Anyone shedding a tear for Saddam today?

Anyone shedding a tear for Saddam today? Yes, Saddam has been through the legal process and has been found guilty. Is there a man alive that is not guilty before God? Yes, Saddam was a brutal, tyrannical dictator. Yes, he was a murderer. Yes, I'm sure he is (soon to be was) a lot of things. But, is anyone shedding a tear for Saddam today? What is God's heart in the matter?

Ezekiel 18:23 & 32 "23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? ... 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

I see a lot of people that are satisfied with the death of this man. Perhaps there are scriptures that say something different. That's not my point. From these, God obviously has no pleasure in it. Perhaps Jesus is still weeping. No doubt, one day He will take vengance against those who refuse to repent. I guess I have the same thoughts today as I did on 9/11. How sad, another soul for the fire.

No tears for him, but I sure am shedding a bunch of tears for all the folks who lost their live because of him, the Bible says you "will" reap what you sow he sowed lots and lots of death now it his time for his reaping.

Now here's a topic that stretches my mind. It drives me back to the Lord's mercy. Taking captive the thoughts that parade across my minds eye, i recall that our Father takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. And as my mind recalls the pain and suffering caused by this one man, i'm also reminded of that one verse, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

It saddens me that this man was decieved by satan. It saddens me even more that he will more than likely, (unless he becomes a christian before his death), spend an eternity in a DEVILS HELL. Hell was not created for us. It was created for the devil and his angels. So we actually are intruders if that is the place we CHOOSE to go. On the other hand justice is being served. I believe in that. The bible teaches that. God is a just God. Even if he were to be saved, the sentence should still be carried out.

Very good post, brother. My sentiments exactly.

Brother Paul

Hello...

I am praying for him. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Saddam Hussein cried out to the true Living God before he died? Oh that someone would reach out to him with the Love of Jesus!

I do not weep for the terrible actions of this man. Nor do I weep for the display of justice being poured out to him. However, I weep at the thought of any man going to death without reaching out to Jesus Christ.

:-(

MrBill,

No doubt, he will justly get what he deserves from our Just and Holy God. He will reap what he has sown. That doesn't erase the scriptures. God doesn't take pleasure in His death. However, if he had repented then all heaven would take note.

This is not for you Mr. Bill. Have Christians become so callous that they cannot shead a tear for lost sinners? Or would we like to be the first at the gallows?

EDIT:
Chris,

Yes, I would love to see that indeed. Of course, since he is already condemned to death he has nothing to fear in converting to the truth. AMEN. I weep for the same brother, another sinner meeting a Just and Holy God, who didn't tremble, nor repent. Chills my bones!

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

My thoughts and prayers are with our guys and girls in uniform that could get caught in the hellstorm that Sunni insurgents, or ex-Baathist gangs unleash post execution.

Which makes the whole situation all the more tragic. That the 'judgement' of Saddam - which has already cost the lives of thousands of troops, others maimed for life, and tens of thousands of Iraqians - may require further bloodshed, is heart-rending.

anyone shedding a tear for Saddam today? What is God's heart in the matter?

Yes! I am – it’s not the Lord’s will that any should perish.

But it will be more bearable for Saddam at the judgment than for our Christian leader, Bush and companies. Pagan Saddam had killed his thousands, but Christian Bush is still killing his millions!

It saddens me that this man was deceived by Satan

Fahrenheit 911, said Saddam was deceived/created by American leaders.

But it will be more bearable for Saddam at the judgment than for our Christian leader, Bush and companies. Pagan Saddam had killed his thousands, but Christian Bush is still killing his millions!

I totally agree that Saddam was caught in the trap of the devil and so are so many other world leaders. This also includes the leaders in the churches of America. :-(

I can't help but feel so very sober at the news and details leading up to his execution, my sense of nervous anticipation pales in comparison to his I'm sure...

I heard it on brother Wilkerson's sermon "Hell, What is it like" that many will die with God the furthest thing on their mind.

You have heard the adge "There are no athiests in foxholes" When I was in Iraq, I was back slidden and came close to death a few times, but even that didn't turn my heart to repentance...Praise God that he saw it fit to spare me in the midst of war.

I pray that Mr. Hussain humbles himself before our righteous Judge, but remember, Stalin cursed God with his last breaths.
Praise Him from whom all blessings flow,
Joe

Just saw on the news, he's dead. :-(

NLONG wrote:
MrBill,

This is not for you Mr. Bill. Have Christians become so callous that they cannot shead a tear for lost sinners? Or would we like to be the first at the gallows?

Well I had a couple friends, long time friends working over there in Iraq that were killed by his army years ago, so I am not callas I am grateful! and maybe some others attitude "may" be different if they lost a relative or friend to this killer.

No, I know all about forgiveness and yes I have forgiven him, but I am also glad his day came, it's so easy to sit back and judge someones opinion even if they are Christians until your best friend or relative was killed, then you "might" have a little different attitude and unless you have been in my shoes losing a couple of your best Buds to this killer you will never know, callas no grateful yes.

Yes I am a little bitter but if being bitter is a sin well I know God will forgive me and that is the only one I am looking to for forgiveness not man.

Sir,

You may find my last post on "War" interesting, I would like to hear your opinion,
with Love, Joe

It is interesting, my brother and I were talking about Saddam yesterday. My initial feeling was one of overwhelming gladness that this wicked man will be brought to justice by a holy God, but then i had a check as i remembered something that i had seen in a John Wesley Dvd the a few nights ago. John and his brother Charles attended a criminal to his execution and on the way with him they preached Jesus to him and pleaded with the man to put his faith in Christ and be saved. The man so convicted of his crimes thought he could not be saved but John Wesley continued to plead with the man until he did accept Christ and his burden rolled away and he went to his death with a smile on his face and a great peace.

My brother asked me if i would like to go into Saddam's cell the night before his execution and share the gospel with him. I had to think about it, part of me was appalled at the thought that this wicked man may be let off right at the last, but then God reminded me of the outrage of the gospel.

I am convinced that if Saddam would have been truly repentant over his sin and someone would have shared the gospel with him and he put his faith in Christ he would have been saved.

I find that shocking, and the gospel should shock us. That there is power in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse even Saddam Hussain of a liftime of the most heinous crimes against God and humanity. O what our Lord must have suffered upon that cross! If Saddam had repented and trusted Christ that would mean that Christ had suffered the righteous wrath and fury of Almighty God for his sins- Oh how He was crushed by His holy Father under the weight of our sins!

It occured to me that self righteous man is appalled at the thought of Saddam Hussain being let off by God because of the weight and terribleness of his crimes. And yet does this not show something of ignorance and self deception in us? We think that it was not so shocking for God to forgive us respectable people- Oh it was amazing but not shocking- well heaven finds it shocking- it is shocking!!!

Perhaps it's because we do not trully know the weight of our sins that crucified the Saviour, perhaps its because we have not seen the wickedness of our own hearts? Oh my soul, if you compare yourself with Saddam Hussain do you appear a saint? Then take one more look at your wicked heart and see your past sins in the light of God's infinite glory and holiness and you will see yourself on a par with this tyrant and you will be amazed that God for Christ's sake forgave you.

One last thought. If we were to see Saddam in heaven would it not be one of the greatest possible tributes to the grace of God? If he were there would he not be the biggest trophy on the highest shelf, as the greatest monument to the grace and mercy of our God. I doubt we will see him there- but who knows what happened in those last hours. All i know is this: "the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives".

How shocking is the gospel!!!

Pretty appreciative of most of the responses here, perspectives. Difficult to make "one" statement stick. Know of an acquaintance from years back that was of Kurdish decent, whose own mother witnessed the slaying (gassing) of her own people under his hand and fled through Turkey into the US. I did some work on his house during the time of the first gulf war and had the pleasure of a peculiar communication with his mother while he worked night shift. A very ... primitive, by our standards, aged lady taken quite out of her context of life and trying to adapt to our culture. Our language was communicated by hand signals and grunts and almost 'playing charades' if you will, trying to understand each other. The things she tried to feed me! Oh ... Always cooking something, and I am the most picky eater this planet has ever conceived. Quite a bit more to this whole story, my acquaintance being involved with the army of his country (Kurdistan)at one point, his story was quite incredible and credible. His pain felt after what was an abandonment to his people after that time ... Some of the story's he told ...

For all this, the earlier news of what was to become of him ... Saddam ... initial reaction was of sadness, nothing measured for atrocities and all these things. I do not know if it is just not for the sin of this planet and it's people that causes the ache and inner despondency, none of us has escaped it's penalty and none will. Death to all.

My brother asked me if i would like to go into Saddam's cell the night before his execution and share the gospel with him. I had to think about it, part of me was appalled at the thought that this wicked man may be let off right at the last, but then God reminded me of the outrage of the gospel.

I am convinced that if Saddam would have been truly repentant over his sin and someone would have shared the gospel with him and he put his faith in Christ he would have been saved.

I find that shocking, and the gospel should shock us. That there is power in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse even Saddam Hussain of a liftime of the most heinous crimes against God and humanity. O what our Lord must have suffered upon that cross! If Saddam had repented and trusted Christ that would mean that Christ had suffered the righteous wrath and fury of Almighty God for his sins- Oh how He was crushed by His holy Father under the weight of our sins!

I so appreciate this and concur wholeheartedly.

bro Here4Him

so much to chew on bro...may God minister to us through what He had you say here.

Here4Him wrote:
It is interesting, my brother and I were talking about Saddam yesterday. My initial feeling was one of overwhelming gladness that this wicked man will be brought to justice by a holy God, but then i had a check as i remembered something that i had seen in a John Wesley Dvd the a few nights ago. John and his brother Charles attended a criminal to his execution and on the way with him they preached Jesus to him and pleaded with the man to put his faith in Christ and be saved. The man so convicted of his crimes thought he could not be saved but John Wesley continued to plead with the man until he did accept Christ and his burden rolled away and he went to his death with a smile on his face and a great peace.

My brother asked me if i would like to go into Saddam's cell the night before his execution and share the gospel with him. I had to think about it, part of me was appalled at the thought that this wicked man may be let off right at the last, but then God reminded me of the outrage of the gospel.

I am convinced that if Saddam would have been truly repentant over his sin and someone would have shared the gospel with him and he put his faith in Christ he would have been saved.

I find that shocking, and the gospel should shock us. That there is power in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse even Saddam Hussain of a liftime of the most heinous crimes against God and humanity. O what our Lord must have suffered upon that cross! If Saddam had repented and trusted Christ that would mean that Christ had suffered the righteous wrath and fury of Almighty God for his sins- Oh how He was crushed by His holy Father under the weight of our sins!

It occured to me that self righteous man is appalled at the thought of Saddam Hussain being let off by God because of the weight and terribleness of his crimes. And yet does this not show something of ignorance and self deception in us? We think that it was not so shocking for God to forgive us respectable people- Oh it was amazing but not shocking- well heaven finds it shocking- it is shocking!!!

Perhaps it's because we do not trully know the weight of our sins that crucified the Saviour, perhaps its because we have not seen the wickedness of our own hearts? Oh my soul, if you compare yourself with Saddam Hussain do you appear a saint? Then take one more look at your wicked heart and see your past sins in the light of God's infinite glory and holiness and you will see yourself on a par with this tyrant and you will be amazed that God for Christ's sake forgave you.

One last thought. If we were to see Saddam in heaven would it not be one of the greatest possible tributes to the grace of God? If he were there would he not be the biggest trophy on the highest shelf, as the greatest monument to the grace and mercy of our God. I doubt we will see him there- but who knows what happened in those last hours. All i know is this: "the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives".

How shocking is the gospel!!!

For the purpose of context, I'm in Baghdad right now. When I woke up this morning and did PT as the sun was just rising I didn't realize that an hour earlier somewhere not too far away Saddam was executed. It wasn't till I got to work and the video started coming out that I knew.
Three years ago, I was here, about to board a plane taking me to Kuwait and eventually home, and Saddam was being shown just after his capture and now three years later I'm here again and he has finally been executed.
This year through a connection with my brother-in-law I actually got to watch a portion of his trial live, he was only about 20 feet away seperated by one-way glass it was very surreal. But this morning watching masked men escorting him to the gallows looking at his face, one I had seen in the flesh only months prior, I begin to feel sad. Here he is standing literally at hell's gate and there was no repentance, he was rebellious to the end. God blessed him with gifts of charisma and power and he used them for evil. It is sad to see any person executed. On the same hand this is justice.