What is the good news for a world full of battered women and traumatized men, molested girls and bullied boys? Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins reassures us that one important problem has been taken care of, but what about our other pressing needs? Every day we grapple with our desperate need to be rescued and sheltered, comforted and healed. Does the gospel cover that, too?
“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” …
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:6, 11-12
At first glance, the idea of a king coming to conquer and rule doesn’t seem very reassuring. After all, we have already experienced what powerful people do. The mess we are currently in has been caused by their selfish ambition and arrogant oppression. How is one more violent, controlling leader going to solve our problems?
This ruler measures the glory of His kingdom by the way He cares for its weakest members.
Somehow the less intimidating images of God as a tender shepherd or a sheltering hen seem more comforting. We latch on to the idea of Him holding us close, wiping away our tears and whispering sweet words of love into our ears. And indeed, this is precisely what He does with His wounded children. But that is not all that He does, because that is not all that He is.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9
The news that Jesus is King may not initially strike us as good, because our experience of corrupt, abusive leaders has left us broken and terrified. But considering the kind of king that He is, it is the best news we could hear.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:7, 9-10
For Jewish captives living under the cruel, tyrannical rule of the Babylonians, this news gave cause to lift their heads in hope. Despite their oppressors’ ruthless power, despite their own trembling helplessness, they had a King who was coming to rescue them. His military might was not limited. His political clout was not inhibited. He had heard their cry and was determined to do whatever it took to take down their abusers and to set them free.
But what would He do with them after that? Become yet another domineering, self-promoting leader who used them up to accomplish His own empire-building ends?
How could they know that He would use His power for their good instead of just His own?
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. …
All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
Psalm 72:1, 11-14
God reassured His people of the kind of King He would be. Sensitive to the needs of His people. Tuned in to the silent cries of the abused. He would use His power to rescue and defend them because He valued them. He would be strong enough to protect, loving enough to care, and faithful enough to follow through.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Psalm 145:1, 13-16
And when Jesus finally showed up to establish His kingdom on earth, He fulfilled every one of those promises. He rode a gentle donkey instead of a raging stallion. He confronted the corrupt religious leaders who marginalized His messy people. He exerted His power to drive out spiritual oppressors and to restore traumatized victims. He focused His eyes on the needs of His people. He extended His hands to feed and heal, touch and wash them. And in an ultimate act of servant leadership, He laid His life down to lift their lives up.
As terrifying as it can be to come under the leadership of a powerful king, this King makes it easy. He measures the glory of His kingdom by the way He cares for its weakest members. He satisfies the desires of each of His people because He delights us. In the face of cruel abusers and terrorizing bullies, His superior strength becomes our sure hope. We may feel powerless, but the good news is that our God reigns!
messytheology 
Ahhh, but exposing weakness is hard and dangerous. So many people consume weakness, sort of like drinking blood.
Yes, they do. Which is why we need discernment to know which people we can trust which we can’t. I think God includes His “track record” in the Scriptures, especially in Jesus’ treatment of the vulnerable and weak in the gospels, to give us evidence of why we can trust Him to protect us in our weakness and not consume us.
Tiffany, I can’t believe we are just now meeting. I’m Steve Austin, creator of http://www.graceismessy.com and I absolutely love your blog and am officially a fan! I have actually just completed my first book and 50% of the proceeds are going to support The WellHouse, a mission in Birmingham, Alabama, which rescues trafficked and sexually exploited women and girls 24/7. The WellHouse has rescued more than 120 females since opening in 2011 and is a dynamic place of grace.
All of that being said, this post is close to my heart as one of the “abused ones” and I would love to share it as a guest post on my site or even have you write some original content as a guest blogger?
I believe in what you are doing and am so thankful for the stand you have taken!
Grace,
Steve Austin
Steve, Thank you for your incredibly encouraging and affirming message. I’ve had a look at your blog and it is rich in the experiential wisdom of having wrestled with God through some tough stuff and come out the other side with both of you victorious. I’m delighted to know that someone with your ability to understand and empathize is working with those being rescued from sex trafficking. I suppose that, for them, the mental nightmare isn’t over just because the physical captivity is.
I would be happy to participate in your blog work in any capacity you feel would be helpful. You are welcome to share any of my posts on your site or to “commission” me to write new material. Is there any particular issue that you feel would be particularly relevant? You may want to scroll down the abuse category on my blog (and perhaps the depression and trauma categories, too) to get a feel of what I have already done.
May our Lord continue to do His redeeming work in and through you,
Tiffany