WHEN INIQUITY STOPS IT’S MOUTH

© Morris Ruddick

“When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice and all iniquity stops its mouth.” Psalm 107

Jesus spoke of “the beginning of sorrows:” a time marked by wars and rumors of wars and of earthquakes, plagues and famines; a time of great persecution against God’s people with great signs coming from the heavens. (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11)

A mark of our times has been meteorological manifestations that even the secular news media has given repeated reference to as “wicked weather.” Despite encouraging steps to fortify and expand freedom; the fact is that global terrorism, aids, economic wastelands, and tsunamis and wicked weather are just the tip of the iceberg. They are the rumblings that warn of the emerging of the beginning of sorrows.

The storm clouds brewing in the mid- to late-thirties, with the rise of the Nazi agenda, is an apt parallel to the times before us. Those were days in which far too many were blinded to the realities emerging. Worldwide governmental and church leaders, along with members of the news media sought peace with a formula of explaining away and ignoring the signs of the times — which eventually bore dire consequences of oppression, affliction and sorrow.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Today, we again are being pummeled with signs of the times. These are signs that again carry a context of oppression, affliction and sorrow. This year’s “Index of Economic Freedom,” an effort compiled by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation, ranks 155 nations according their economic opportunity and conditions. Burma (Myanmar) and North Korea are ranked 154 and 155 respectively. Indonesia came in at 121. This low figure is despite areas in Indonesia where private enterprise and economic freedom matches the opportunity of many other global markets of the Pacific Rim.

What this means is that Indonesia’s economic ranking includes regions reflecting some of the worst economic conditions of any place in the world. Despite scant coverage by the worldwide news media, the fact is that the area hit hardest by the tsunami in Indonesia has been a beehive of anarchistic hostilities, lawlessness and war-lords, not to speak of the overt oppression of those unfortunate enough to reside there.

We live in a time when kingdoms are rising against kingdoms and nations against nations. Plagues and famines defy the huge expenditures and efforts by well-meaning humanitarians. Wicked weather is all-too-frequently manifesting across the globe. These signs give strong indication of the world entering “the beginning of sorrows” spoken of by Jesus.

God’s Response to the Cry of the Oppressed
Psalm 107 reveals some very interesting dynamics — and hope that are tied to these troubling manifestations. It is a psalm that speaks of the goodness of the Lord, in the context of the need for redemption and deliverance from the hand of adversity and evil. In verses 33-34 it says: “He turns rivers into a wilderness and watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.”

God did not send the recent tsunami. However, verse 34 of this psalm does provide a clue into this tragic event: “for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.”

Verse 35 continues this glimpse into this evil-initiated struggle underway, as God intervenes with His lovingkindness: “Yet He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease.”

Then in verse 39 the psalmist further explains the context that was outlined in verses 33 and 34: “When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way.” One translation renders “wilderness” as a “pathless wastelands.”

Again, we see the response and the unveiling of the goodness of the Lord in verse 40: “Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock.”

Then, in verse 42, an amazing thing is said: “The righteous see it and rejoice and all iniquity stops its mouth.”

THE UNFOLDING DRAMA
Yet before commenting on this significant and very pertinent verse, we need to be aware of some other dynamics unfolding that are tied to this key area so tragically hit by the tsunami. Then we need to look a little closer at the earlier verses in this psalm.

Something very significant was already in motion at the time the tsunami hit. By way of background, AD 2000 was a mission initiative designed to close the gap in reaching every ethnic group in the world by the year 2000. It’s premise was based on the fact that far too many missionary efforts were underway in areas with an existing indigenous church, while scores of ethnic groups around the world had none. The organization that has evolved from AD 2000 is called the Transform World initiative. Transform World’s aim is to targets a single country each year with worldwide prayer, along with large gatherings that connect and mobilize local believers. This year, their target nation is Indonesia.

STRONGHOLDS OF WICKEDNESS
There is a level of wickedness that operates on a regional stronghold basis. It is the level of wickedness that holds hostage members of communities and regions. When iniquity runs its course into lawlessness and lawlessness finds its way into local and regional seats of power, in most instances, that is evidence that a stronghold of wickedness has manifested.

Scriptural economic principles result in a broad middle-class, whereby local communities of believers assist those needing to establish themselves. However, in many nations, there is little by way of a middle-class, with the vast majority of the people oppressed, impoverished and without hope. When this is the case, it is more often than not a stronghold of wickedness that has pushed its oppressiveness to a level that eventually will be confronted by the cries of the people.

As a major breeding-ground for terrorist activities, the Indonesian region hit hardest by the tsunami has long been a prayer target of both local believers and the prayer initiatives of other global groups. Now, as the Transform World initiative for Indonesia unfolds, the dynamics spoken of in Psalm 107 gain clarity and pertinence.

Wickedness devours. It consumes everything it can in its pathway and then looks around for more. Wickedness is a bottomless pit, in terms of its appetite. It feeds on itself. It gains alliances and worms its way into seats of power — then takes over. It also has a voice — which finds affiliation and reverberation in acceptable societal rebellion. There also comes a point when extreme levels of wickedness impact meteorological manifestations.

Yet, there is also a point when wickedness is confronted with a mix of the heart-cry from the oppressed and the mobilization of prayers of believers. The book of Revelations is the story of the final confrontation.

Psalm 107 summarizes the conflict and the solution. Scripture tells us that God gives gifts to men. Psalm 107 succinctly outlines those gifts that keep us from being seduced and overcome by evil that devours and evolves into the stronghold called wickedness.

COMMUNITY
On one level without the Lord, there is anarchy. Yet the Lord has clearly given His own the gift of community, God-centered community. God-centered community is filled with goodness and satisfaction for those that dwell there.

“They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Ps 107: 4-9

RIGHTEOUSNESS
Another level without the Lord is the bondage that is compounded by sin and anarchy. Community without righteousness and God will fall prey to bondage. Righteousness and rebellion cannot coexist. Rebellion despises authority. It lusts for power and creates the confusion and chaos that breeds leaders who pave the way for the shadow of death where the people are bound in infliction and irons. When righteousness is ignored and becomes distorted, deception enters to cloud the perception of reality. No longer will the people rejoice and yield to the benefit of working together for the common good. Without righteousness, the people become slaves to fear and the whims of the power-mongers. The process leads to being overwhelmed and without hope. The righteousness that comes from God-centered community is marked by freedom.

“They sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons; because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.” Psalm 107:10-19

WISDOM AND THE SUPERNATURAL
Still another level without the Lord is when iniquity begins to run rampant. It is when godlessness becomes the pathway with fools setting the standard. The Scriptures tells us that God is Spirit and they that serve Him must do so in Spirit and in truth. Wickedness will eventually unveil the counterfeit of compromise, foolishness and the occult. This pathway without the Lord leads to affliction and death.

However, God’s pathway involves the balanced mix of Spirit and truth that overcomes the patterns of perversity, lies and sorcery. It is enhanced by the “sacrifice of thanksgiving” that reflects the Hebrews 11 faith that acknowledges not only that God is, but that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. It is the operation of Spirit and truth that evolves into what the Scriptures refers to as His works — which transcend our efforts and are a byproduct of the wisdom and supernatural that only come from God.

“Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.” Psalm 107:17-22

DOMINION
The bottom of the pit without God is when the forces of nature begin rising up and closing in around the efforts of those who lead in the pathway of wickedness. Romans 8:21 speaks of a time when “creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption…” and that creation actually “groans and suffers the pains of childbirth,” until that time comes. On an individual level, it is the war between the flesh and the Spirit. On a global level, it is the conflict tied to the redemption and restoration of God’s creation — through the confrontation and exercise of authority required by those who are known by His Name.

Without God, things are out of control With Him at the helm, He gives us the authority over the works of His hands. Entering that level, is indeed a “desired haven” in which we can exalt Him in the “community” and marketplace assemblies of the people and praise Him in the “governing” company of the elders.

“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the LORD, & His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to & fro & stagger like drunken men, & are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble & He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him in the assemblies of the peoples, and praise Him in the company of the elders.” Ps 107:23-32

There is no question that the area of Indonesia hit hardest by the tsunami has become a spiritual stronghold of wickedness. At the time of the tsunami, it had sunk to the deepest level outlined by the counterfeit parallels to the gifts reflected by a God-centered society. It had evolved into a level of wickedness marked by the mounting efforts of leaders facilitating oppression and affliction upon the people.

THE DYNAMIC
Yet as iniquity snakes its way into and usurps the pathway of a God-centered society — and evolves into wickedness that eventually grows to the place to where the people cry out because of the oppression, affliction and sorrow, this psalm unveils the dynamic that brings hope.

This dynamic involves the collaboration between the poor and needy and lost on the one hand and the righteous on the other, who have cried out to the Lord. Community, righteousness, wisdom and the supernatural, and dominion are not only the gifts bestowed when people come to the end of themselves and recognize and cry out to the Lord. They represent the combined strategy needed to confront and overcome evil on a societal level.

The stronghold of wickedness would never have manifested without the cooperation — be that passive or active — of the people. The people would have never been deceived to allow it without the type of rebellion that turns its head from God. Romans 1:19 indicates that God has made Himself evident to the unbelievers, yet those aligned with iniquity have chosen to suppress these truths. I’ve heard one definition of the wrath of God simply being the withdrawal of His presence and grace — which allows iniquity to have free-reign.

GATEWAYS FOR INIQUITY
So, this psalm uncovers the gateways undermining the lovingkindness of the Lord. The pathway of iniquity always leads to oppression, affliction and sorrow. Yet the gateway to iniquity is not reserved for only the godless and the foolish. Among the righteous, when principles are compromised in one area in order to follow a “leading” in another, opportunity is given for iniquity to enter.

The balance to temptations for self-righteous compromise are summed up in 1 Corinthians 13 — “love is patient, love is kind” — it is not envious or self-seeking. It does not force its own way. Love is foundational for building the Kingdom of God. It was an element severely lacking in the passionate self-righteousness and deception that marked the tragic end of Judas.

Iniquity seeks to infiltrate the inner thoughts and attitudes of the righteous. It is the reason the Psalmist cried out to the Lord asking that the “the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart might be acceptable in Your sight.” It is the very reason we need to always being prepared to quickly repent and quickly forgive.

Iniquity devours. It is not by accident that Malachi referred to the evil one as the Devourer. Malachi also unveiled a level of iniquity among God’s people to where it will take the Lord of Hosts to rebuke the Devourer. While the focus of many within Christendom is to apply these verses in Malachi solely to the economic and financial sphere — the fact is that the Devourer is relentless and unyielding in the spiritual and community spheres of our Kingdom riches as well.

All of which leads us to the pivotal point of this psalm, when “all iniquity stops its mouth.”

WHEN INIQUITY STOPS ITS MOUTH
Terrorism and anarchy work hand in hand. They represent iniquity mobilized and gaining momentum. Terrorism is a stronghold of wickedness that not only supports a global network and subtle underground economy, but it seeks to infiltrate its way into areas that are safe-harbors for righteousness to bloom. It is the ultimate in the pro-active spread of corruption and wickedness. Havens for terrorism will devour the middle class and be a repository for the spread of oppression, affliction and sorrow.

As iniquity devours, it manifests, seduces and masks with counterfeits, the gifts the Lord intends for the people. Instead of a God-centered society, iniquity plants anarchy and rebellion. Where God would bestow righteousness, iniquity undermines with deception, arrogance and lawlessness. Rather than God’s wisdom and supernatural, iniquity empowers with foolishness, perversity and witchcraft. Where God enables with revelation and dominion, iniquity releases chaos and destruction.

Indeed, because of the wickedness of those that dwell therein, the Scripture says that rivers are turned into wilderness. Waterspings become dry ground and fruitful land becomes barren. When wickedness is allowed into seats of power and death and destruction begin manifesting, even God’s creation begins to draw the line. That is the point when the conflict begins reaching a crescendo. It is also the time when the oppressed and afflicted begin crying out.

It is at that point that this psalm reveals: “but when the people are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow” — with anarchy and bondage and with fools resetting the standard — they begin to cry out to the Lord in their trouble. They begin turning to God, where they previously ignored Him or turned away. This is not referring to a trickle, but when the people begin turning to the Lord in mass. So, when the people cry out to the Lord and turn back to God, then the result is “pouring contempt on princes and causing them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way.”

Then this psalm observes “…so He sets the poor on high, far from affliction and makes their families like a flock.”

In His mercy, God always hears and delivers. And when His deliverance brings restoration and stability, God bestows His gifts: a strategic mix that combines community, righteousness, wisdom and the supernatural, and dominion. It is then that the Scripture says: “O that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men.”

THEN the Scripture tells us: “the righteous see it and rejoice.” When the restoration of the people enters the place of God’s blessing and purpose; and converges with the rejoicing of the righteous that results from it all, then ALL iniquity stops its mouth.

In a world rumbling with terrorism and oppression and wickedness, there has never been a time when crying out to the Lord for both penetrating the darkness and establishing safe havens has been more important. There has never been a time when reaching out with the comprehensive strategy outlined by this psalm has been more crucial: as God’s love is imparted through community, righteousness, wisdom and the supernatural, and dominion. There has never been a time when Paul’s admonition of the purposeful outworking of the gifts has been more pertinent: “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

We began by observing that the recent tsunami was one of the signs of our times. We began by noting the signs that Jesus described as the beginning of sorrows: wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, plagues and famines, great persecution against God’s people with great signs coming from the heavens. The beginning of sorrows is indeed before us. Yet, we are not without hope or the means to confront the mounting tide of evil and to mobilize the forces of righteousness.

THE STRATEGY GIFTS
When we see signs that involve the groaning of creation, we are told our redemption draws nigh. He has given us keys commensurate with the times, with the strategy gifts outlined in this unique psalm, if we have the eyes to see how they operate together: community, righteousness, wisdom and the supernatural, and dominion. They are the keys that will gag the mouth of iniquity.

They are the keys to the three-fold Kingdom riches of the spiritual, community and the economic, each of which are so desperately needed for this hour.

Despite the storm clouds brewing and the manifestation of darkness across the globe, God’s Light will never be extinguished. Malachi 3 speaks of a time of alignment for God’s people. From God’s stance, that time was a reality-check. It was a reality-check for all the short-sidedness that had been allowed to infiltrate the ranks of even their leaders.

The days upon us are days of awe and days of rapid change. They are days of unusual opportunity and days in which to be alert to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. If in this time of alignment spoken of by Malachi, the expected result from God’s people coming together and turning to Him was the intervention of the Lord of Hosts, Himself, rebuking the Devourer; then, how much more might we expect — as we give focus to aligning our priorities as a globally-connected, mature, mobilized force of those who are called by His Name, in our efforts to confront the darkness and advance the Kingdom of God.

“Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 107:43


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2004 Copyright Morris Ruddick
mer@strategic-initiatives.org
Reproduction is prohibited unless specific permission is given by a SIGN advisor.
SIGN is a team of prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body globally.
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