"So
I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are
not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.
Insights: Notice the first word in verse
nine. The word is “so” and it means “because
of”. God is saying, “because of your choice
to remain in your rebellion [what we looked at yesterday] I have made you
despised and abased.” Judgment is the
natural result of our sinful rebellion.
There will always be consequences of some nature because of our sin. I do wish to clarify a little bit regarding
rebellion and this form of judgment the Lord is dispensing on these
priests. This kind of sinning is not
just those occasional sins we in the mortal world commit. This is an ongoing rebellious heart that has
heard God’s warnings, reminders and instructions and still says, “I heard you,
but I just don’t care. I am going to do
things my way no matter what.” It is to
this kind of person that the judgment found in verse nine is being
described. Now, at the same time, does
that mean for those of us who are striving to remain in a love relationship
with the Lord, and who by our old sinful nature entertain sin, that
consequences are not going to result
because we come quickly and repent? The
answer is NO. Sin always carries with it
consequences, but because of true repentance, forgiveness is granted. Let me illustrate it with my habitual sin
with which the Lord is constantly working on my heart. Let’s say I ate the entire half gallon of ice
cream and then I feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit regarding this
gluttonous act. I genuinely from the
heart repent. The Lord in His patient
love forgives. At this point, does that
mean the calories of fat and sugar that I have just eaten will disappear
because the Lord has forgiven me. Again,
the answer is NO. The extra weight I now
carry is the consequences of my sin. But
let us return now to the heart that feels the conviction of the Lord and still
desires to remain in rebellious sin. It is
to this person the Lord places the judgment of verse nine. It is interesting the word used here for
despised is the same word used in chapter one, verse six. In chapter one, it is the people who have
despised the Name of the Lord; and now, they are receiving the judgment with
the very thing they had done to the Lord.
The same thing is true regarding the word abased. God is returning to them what they did to
Him.
Questions:
- Are you in jeopardy of the Lord’s judgment?
- If you are, are you willing to repent and turn your
heart back to the Father?
Prayer: Father, thank
You for Your patient love. Forgive me of
my rebellion and spare me from Your judgment.
Amen.
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