This post is a brief repose, amid this series on paganism; and a reminder of Yahweh’s intentions towards those who practice Ba’al ism and other pagan religions.
I encountered the following scripture in my daily reading this day and thought it worthy to pass along as a warning to pagans and as a refreshing stream for believers. [Quotations are as brief as possible and it is recommended that readers refer to the chapters from which these quotations derive.]
Zep 1:4 “I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with My fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear.
Zep 1:5 For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too.
Zep 1:6 And I will destroy those who used to worship Me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD’s guidance or seek My blessings.”
Zep 1:7 Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD’s judgment is near. The LORD has prepared His people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners.
Zep 1:8 “On that day of judgment,” says the LORD, “I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs.
Zep 1:9 Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
The following is a quotation from the Through the Bible Day by Day by F.B. Meyer on part of the above scripture [to verify that God’s prophesied judgments occurred in a timely manner thereafter…].
“The invaders, Zep_1:7-18. The guests whom God invited to the banquet were Nebuchadnezzar and his soldiers! They marched in through the Fish Gate; and, as they advanced, cry after cry arose from the affrighted populace, driven from quarter to quarter.”
Anyone who studies the prophets, will find this sort of historically verifiable prophecy throughout. Those who believe that the Bible is myth, or that it is full of empty threats, have not studied it.
More importantly, what do you think? That is the question God asked the people via Elijah’s words in the sermon given by Dr. John Piper in the third part of this series on Paganism:
1Ki 18:21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
Also consider one more very brief passage of scripture I read earlier that applies to this series:
Psa 65:2 for You answer our prayers. All of us must come to You.
Psa 65:3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, You forgive them all.
It is also true that these encouraging words from Psalm 65 can be found throughout scripture.
Therefore, any sinner can humbly turn to the LORD and repent of his sins, he need not fear rejection of his repentance. The personal question of whether or not Christ is who He says He is, the Redeemer…is the most important question each person must answer in his very short life.
And in closing, I have to use scripture to comment on the words written by Naomi R. Goldenberg in the post on goddess worship and women’s liberation:
Psa 2:1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against His anointed one.
Psa 2:3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
Psa 2:4 But the One who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
Luk 19:26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
Luk 19:27 And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’“ [Herein Christ is referring to all whom God has blessed with gifts to promote His kingdom, gifts they have not used, or have misused to advance their own kingdoms; and to those who rejected His authority over them.]
1Pe 2:6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.”
1Pe 2:7 Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honor God has given Him. But for those who reject Him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
1Pe 2:8 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
Would an ant argue with an approaching steam roller? That is a picture of man arguing with the Sovereign God. Utterly ridiculous, except to one blinded by satan.