Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
God takes away from us.
He chastises us because we're sinful (vs1-3). We read, “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God... therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away”. He doesn't hurt us for no reason, but we've brought pain into this world, so that all misery is justified, and if we learn the gospel by it, then He'll comfort. He paid our sins, will give us grace to obey, and will bring us to bliss. Surely, a curse causeless will not come (Prov 26:2).
The Lord is wise, and you are in grief. What shall you do? Is the answer to blame God and turn your back, or is it to confess your sins, admit that He is right, and obtain mercy? There is GRACE to be had, but there must be an acknowledgment of God's JUSTICE first. No one is mercifully saved, until he admits that he deserves all the misery he could endure, even hell itself.
Misery is the result of unbelief and sin (vs4-10). We read, “So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds. For they shall eat, but not have enough; they shall commit harlotry, but not increase; because they have ceased obeying the Lord”. Learn the lesson now. You can't fight God, neglect the gospel, live as you desire, and still have the blessed pleasure of the Holy Spirit. You can't have Christ and sin, so one must go. Either you'll walk with God peaceably, or peace will be removed (Luke 9:23-24).
Sinners today have false peace, and soon, they'll have wrath to awaken them. Believers are BLESSED to be conscience of our gloom, for the Holy Spirit reveals that we've lost our first love. Let us all get back to Christ and stay with Him, hating the consequences of sin, and hating the lost fellowship of unbelief and self-rule. It is ALWAYS better in the Father's house than squandering our joy on harlots.
Sin seems alluring, but it is baited with a painful hook (vs11-13). We read, “They have played the harlot against their God. They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery”. Wickedness feels good until the morning, when God brings judgment to light. Therefore, don't judge by present pleasure. Judge by the word of Christ.
I talked to a man today who had a brain aneurism. He said it was from smoking 50-60 cigarettes a day. He smoked one recently, went numb in his limbs, and saw light. He said that he would never smoke again, and determined to use an organized effort to ensure it. He is looking to the future, and thank God, he had some problem with smoking, so he could quit before more damage was done. Therefore, the absence of pain, all the years the cigarettes made him glad, was nothing more than the storing up of pain for later. He felt good all those years, but he was smoking himself, by his own admission, into near death. He must quit. Likewise, the lusting woman flatters you, the business deal can be corrupted, the family can be ignored, and we can refuse repentance because we THINK we're prospering and we're enjoying the pleasures of sin. But, payback is coming. Today's joy will be tomorrow's frown, so don't wait on the misery. Trust the gospel IMMEDIATELY and prepare.
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