God's People in Exile

Throughout history the church has been more effective as a persecuted minority than as a dominant power.

In the LORD I take refuge. 

How then can you say to me:  “Flee like a bird to your mountain!

For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string

to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  (Psalm 11:1-3)

David, before he became king, was in trouble. As if it wasn't enough to be arch enemy of the Philistines he was relentlessly pursued by king Saul, whose jealousy

Prayerful Apparel

drove him to ruthlessly crush all opposition to his despotic leadership. David had friends, loyal companions who were looking out for him, and who therefore were advising him to flee for safety. But their well-intentioned warnings were motivated by fear, so David would have none of it, choosing instead to take refuge in the Lord. The fear was of secret attack from unknown adversaries lurking in the shadows; the antidote to trust in God who alone can be trusted.

The 'foundations' refer to the fundamental principles that hold society together. When these norms of community behaviour are torn down there is no longer any protection for the innocent. Anarchy breaks out and chaos follows, and upright citizens can do nothing to halt the declining ethical and moral standards.

So when cultural correctness crumbles, can righteous people still make a difference?

In David's time power struggles and revenge killings were the order of the day, but when he became king he was able to establish justice and equity, because he let the Lord rule.  In the following generations apostasy prevailed, standards dropped, and eventually the whole nation found itself in exile. Was it all a waste? Could the righteous do nothing?

God allowed Israel, then Judah, into exile as a punishment for their disobedience, but not without the hope of restoration.  There in captivity, yet culturally and creatively free, the greatest and most influential writings were produced.  Babylon marked the end of leadership by corrupt and idolatrous kings but allowed a resurgence of Jewish tradition.  Here the Torah took its final shape, study halls were established, and leadership passed to God-fearing rabbis.  We gentiles owe our biblical understanding to texts preserved and copied during exile. It is true that some for a while 'sat down and wept by the rivers of Babylon, refusing to sing the songs of Zion' (Psalm 137), but later adapted, flourished, studied and became 'a light to the gentiles' (Isaiah 60, Luke 2). In the books of Esther and Daniel we get glimpses of how exile gave rise to influence, opportunity and to hope.

Here is a paradigm for our own times. The foundations of British culture, once built on Judaeo/Christian standards, have been disintegrating, perhaps even deliberately destroyed. The symptoms don't need spelling out - just listen to ten minutes of any news bulletin and all the signs of a broken society are evident. What boiled over on our streets recently has been simmering for decades with no moral compass to restrain it.  While Moslem clerics were able to demonstrate calm leadership the church was effectively silenced.

The Christian church in the UK is entering a kind of exile. Sidelined and muted, under duress from competing religions, no longer representing a majority, considered to be culturally irrelevant, consigned to a social ghetto, pressurised, but being purified. Just as God used exiled Jews to preserve His word and be a light to host nations, He will also use a repressed and subverted remnant of faithful followers of Jesus the Jewish Messiah.  Power and influence by the church may have waned but God's authority has not. This story is far from over.

Back To Jerusalem

Throughout history the church has been more effective as a persecuted minority than as a dominant power. 'Christendom' brought complacency and heresy, with a distorted evangelism that emphasises a social rather than a saving gospel. Political correctness outweighs prophetic confrontation, and eco-credentials are rated higher on the agenda than biblical principles. This kind of compromised church has little influence on the world because it has allowed in the world's influence, permitting, even welcoming, unacceptable and unbiblical moral and ethical standards. 

So it's time for God's people to be driven into exile, into a wilderness to be purged of institutions, denominations and traditions, pursuing holiness rather than happiness, righteousness rather than reputation. There to be purified and empowered for the task of gathering lost souls into the Kingdom of God. We live in the certain hope that Jesus will return and will reign forever. In that hope we, his 'ekklesia', - his 'called-out assembly' - must encourage one another to continue in repentance and faith in Christ, being filled with Holy Spirit to equip us for mission. 

Lord we thank you for being our refuge. We thank you for these days of opportunity and for the coming revival. We thank you that even when the foundations fail the righteous prevail. By Your grace we will serve You today. Jesus, You have our 'yes'.

Author: John Plumb

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.