FROM REPROACH TO RESTORATION
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture:
“You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us,
killing without pity;
you have wrapped yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer can pass through.” Lamentations 3:43-44, ESV
Theme: “The fear of the Lord” is wrongly seen as a terrified fear of a God who would “send people to hell” rather than a reverence for Him.
“SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD”
Jonathan Edwards, who preached the famous sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was fiery and fierce. His sermon, preached on several occasions, was then printed and passed around the new American colonies. From the title, we understand it emphasizes God’s wrath and judgment. Edwards depicted in graphic language a horrific, tormenting hell. This sermon is credited with bringing about the First Great Awakening, a spiritual revival that occurred around 1730 to 1755.
It was required reading for one of my early American Literature classes. And of course, the discussion focused on how terrible it was that God would send people to hell. However, in the actual sermon, Edwards makes the point that God has given people a way to escape this horror. He argues that ONLY the will and mercy of God have the power to save people from the evil intentions of the Devil. Without the grace of God providing for our salvation and offering a chance to choose it, we would be doomed. A loving God has rescued us, by the blood of Jesus.
THE PROPHETS OF DOOM
In the last few months, I have been reading in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekial. These Old Testament books all warn of coming death and the destruction of Jerusalem, Israel, and Judah. It is tedious, sad, and depressing. Repeatedly, God has His messengers speak of the pestilence, sword, and famine which He will send upon His own people. It is unimaginable. Throughout, God’s plan for the prophets is that they would declare the coming disaster...so that His people would turn back to God.
In so many places, God cries out, “Humble yourself” or “Seek My face” or “Tear down your idols and high places.” There is always an offer of a way back to God in every prophecy. I love this plea found in Joel:
“‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord,
‘return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.’
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.” Joel 2:12-13, ESV
TOUGH LOVE
If your child went astray, I am almost certain you would impose increasingly severe punishments on them. Your goal would not be to “ruin” their lives, although that’s what they would say and think. Your objective would be to stop the dangerous or immoral behavior, turn their hearts back towards home and your family, and bring them back into a right relationship with God, their teachers, and anyone else in authority whom they are disrespecting and ignoring. As God’s Word teaches, punishment is useful when given out of love. “...when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 14:23 ESV).
When we see even God’s wrath as an outreach and a plea for us to return to Him, we find the gracious, merciful, steadfast Father who we are drawn to worship and adore. Our initial fear of His anger instead becomes a fear of being apart from Him, separated by our sin, and we return to Him with reverence and awe. We are overwhelmed by His compassion, resulting in our own thankfulness.
Make It Personal: Have you seen God as “Angry God” or “Merciful Father”? Both aspects of God are gracious, and His desire is that all should be saved. Do not be misled by a world that attributes every evil thing to God and never acknowledges His rescue or His plan for our salvation. If you have been living in fear, Jesus can give you peace, comfort, and assurance that you will have eternal life with Him. Return to Him.
Pray: Lord, I want to honor and fear You in a healthy way, full of reverence, awe, and adoration. I do not want to be afraid, but aware of Your majesty and power. I want to take Your Word seriously and know You as my Rescuer. I proclaim Your restoration in my life and rejoice that You are with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Joel 2:18-32; 1 Timothy 2:3-6
Weekly Memory Verse: “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’” Exodus 20:20, NIV