Preached in Moneyslane FPC at the Monday evening Harvest Thanksgiving service which also marked the 54th anniversary of the beginning of the gospel mission, commenced by Dr John Douglas back in 1966, which gave rise to the present congregation.

Moneyslane FPC is one of the ‘Prison Churches’, born out of the wonderful moving of God’s Spirit at the time when three Free Presbyterian ministers were imprisoned for three months as part of the battle against ecumenical apostasy back then.

“Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him,” Psalm 140:11.

This being harvest weekend, I wish to deal with this verse and from it show that there is a harvest from which no sinful man can hide.  God has stated: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,” Galatians 6:7. The Lord has illustrated the truth of the harvest in nature but occasionally in His providential dealings with wicked men, He does so directly. I have seen that as I look back over the 56 years I have been engaged in preaching.

* Not far away from Kilskeery, in Drumquin, in 1989, 20 year-old Joseph Connelly was killed when a bomb he was seeking to attach to a police reservist’s car blew up. He was a workmate of the policeman and had helped to build his house. He had even shared his lunchbox.

* Back on 18th Feb 1996, a 22 year-old IRA bomber, Edward O’Brien, blew himself up in a London bus, killed by the premature detonation of his own bomb. He was reaping what he sowed since, it is likely, that he was involved in another London bombing, ten days previously, when two innocent men were killed. He was what even his own family did not know him to be. His neighbours in Lewisham, in London, where he had come from Wexford to live, did not suspect that he was storing explosives and manufacturing and planting bombs. 

* As a boy, I was often warned against the treachery bred by Roman Catholicism. I was told of a raid upon a Protestant farm house and the occupants returning fire through the door of their house. The next morning, a Roman Catholic neighbour was found lying on their doorstep after being shot the night before. The neighbour was a man with whom the farmer had what he considered cordial relations, the two frequently and freely lending each other various items of  farm equipment. 

* There are those who would consider the telling to me this story to be but an example of the bigotry in which Ulster Protestantism is steeped. That is not so. There are adequate grounds for such warnings as is demonstrated in the death of Joseph Connelly and Edward O’Brien and many others. These are modern versions of the story I heard as a lad. It is a story that has been reenacted many times in Ulster. The death of these two young IRA terrorists at their own hands serves to illustrate the truth of our text. They were hunted and overthrown by the evil that possessed them just as God’s word says. 

* For a short time this evening, learn the lessons that such deaths teaches us all for it is not just terrorists that are being hunted by evil.

I. NOTE THE ASSURANCE WITH WHICH DAVID SPEAKS

“Evil shall hunt the violent man. His words show that the thing will take place.

1. There are matters about which the child of God is sure. There are matters about which we can rest assured. Luke 1:1, Acts 2:36.

2. This certainty comes from a revelation of the divine will. God has revealed His will on many matters in His word. Deut 29:29, Matt 16:17.

3. Furthermore, the certainty stems from David having prayed about the matter. Verse 9-11. Few realise that the prayers of God’s people determine the course of many events. Luke 18:7-8, Rev 6:9-10.

II. NOTE OF WHOM IT IS DAVID SPEAKS WITH ASSURANCE

It is the violent. This violence is much more widespread than many imagine. It affects many who would consider themselves the opponents of terrorism. The Hebrew word that is used here is chamac {khaw-mawce’}. How it is employed in God’s word will give us an understanding of its meaning and just who it is that is guilty of the violence referred to in our text. 

1. This violence was seen in days of apostasy. Gen 6:11, 13. It was a day of wholesale rebellion against God, verse 5. The same link is seen in Ezekiel 8:17. This is a violence closely associated with man’s wicked rejection of the rule and command of God. It is so today!

2. This violence may be committed in our hearts.  Gen 16:5. The despising of Sarai by Hagar, verse 4, was an act of violence. The ‘wrong’ Sarai suffered = violent. The rejecter of the gospel is guilty of despising Christ. This is what God calls violence. It is showing at least a measure of approval of the crucifying of Christ! How He was treated - Luke 18:32. How rejectors treat Him - Hebs 10:29,. 

3. This violence may be committed by our lips. Exodus 23:1 (unrighteous), Deut 19:16 (false). Little is thought of lying today. Yet God considers it a crime of violence. Much violence has been done against Ulster, the Protestant majority and, above all, the gospel, by the lying lips of men, Ps 27:12 - Saul of Tarsus, Ps 35:11.

III. NOTE WHAT IT IS OF WHICH DAVID SPEAKS SO ASSUREDLY

“Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” The word evil can be translated by a number of words such as hurt, trouble, adversity, affliction and quite a few others. If you would know what follows those who are violent, consider this word.

1. That which will sadden. Gen 40:7. Sorrow will follow the heels of the violent.

2. That which is ill-favoured. Gen 41:3. Leanness is here referred to. 

3. That which will displease. Numbers 11:1. God was displeased by Israel’s complaining. Misery of mind and heart will ‘hunt’ the ‘violent’ sinner.

4. That which will hurt. Deut 6:22 ’sore’; 28:35  ’sore’. Such is the portion of the rejecter of God’s truth and it will end with the sinner being overthrown, ‘push down’ to eternal judgment. Heed the voice of Christ calling you to safety and salvation and deliverance from the dread hunter on your heels!