My people do not understand

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’”

Psalms 92:6  The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:  that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O LORD, are on high forever.

1 Corinthians 2:14     The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Jeremiah 10:14    Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.

Psalms 94:8     Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?

Proverbs 1:22    “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Psalms 32:9     Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Psalms 14:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

Psalms 37:35-36     I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.  But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

This is a summary of Johnathan Edward’s sermon “In the hands of an angry God”.  If you have time, look it up and read the full context.  https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/edwards_jonathan/sermons/sinners.cfm

Johnathan Edwards pulls no punches when it comes to condemning the sinfulness of human beings. Those who belong in the unrepentant category may be those who are outwardly wicked and reject God, or they might be people who are complacent. They could belong to a community of people who believe, and they think they can ride that community’s or family’s coattails to avoid judgment. But Edwards’s view of sin is that it’s an active force in the world that’s ultimately controlled by the devil. Anyone who hasn’t experienced an inward renewal or ‘awakening,’ as had the many who had been converted during this time, are considered a servant of the devil: ‘They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession, and under his dominion.’ This way of portraying ‘sinners’ emphasizes their helplessness, precarious position, but also the nastiness and corruption of their ways.

Some of the metaphors that Edwards uses to portray the situation of unbelieving human beings make this point clear. He describes even the greatest, most powerful rulers in the world as ‘feeble, despicable worms of the dust’ and as ‘grasshoppers.’ In Edwards’s most enduring image, the sinner is described as ‘a spider, or some other loathsome insect,’ which God is dangling over the fire in preparation for destruction. Each of these metaphors reiterate how puny, weak and disgusting the sinner is in the sight of God. There’s no room for pride here and no room for justification. They can’t simply be respectable or admirable – they must be ‘born again.’

According to the sermon, the judgment of God awaiting such sinners as those described above will be truly terrifying. As would be expected, the image of the fire is central in descriptions of hell, following in line with the Biblical texts about judgment. But Edwards’s descriptions are particularly strong, such as when he describes the ‘dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God.’ He also incorporates images of an infinite pit as descriptive of the judgment, drawing theologically on Scriptural texts about the abyss and psychologically on the primal fear of falling: ‘you have nothing to stand on, nor anything to take hold of.’ Combining the two, Edwards describes this chasm as ‘wide and bottomless . . ., full of fire and wrath.’

God’s judgment just isn’t fearful, but it is truly violent. Picking up on a Biblical theme of the grapes of wrath, the sermon gruesomely describes God’s retribution against sinful human beings: ‘He will crush out your blood, and make it fly . . . so as to stain all his raiment.’ And once this judgment begins, there’s no turning back and ‘your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain.’

Complacency has come to My ears

“Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came.”

Psalms 35:1  Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away! Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

Psalms 43:1   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!

Psalms 119:154   Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!

Proverbs 22:23  for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.

Proverbs 23:11   for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.

Jeremiah 51:36   Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry,

Lamentations 3:58   “You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.

Acts 5:39  but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

Psalms 32:9   Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Scripture is full of examples of where God interceded  on behalf of His people.  He took vengeance on those who disregarded Him.  He gave refuge to those in need of protection.  He conquered  those who seemed mighty.  He confounded those who had plans and means.  It is terrible to fall into the hands of God in His wrath, fury, and anger.  Yet, people do it all the time and continue to do so.  I am not sure what our purpose is in all of this but I do know we have opportunity to speak God and Christ into those who are separated and lost from God.  Our lives can be a reflection of His grace, mercy and love.  Fill yourself with His word and be a vessel over filled with kindness, gentleness, peace, and joy.