann Putnam Jr begged forgiveness of God and from all she had wronged.
The Salem Witch Trials will forever be a stain on our history. But these two women--from opposite sides of the crisis--both ran to Yahweh, eternal God, and found refuge and protection.
"All the wreckage of my choices You have turned to life from ashes.
Lifted from death, risen with Him. Now I stand in confidence.
Oh, but God." --"Oh, but God" by the Worship Initiative
*Shout out to my own Salem Witch Trials expert
--Kayla Priebe--for allowing me to talk this through with her ♥️ -
No comments:
Post a Comment