SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/5/2015
10:42 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-1 Judgment Defined
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Rev. 18:6-8
Message of the
verses: “6 “Pay her back even as she
has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed,
mix twice as much for her. 7 "To
the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree
give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ’I SIT as A QUEEN AND
I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.’ 8 "For this reason in one day her plagues
will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with
fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.”
I have to begin by saying that this section of Revelation
chapter 18 has some very, very strong language in it and when one studies the
attributes of God and finds that wrath, and justice are a part of His
attributes one will be able to see those attributes in this passage.
This is an angel speaking what John writes down in this
section of Revelation chapter 18, and the angel asks God to “pay her back even
as she has paid.” We have seen this kind
of language in the book of Revelation before:
“9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the
souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of
the testimony which they had maintained; 10
and they cried out
with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You
refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’
(Rev. 6:9-10).” John MacArthur writes “The
angel’s prayer for justice is based on the Old Testament principle of lex talionis, the law of retaliation,
the principle of ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’ (Matt. 5:38; cf.
Ex. 21:23-24; Lev. 24:19-20; Deut. 19:21).
Babylon has been extended enough grace and heard enough warnings, It is
time for vengeance. It is time for her
destruction.” I want to also remind you
of what is written in the 15th chapter of Genesis where God tells
Abraham that in 400 years His grace will run out for those nations in the
Promised Land and God will then use His people Israel to judge them for
Him.
We will not look at several OT passages which is
reminiscent of the OT saints pleas for vengeance on ancient Babylon:
·
Psalm 137:8 “O
daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, How blessed will be the one who repays
you With the recompense with which you have repaid us.
·
Jeremiah
50:14-15 “14 “Draw up your battle lines against Babylon on every side, All you
who bend the bow; Shoot at her, do not be sparing with your arrows, For she has
sinned against the LORD. 15 “Raise your battle cry against her on every side!
She has given herself up, her pillars have fallen, Her walls have been torn
down. For this is the vengeance of the LORD: Take vengeance on her; As she has
done to others, so do to her.”
·
Jeremiah 50:29 “29
“Summon many against Babylon, All those who bend the bow: Encamp against her on
every side, Let there be no escape. Repay her according to her work; According
to all that she has done, so do to her; For she has become arrogant against the
LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel.
·
Jeremiah 51:24 “24
“But I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all their evil
that they have done in Zion before your eyes," declares the LORD.
·
56 For the destroyer is coming against her,
against Babylon, And her mighty men will be captured, Their bows are shattered;
For the LORD is a God of recompense, He will fully repay.”
Now
we as believers are not the ones to bring retaliation on others for that
belongs to God alone. As believers we
are not to take vengeance out on our enemies, even though at times we may feel
that way. Believers must ‘not say, ‘I
will repay evil’”; instead they are to ‘wait for the Lord, and He will save
[them] (Prov. 20:22). They are to ‘bless
those who persecute [them]’ as seen in Romans 12:14, and they are ‘never paying
back evil for evil to anyone,’ as seen in Romans 12:17. As believers we are to leave room for the
wrath of God as it is written “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” What then are we to do “19 Never take your
own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written,
"VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR
ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO
DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." 21 Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:19-21).” Both Paul and Peter have something more to
add “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after
that which is good for one another and for all people (1 Thes. 5:15).” 1 Peter 3:9 says “not returning evil for evil
or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for
the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”
I
want to conclude this SD by commenting on what the angel says when he says “give
back to [Babylon] double according to her deeds.” John MacArthur writes (“literally in the
Greek ‘double the double things’) is a request that Babylon’s punishment fit
her crimes. Double has been her
iniquity; double must be her punishment.
Babylon’s sins have overflowed, piling up as high as the heavens, and
the angel calls for God’s judgment to overflow on her in equal measure.” This has been enlightening to me as I
listened to MacArthur’s sermon and read his commentary on this subject. He goes on to write “Double has the sense of fullness
or completeness. In the Mosaic Law,
wrongdoers were often required to pay double restitution for their crimes: ‘"4 If what he stole is actually found
alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay
double.’ 7 "If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and
it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double.’ ‘9
"For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for
sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ’This is it,’
the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges
condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.’
The prophets note that Israel received double for her sins (Isa. 40:1-2;
Jer. 16:18). Jeremiah prayed that God
would ‘crush [his persecutors] with twofold destruction!’ (Jer. 17:18).”
Just
one more comment and that is on what we have seen in the OT about “an eye for
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” What
this is talking about is that the punishment must fit the crime and not go over
it. For instance if a fight breaks out
and a man has a tooth knocked out then it would not be right for him to cut off
his opponents arm for the loss of the tooth.
Maybe not the best example but I hope it makes this clear.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Sometimes it
is difficult for me to leave the Lord care for the wrongs that are going on in
our country at this time, but I know that when He decides to act the action
will be perfect.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
Trust the Lord to judge those who are destroying
our country.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Job” (Job 42:6).
Today’s Bible
question: “In what city did Simeon see
the baby Jesus?”
Answer in our next SD.
9/5/2015 11:34 AM
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