Persecuted (Part 2)

By Clifton Angel

    “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10). We have consider the reasons. Let us now consider the record: “...for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:12). Space will not allow for us to consider every record of every prophet that was persecuted for teaching and doing what is right, but let us consider a few examples.

    Elijah. By God’s power, He witnessed and performed tremendous miracles. He had seen many of his cohorts slain by “Queen” Jezebel (wife and manipulator of Ahab). By Elijah, God displayed His power over Jezebel’s false gods and prophets (cf. 1 Kings 18). With hundreds of her false prophets slain, “Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:2). Elijah’s reaction defies initial logic: “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life” (1 Kings 19:3). It can be confusing that Elijah would flee when Jehovah was on his side. Study and experience points to Elijah experiencing one or all of these three: “burnout,” anxiety, depression. He is a tremendous example to the faithful who experience the same, despite the victories they’ve witnessed.

    Daniel. Think about the temptations he had. This was a man taken into Babylonian slavery at a young age and made to work close by a man of great power — Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel’s patriotism for his country was humiliated. He was made to serve one that did not serve the God of heaven. Eventually, he was promoted to the highest in royal order, besides the king, in the greatest nation on earth at the time. Daniel had access to earthly power, prestige, prosperity, but his first priority was to serve God. Because of that, he suffered. Daniel’s life is an amazing example of faith in God. When told to eat the king’s food, he resisted (Daniel 1). When offered the glory for his interpretations, he gave it to God. When commanded by God to prophesy against the king, he did it (Daniel 2). When men tricked Darius into signing a decree against Daniel’s prayer routine, he did not skip a prayer to avoid the lion’s den (Daniel 6).

    Jeremiah. He was rejected by his own family, thrown into a dark cistern full of mud, witnessed the death of many after knowingly warning them, taken into captivity, threatened, and the list could continue (Jeremiah 26:8; 32:2; 38:6; Lamentations; et al.).

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake ... for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:11–12).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/