Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is Yahweh’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.” So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her. She said to them, “Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, “Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’” But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, tell him, “Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Concerning the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,’ says Yahweh. ‘Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’”’” So they brought this message back to the king.”
(2 Kings 22:11-20)

“God presides in the great assembly.
    He judges among the gods.
“How long will you judge unjustly,
    and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless.
    Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy.
    Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
They don’t know, neither do they understand.
    They walk back and forth in darkness.
    All the foundations of the earth are shaken.”
(Psalm 82:1-5)

The scriptures had been destroyed by ungodly kings. It had been almost fifty years since it had been read and followed by the people. The oral scriptures were still taught, but it was only a remnant that paid attention to it. When this scroll was found – preserved by a faithful priest in the past – it was a shocker. The king recognized the significance of it. It didn’t matter how pious they had been. It didn’t matter how much they loved the Lord. They had NOT been following the covenant. They had NOT been doing their part. They KNEW that judgment was right and proper. They had failed miserably. Instead of despairing, they turned to the Lord. They sought Him out. They now knew the truth, and it spurred them to action.

Why does God show such mercy to the wicked? Why do so many YEARS go by without judgment or action? Because God knows that they are ignorant. They are stumbling around in darkness. God sends His prophets and His people to tell the truth. To proclaim His Word. To let people know the truth. It’s one thing to sin ignorantly. God is MERCIFUL. But when we KNOW? Then we have a responsibility to submit to what we’ve learned. When we refuse to? When we set ourselves against Him and His moral character? That’s when we harden our hearts. That’s when we are in full rebellion. Only after we refuse to repent and follow Him does He bring judgment. He is MERCIFUL. But He is ALSO righteous.

Summary

Jesus came to walk this Earth as flesh. He had a perfect and unfallen nature. He was God made manifest. If ANYONE could have judged us and been right in doing so, it was Jesus. But that isn’t why He came. He came to spread the message of us NOT having to be judged. He came to spread the message of reconciliation with Him. He came to offer us a way to be free, truly free. It is only those who CHOOSE to reject Jesus and CHOOSE to go to Hell (choosing ANYTHING but Him) that are judged. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil” (John 3:16-19).