They have... I will...

Introduction:

We are responsible for the truth we have been given.

(v. 4-5)

They (Judah) have...

Rejected the Law of the Lord

Not kept His statutes

I Will...

Send a fire upon Judah

It shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.

Application

The most basic way to describe their problem is, God gave them the law and they broke the law.

There is no nuance or context that makes their lawbreaking somehow understandable. God said don’t touch the cookies and they got caught with their hand in the jar.

It would still be sin if they didn’t know the rules, but it would be viewed in a different light.

The Bible frequently proposes the idea that you are responsible for the knowledge that God has revealed to you.

James 4:17 “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Luke 12:48 “But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

Matthew 11:24–27 “But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Even in the Old Testament they had different sacrifices for intentional sins and unintentional sins.

In Deuteronomy 4 Moses explains that Israel will be held to a higher standard because God has revealed Himself to them through His law.

This is still true for us today.

Not in terms of salvation. There are certain truths that you must know to be saved.

It is certainly true in sanctification.

There is nothing wrong with an infant Christian finding primary sustenance on the milk of the word.

It only becomes a problem with they stay there. They will be held to a higher standard because they should have known better.

We should be careful because God may bring difficult things into our lives to snap us out of it. You will be held responsible for what you know.

We are responsible to promote a moral society.

(v. 6-8)

They (Israel) have...

Sold their neighbors into slavery (v. 6)

Abused the poor (v. 7a)

Indulged in gross sexual immorality (v. 7b)

Profaned God’s holy name (v. 7c)

Broken their pledges (v. 8a)

Worshiped idols (v. 8b)

Drunk to excess (v. 8c)

I will… comes later in v. 13

Application

As we consider the great immorality of the people of Israel we have to ask, what does this have to do with us?

We have a responsibility as Bible believing Christians to stand firm on moral issues.

There are only two genders.

Abortion is murder.

Homosexuality is a sin.

Sex is reserved by God for those in a marriage covenant.

Racism is vile and evil.

All life is sacred.

Hell is real.

Truth is absolute.

We are responsible to acknowledge what God has done.

(v. 9-12)

It was I who...

Destroyed the Amorite (v.9)

Brought you out of the land of Egypt (v. 10)

Raised up prophets from your sons (v. 11)

Raised up Nazarites from you children (v. 11b)

But you...

Made the Nazarites drink wine.

Commanded the prophets not to prophecy.

Their offense:

They were offended at the example of a righteous life. - The Nazarites

They were offended at the conviction of a holy word. - The Prophets

Application

When you forget what God has done you will reject what God is doing.

Why was God so insistent that Israel be constantly teaching their children?

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

How many kings of Isreal are described as “not walking in the ways of his father, David”? In other words they either were not taught or didn’t care about what had done so they didn’t care about what He currently was doing.

Review with regularity what God has done in your life and you will see more clearly what He is doing.

We are responsible to warn others of God’s judgment.

(v. 13-16)

I will...

This is the conclusion to the “they have” from v. 6-8.

God says to them I will crush you in your place (v. 13).

This is actually a difficult verse to translate.

It is possibly a reference to the earthquake we saw in 1:2

It is obviously a picture of judgment.

Impossibility of Escape

The swift

The strong

The warrior

The archer

The horseback rider

The courageous

A Fundamental Truth: God’s wrath will always be satisfied.

When people recoil against the concept of God’s wrath it is because they do not hold in high enough esteem the holiness of God.

No cost is too high to glorify God.

No cost is too high to magnify Christ.

You want to know how I know? Because God sent His only Son to die for His glory.

The wrath of God is both holy and righteous.

The cup of God’s wrath will one day be poured out on the world in judgments never before seen, but praise God that before that happens God has poured out His wrath on Jesus as He hung on the cross. Jesus is literally the shelter that covers us from the wrath of God.

Application: If that is true shouldn’t we tell people about it? Shouldn’t we pray for those who reject it? Shouldn’t we live differently because of it?

Conclusion

We are responsible for the truth we have been given.

We are responsible to promote a moral society.

We are responsible to acknowledge what God has done.

We responsible to warn others of God’s judgment.