05 August 2008

Blasphemy – 6.3.08

In 2 Kings 18, Judah is in big trouble. Or so it seems. Assyria has taken Israel (the 10 northern tribes) captive and now the king has his eyes set on Judah (the 2 southern tribes). He has already taken all the fenced cities and has now sent an army to lay siege to Jerusalem.

The leader of this host is a man by the name of Rabshakeh (have fun pronouncing that one), and he begins his campaign by delivering a message of doom to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Then, in verse 25, he offers this most interesting apology (reason) for the havoc he intends to wreak…

Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

What an excuse for seeking to destroy the people of God – the Lord told me to do it! Come on, really?

Now, it's obvious to us that Rabby was a liar. But God takes it one step further. Here's what the Lord had to say about Rabby's statement. 2 Kings 19:6…

Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

This man in 2 Kings 18 accused God of saying something He never said, and God called Him a blasphemer. I don't think I need to cite any references to convince any of you that is a serious offense.

But what we're forced to ask as we consider this account is this: Am I guilty of doing the very same thing?

We do read of very limited instances in the Bible when God spoke audibly to man. But those days are long gone (Revelation 22:18-19), and Peter said we have a more sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19). Modern Christianity is much too wrapped up in "God speaking to me" while ignoring the 66 books that He wrote and preserved for us to read. He's not talking out loud anymore, but He's done a lot of talking in the past and had it all recorded so we could know His will.

Now, how often has someone you know justified their blatant disobedience to the word of God because of something "the Lord told them?" It goes on all the time. How often have you justified your disregard for the clear statement of scripture because "God spoke to your heart?"

We need to get this and remember it all the days of our lives…if we didn't read it in the Bible, then it wasn't God talking. He's got a lot to say, but He's already said it. Read it, study it, believe it, and live it. And the voices in your head are not God. According to 2 Kings 19, to say so is to BLASPHEME.

Now, there is flipside to this. John 14:26 says, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Here's the blessed truth for the New Testament believer. If you're saved, then you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. And if you have saturated your mind and heart with God's word, then it is the Holy Spirit's job to bring those things to your remembrance. In an hour of need, in an hour of temptation, when you're witnessing to the lost. The Holy Spirit is there to remind you of God's truths you have hidden in your heart.

Don't be guilty of accusing God of saying something He did not say. Line up your life with what He has said and allow yourself to be blessed.

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