September 4 Judgment

September 4

Judgment

1 Kings 18:39-40 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord-he is God! The Lord-he is God!" 40 Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

THE judgment on Baal's prophets likely seem severe to us. The Baal prophets were misinformed, lost men whose hearts were misdirected. They had grievously sinned against God's basic commandments, especially as they sacrificed children in fiery worship. These depraved men had helped turn Israel's heart from God. But do they deserve death? Where is God's forgiveness?

    In God's law they do deserve death. Two of the Ten commandments forbid idolatrous worship and murder. Even more, after the Great Flood, centuries before the Ten Commandments came from his hand, the Lord established capital punishment as a means of swift justice against people who murdered. Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." And further, in Deuteronomy 13:12-15 God's law gave specific instructions to destroy those who committed such sin.

    But surely God forgives us our sins, doesn't he? Did even the false prophets deserve time to pray as David did in Psalms 79:8-9 "Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!"

    In effect, these men had had a lifetime to repent. They knew of God before they turned to Baal. As Paul writes in Romans 1:21-22 "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools." ... 25 they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." Rejecting God resulted in great depravity.

    The Baal prophets had had their opportunity. They knew of God and had said, "No." to the Lord's Word many, many times. Now it was God's time to judge them.

    This is the picture of God's plan of judgment and salvation over all of mankind as Paul also wrote in Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

    On that final Day of the Lord, some will ask, "Why didn't God give the condemned time to repent?" The answer will simply and finally be, "He already has."

Prayer: Holy Spirit, stir hearts to listen to your word that the unrighteous will become saved through their repentance of their sins and your forgiveness. In Jesus' name, amen.