THE KING’S BUSINESS
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ly” did not'hide them from the eye of Je hovah, against whom they "sinned (cf. Ps. 139:1^12; Heb. 4:13). We may try to cover our sins, but'we shall not prosper (Prov. 28:13). We cannot hide one single act we do from God, and however “se cretly” we do these things, whatsoever we sow, that shall we also reap, for “God is not mocked.” We may deceive ourselves, but we cannot deceive Him (Gal. 6:7). We may try to cover our sins, but we “shall not prosper” (Prov. 28:13). If we have sinned, the best thing we can do is to un cover it all to God by honest and full con fession, and then He will cover it by His forgiveness and by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Ps. 32:1-5; 1 John 1:9). vs. 10, 11. “And they set them up pil lars and Asherim upon every high Mil, and under every green tree : and there they burned incense' in all the high places, as did the nations whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger.” There are four specifications of things which they did, which Jehovah had defi nitely and specifically told them not to do (cf. *Lev. 26:1; Deut. 16:21; 12:2, 3; Ex. 20:3-5; Deut. 4:15, 19, 23, 25).’ As one reads this record, the question forces itself upon us, how could Israel violate such plain provisions of their own law? Some would have us believe that this was proof that they did not have the law at that time. But this explanation does not square with the facts of history. Another question will help us to understand it without supposing the law to be of a later date. That ques tion is this: How can professed believers in the Bible today violate such- plain pre cepts in it as a large number of such be lievers do? Does the fact that many to day who profess to believe the Eible do not do as the Bible commands, prove that the Bible does not exist? A few moments’ consideration of this question shows how utterly futile and foolish is one of the fundamental arguments of the destructive critics. Four w.ords sum up the situation, ’‘as did the nations.” Just so the profess ing church is doing today as does the world. The judgment of Israel for their disobe
dience tarried; for many years, but it was none the less sure from the outset, God does not always execute judgment at once upon an evil matter, but He will always execute judgment sooner or later. He al ways keeps his word. The result of all these wicked things they , did was “to pro voke Jehovah to anger.” And so with the conformity of Christians today with the world, and all the wicked things they do in disobedience to God’s Word, the result is simply that they are treasuring up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (cf. "Rom. 2:1-6). v. 12. “ They served idols, whereof Je hovah had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.” They did the exact thing that God told them not to do. God said, “Ye shall not do this thing,” but they said, “we will do it.” There are many today who pall Jesus Lord, Lord, and yet do not the things which he says (Luke 6:46). They are preparing for themselves just such a judgment as overtook Israel for similar conduct. " v. 13. “Yet Jehovah testified unto Is rael, and unto Judah, by the hand of every prophet, and of every seer, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my com mandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I Command your fathers, and whicfr'l sent to you by the hand of my servants and prophets.” In great mercy Jehovah testified to Judah and Israel to ‘repent” before He brought the final doom (cf. Neh. 9:29, 30). .He did this in order to turn them from their; evil ways,.and thus to save them. Prophet after prophet, seer after seer, came crying “Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my command ments.” God would not let them go. This was the substance of the call of every prophet: “Turn ye from your evil ways,” and it is the call of the true prophet of God today (Isa. 1:16-21; 55:7; Jer. 7 : 3 - 7 ; 25:4, 5; 35:15; Ezek. 33:1 1 ; Hos. 14:1; cf. Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Acts 2:58; 20:21); This is the cry the world and the church needs today. They were to turn from their own evil ways, and to turn to God’s com mandments and statutes. True repentance
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