43.k. “Wilderness” – 7.r. Sinai – Judgments

 

Exodus 21:1  “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.

 – When you buy a Hebrew slave

 – If he comes in single

 – If his master gives him a wife

 – But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master

 – “When a man sells his daughter as a slave

 –  If she does not please her master

 –  If he designates her for his son

 –  If he takes another wife to himself

 – And if he does not do these three things

 – “Whoever strikes a man

 – If he did not lie in wait for him

 –  But if a man willfully attacks another

 – “Whoever strikes his father or his mother

 – “Whoever steals a man and sells him

 – “Whoever curses his father or his mother

 –  “When men quarrel and one strikes the other

 – “When a man strikes his slave

 – “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman

 – “When a man strikes the eye of his slave

 – “When an ox gores a man or a woman

 – “When an ox gores a man or a woman

 – If it gores a man’s son or daughter

 –  If the ox gores a slave, male or female

 Leviticus 18:5   You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

 Leviticus 18:26   But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you

 Leviticus 20:22  “You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.

 Deuteronomy 5:1    And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.

 Deuteronomy 5:31    But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’

 1 Kings 6:12    “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.

 Ezekiel 20:11    I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live.

 Malachi 4:4    “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him

When you read these dos and don’ts it is easy to say, (in error),  to yourself; “I will do these and be made worthy of God’s love”. Like the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what must I do to inherit eternal life and stated that he had faithfully followed all of the commandments, Jesus told him to sell everything and give it away to the poor. This young rich ruler went away sad as he had much. 

It is easy to get caught up in “doing” for the sake of thinking that this is making oneself pure and right in the eyes of God. It is easy to do the right things for the wrong reasons. It all comes down to understanding what our single purpose in life is; To Honor and Glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do. If we choose and purpose to seek and do right for the Honor and Glory of Jesus Christ then there are no burdens of following God’s rules, statutes, and commands. We may fail at times but know with certainty that if we confess and repent of these failings He is faithful and just to forgive us. 

When we choose to Honor and Glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do, we will not fall into the trap of doing it for our worthiness before God.

After that comes judgment

“ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world”

Genesis 50:19    But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?

Deuteronomy 32:35     Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

Romans 12:19    Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Job 34:19-29     who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?  In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.  “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.  There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.  For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.  He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.  Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.  He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,  because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,  so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—  When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

Hebrews 10:30     For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

Hebrews 9:27  And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Ecclesiastes 11:9     Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Acts 17:31    because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

2 Corinthians 5:10    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Matthew 25:31-41    “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

The easiest way to get through life without out worry of judgement from God is to deny God exists.  To do this one must look at all of creation and believe it happened by chance.  They must deny the complexity of the vast galaxies down to a single atom.  They must deny Jesus Christ existed and that His purpose on earth was to redeem mankind.  They must deny the love of God.  They must deny existence of angels and demons.  They must deny the written word of God and that it was given to mankind through men inspired and led by God.  The denial of God has eternal consequences.

Denial of God can take on many subtle forms.  Neglecting His word.  Not being intentional in living for Him.  Not seeking to be led by Him. Not desiring Him.  Not listening to Him.  Not placing Him first in all your thoughts, words, and actions.  Not allowing or acting on the conviction of the Holy Spirit to walk blameless before Him.

How can we humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow and obey God if our walk with Him is shallow, self centered, and with our eyes focused on what this world has to offer?  How can we grow in our walk with Him when we think we are good enough as we are and in need of no change or understanding of what it means to walk with and humbly serve God?

Judgement is coming, but it is not for the judgement of God we seek to do right and good, but rather because of who God is and His love for us.  Some children grow up with the fear of punishment from their parents and this keeps them from doing wrong.  Others fear getting caught and that keeps them from doing wrong.  Others do not do wrong so as not to disappoint their parents.  Yet these are all self serving reasons.  Oh how great the child who not only seeks not to do wrong but chooses to do good to bring honor their parents.

Commit to living intentionally to bring honor and glory to God rather than advert judgement.