Judgment

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Q. Isaiah 5:25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets., For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Tim , I understand this passage (the vineyard parable ) to say that even though the Lord is patient and loving that it is a dangerous thing to keep trying His patience and that the people of Israel had turned away and would not heed His love and admonitions to turn back to Him .I believe that in this verse His hand was outstretched in anger and had not been withdrawn , was still outstretched .

I have folks who do not agree with this and say that His hand is outstretced in love to His people. Now , I know that His love is always there, but THIS passage is referring to His anger, right? Twice in this one verse His anger is referred to .

I believe it is hard for people to reconcile the image their mind has of a loving Saviour and the Father God , who cannot look upon sin and will bring judgment upon His people .

Can you help me to better explain this to my study group. Yesterday I gave them lots of references to God's love as well as verses showing the judgment and anger of God . I thought the parable that preceded this verse explained it very well. I appreciate your help and patience .

Because He lives, [Anon]

A.  Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, this verse is refering to Gods Anger!!! It is so hard to realize that Gods attributes are totally equal and balanced. Yes God is Love but He is also a God of Judgment! Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Now why do you suppose Paul would say "The Lord shall judge his people" in the New Testament where God is showing His Love through Grace? Because God never changes, the God of Wrath in the Old Testament is the same God of Love in the New Testament. Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Jesus Christ is God and so we have to also look at His nature too!!! Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. And Jesus Christ is not only our Judge but the Judge of the whole world. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Look how the Savior Himself showed that righteous anger... John 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

The reason your having a hard time getting folks to understand this is because it's human nature (the flesh) that only wants to look at the positive side from their viewpoint. Jesus Christ didn't come to throw a bucket of water on the Lord Gods Wrath. He came to give us a way for our souls to be rescued from Gods Wrath... John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Seems clear enough to me!!! Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 5:25 Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

If you go against Gods Perfect WIll then you are kindleing Gods Wrath!!! Especially His people. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Sounds like Anger and Wrath to me!!! God is capable of it but not only capable but He's more than Justified!

Was this answer of any help to you?

[Timothy]

Q. Sir, Can you point me to scriptures in the New Testament that show support for our modern day death penalty? And any essay material or information that would explain this to me. Thank you very much. [Lloyd Cain]

A. Lloyd, the New Testament was not wrought to make the Old Testament of non effect and Paul knew this as he wrote the epistles to the church's 1st Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,  1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

The Old Testament Laws were written under the leadership of God because man in his sinful nature will not contain his own evil. This law was made to be a terror to those who would do wrong!

Christ knew that he was being accused of doing away with the law but in fact he was come to fulfil the TRUE LAW. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. And also know that God established the governments and those laws made by the governments to keep man in order! Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Now, knowing these things and with the understanding that the New Testament doesn't contradict the Old Testament, let's look at what should be done with those that are worthy of death! Numbers 35:16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 35:17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 35:18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 35:19: The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 35:20 But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; 35:21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 35:22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, 35:23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: 35:24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: 35:25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. 35:26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; 35:27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: 35:28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. 35:29 So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 35:31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

This is what has tore our American society down. In the American court systems it seems that the murderer has more rights than the victim had. As a matter of fact because of liberalism, we have so many murderers locked up that instead of doing as the Scriptures plainly tell us to do! Our penal system is releasing them back into the public to kill again. The day we started tearing down the hanging gallows in America is the day we started to tear down our great nation! No, I'm not being cold hearted, just obedient to God's Word because He knows whats good for us even when we don't!

If we repent in this nation and do as we should, we would see crime go back down and the murders all but cease! This creature, man, has a sin nature, and that sin nature, unchecked, will do as it pleases. There has to be a fear of punishment!

By the way, this liberalism in this nation didn't start taking hold on us until we started calling witchcraft another religion! What is in the scriptures about that? Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

[Timothy]