As the redeemed Israelites of YHVH, whether in the land of Israel or scattered in the nations, we must face head-on verse 3 of Psalm 125: “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted [goral in Hebrew, also means one’s lot in life] to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.” When we look around us, at what is happening in the nations at this time, especially the so called Judeo/Christian nations, we have to ask: “which scepter is ruling?”
We could contend that (no matter what) YHVH is sovereign. But that is not what this verse is actually saying. It is saying that we, the redeemed who claim our righteousness by faith through Yeshua, are the ones holding the scepter of His Kingdom on earth and in our respective nations. With that comes the promise that if “we trust in YHVH” we “shall not be moved” (Ps. 125:1) and hence, indeed, “the scepter of wickedness will not rest on that which has been allotted [or determined]” for and to us.
However, if we reach out our hands to iniquity, we turn that scepter into the rule of wickedness and then, we will find ourselves fighting against YHVH and His determined lot for us. What is more, instead of being agents of blessings, we will be agents of bringing YHVH’s judgements via curses.
A verse that was first brought to my attention in 1976, at a conference in Jerusalem, and then of course a million times after that, is 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” But in my opinion it may be a little too late to apply the content of this verse in order to change what is happening in the world. YHVH is allowing the tares and the wheat to mature together in the fields of humanity (see Matthew 13:30). It is the tares that are standing tall at this time and can therefore be clearly seen, as they structure their governmental authority over the bowed heads of the wheat. We know that this will only be allowed for a season, although it will not be a pleasant time for the righteous, as the Almighty must turn up the summer heat to ripen the seed and dry up the plants.
The mature tares are the plants that grew out of the seed that the enemy planted, and will be taken out of the field in the course of YHVH’s season of harvest. After removing the tares, the earth will be filled with the beautiful golden grain glistening in the summer sunlight. For the believers this is also a golden opportunity to bow their heads in humble adoration of the Son of the Living Elohim, who is standing
with the winnowing fan/fork in His hand to carry out one of the last tasks that the Father has given Him. “His winnowing fan/fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable” (Matthew 3:12 and Luke
3:17).
“Behold, I say to you, ‘lift up your eyes and look up, lift up your heads, the fields are already white for harvest, because your redemption draws near’” (John 4:35 with Luke 21:28).
As we hold on firmly to the confidence and joy of our hope to the end, we are Messiah’s lot, as it were, by being His house (see Hebrews 3:6), thus the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the lot (being us) of Messiah – the Righteous One.
Ephraim and Rimona Frank
