Isaiah described people who worked at sin. They didn’t fall into it; they pulled it to themselves like a team of horses pulls a load. They did it, despite the conviction of their own consciences and God’s faithfulness to warn and correct them. In so doing, they were pulling God’s judgment down on their own heads. Could Isaiah’s words paint a picture of our nation, as well? You tell me. If so, could we be setting ourselves up for the same judgment?
Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 5 & 6
Psalm 105.23-36
Proverbs 24.28-29
1 Corinthians 15.29-58
Are We Pulling God’s Judgment Down on Ourselves?
Isaiah 5 & 6:
Sins that Bring God’s Judgment
Even though these passages are specifically about the nation of Israel, there is so much universal truth in them. Look at verse 18:
Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity,
And sin as if with a cart rope.
Matthew Henry had this to say:
Here are sins described which will bring judgments upon a people: and this perhaps is not only a charge drawn up against the men of Judah who lived at that time, and the particular articles of that charge, though it may relate primarily to them, but is rather intended for warning to all people, in all ages, to take heed of these sins, as destructive both to particular persons and to communities, and exposing men to God’s wrath and his righteous judgments.
He goes on to describe their behavior:
Who are eagerly set upon sin, and violent in their sinful pursuits (Isaiah 5:18), who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, who take as much pains to sin as the cattle do that draw a team, who put themselves to the stretch for the gratifying of their inordinate appetites, and, to humour a base lust, offer violence to nature itself. They think themselves as sure of compassing their wicked project as if they were pulling it towards them with strong cart-ropes … in spite of the oppositions of Providence and the checks of conscience. Some by sin understand the punishment of sin: they pull God’s judgments upon their own heads as it were, with cart-ropes.
Working at Sin
As I said in the introduction, these people didn’t fall into sin, they worked at it. And they did so in spite of the conviction of their own consciences and God’s faithfulness to warn and correct them (Providence). In so doing, they were pulling God’s judgment on their own heads, as well.
Think about our nation as you read the following verses 5.20-24:
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,
Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away justice from the righteous man!
24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble,
And the flame consumes the chaff,
So their root will be as rottenness,
And their blossom will ascend like dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
We put darkness for light and light for darkness when we call evil (abortion, homosexuality, etc.) good and speaking up for the truth about those and other subjects “intolerant” and evil. Instead of obeying God’s righteous standards, we choose to call ourselves enlightened and intellectual.
We rail against backward narrow-minded people who we claim want to “impose” their views on everyone.
We justify the wicked for a bribe and call it politics and take away justice from the righteous man when we change the law to fit our sinful desires.
We reward people who break our laws, even when they do violence against innocent people, and call it social justice.
Do we really think we aren’t calling God’s judgment down on ourselves, as well?
Our Response to God’s Judgment
Then we are outraged when the flame of a bad economy or some other hardship consumes our retirement plans and our jobs disappear like blossoms gone by and turned to dust.
We refuse to see God’s providence in viruses and other circumstances. Instead, we want to blame present and past presidential administrations, the middle class, the rich, the poor, corporate America, or some other group of people. But the real problem is that as a nation, we “have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel”!
Righteous Answers
The answer to God’s judgment is not violence and destruction (more calling evil good and good evil) and it’s not in blame-shifting. It’s in repentance, in turning from our wicked ways and turning back to what God says is good and right and just. And it’s in forgiveness. I know some will reject that idea but that’s what God’s Word teaches regardless of our circumstances.
That doesn’t mean we don’t work to correct wrongs.
We should hold people responsible for wrong behavior whether they are police officers or rioters or other individuals. And we should work to change our justice system in areas where it has ceased to function as it should. When the Bible talked about an eye for an eye, it was in the context of civil justice. It means that the punishment should fit the crime. Not more and not less.
Solomon said, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.” When trials and sentences take years to be carried out and violent criminals are released back into society, there is little deterrent or justice. Even many of our prisons are little more than universities for crime and evil.
Standing for the Oppressed
We should, also, stand up for those who are genuinely oppressed, but even then we’re to do so in righteous ways. Peaceful protests like those led by Martin Luther King changed hearts and minds. Anger and violence only fuel more hatred and violence and bring more of God’s judgment.
When sinned against, we can defend ourselves in godly ways. But, ultimately, we’re to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12.14-21).
Respect for Authority
The Bible says that all authority comes from God.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment (Rom 13.1-2).
So, we are to show respect for and submit to civil authority in the realm of society at large even when that authority is harsh and unreasonable.
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor (1 Pet. 2.13-17 ESV).
As this chapter and the next one continue, Peter begins to share specific examples, but he has not changed the subject. He is still discussing the command to be subject to every human institution. In verse 18, he says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” Another translation says “harsh” and another “unreasonable.”
Our Example
Peter continues in verses 21-23:
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Look at that again. Christ is our example. Jesus, the only truly sinless man, the only one who never deserved anything evil, did not sin in return. He didn’t make threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to His Father’s perfect justice.
We’re to do the same and trust God for the results.
And one note of encouragement … even though as a nation, we have rejected God and His truth, there are many who continue to stay faithful to God. We can trust that He will take care of His own. He will give us the grace and help we need, even in the midst of challenging circumstances (Is. 3.10). I wrote more about that yesterday.
And now to our other readings.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 105.23-36:
Behind the Scenes
As this psalm continues to recount the history of the nation of Israel, we’re reminded of God’s sovereign control, although He is often working behind the scenes through the forces of nature and even using sinful men to fulfill His purposes.
As we read passages like our Old Testament reading and contemplate the condition of our nation and the coming end of the age, let’s not forget yesterday’s reading from Isaiah 3. Let’s remember that God has promised to hide the righteous in the day of His anger. So, we should not get weary in doing what is right for we will reap a harvest if we faint not (Gal. 6.9).
Proverbs 24.28-29:
Upside-Down World
Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work (v. 29).
I heard someone call God’s world “upside-down world.” Instead of doing to others as they have done to us, we are to treat others the way we would want to be treated (Matt. 7.12; Lk. 6.31).
1 Corinthians 15.29-58:
Won’t It Be Grand!
Verses 51-54:
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
As one songwriter said, “Won’t it be grand!”
What Do You Think?
In what ways have you recognized that God’s world is “upside-down world”?
How can we be better prepared to speak the truth in love to those who seem to be pulling sin and judgment down on themselves?
How can we stand for justice in our own nation?
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we will talk about what the Bible says about mediums and wizards, reasons the world hates us, and how we justify not obeying God’s Word.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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