“They angered Him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips. They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people, and He abhorred His heritage.” Psalm 106:32-40
Devotional Thought For The Day
Here we read of the horrific nature of the idolatry of the nations surrounding Israel and can understand why the Lord commanded their destruction. Here also we learn why God’s anger and destructive judgment would come upon His own people. When those whom He has redeemed and called to Himself turn away from His gracious mercy and redemption and devote themselves to being and behaving as wretchedly as the unbelieving culture around them, they essentially cease to be His people. This goes beyond mere sins of weakness, which all of God’s children suffer; it is a matter of publicly, impenitently, and incorrigibly committing to the bloodthirsty degradation and violence of those people who are ignorant of God and His love. The fault is not God’s, nor is it a matter that He doesn’t desire to have mercy upon them; rather they have “wed” themselves to another, to the harlotry of idolatry and immorality. Such capitulation to evil is forsaking and rebelling against God, and is the same as adultery with whores.
We also “mix with the nations” and are subject to the same kinds of temptations. It is true that the wretched evils of our times still do not involve the actual human sacrifice of children to idols. However, it is also true that the wretched evils of our times include the bloody sacrifice of unborn children to the idol of sexual freedom and licentiousness. So it is that our own land is “polluted with blood.” We also allow for the sacrilege of homosexual behavior – which is also a shedding of blood, given the highly unhealthy nature of these behaviors, the lowering of life expectancy and increase of disease. Like heterosexual immorality, such activity is a blatant and public rejection of God, His creation, and His love. We also embrace and encourage the bloody idolatry of selfish ambition and greed, which embitters and hastens the end of the lives of the poor. It should come as no surprise that the anger of the Lord is kindled against those who engage in such activities. It should also be apparent that His anger would be equally kindled against those who approve of such behavior, and equally against those who may personally disagree with such behavior but advocate that others should have the right to engage in such barbarity. God does not agree with our subtle distinctions which we utilize to justify our sin.
There is danger that such wickedness should invade and pervert the life of the church – and in some instances it already has. There are denominations that allow for the “rightness” of abortion and sexual perversion, including homosexuality. And few are concerned about the idolatry of greed; most are eager for financial success and security. Once the culture has infected the individuals, they pressure the clergy; and once the clergy are convinced [out of “love and compassion” for their members], it is their “duty” to convince the “close-minded” and “stubbornly ignorant” within the fellowship. When such “ministry” is allowed to take place within a congregation or denomination, it is possible and perhaps even likely that the whole institution will capitulate and be lost to the kingdom of God. I’m sure the ancient Israelites thought that they could remain faithful to God even while understanding and indulging in the idolatry of their neighbors. Hopefully this text of Scripture will inform all of us that this can never be the case; those engaging in the idolatry and immorality become unclean, and those embracing it have given up their relationship with God, for repentance and faith in God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and love is the only basis for relating to Him. He will not allow us to dictate our immorality to Him.
There is warning for pastors in these verses. Even Moses and Aaron were compromised by the rigors of their office. They were on the right side at waters of Meribah, but they allowed their personal feelings to distort their ministry away from His Word and His glory, and God was displeased enough about this that they were not permitted to fulfill the mission of leading His people into the Promised Land. This is a grave, serious, and grinding temptation – for we are often pressured to turn grace into license, and we are equally tempted to utilize law for utter condemnation rather than to bring to repentance. And because attacks against God and His Word are often directed personally toward us, we are sorely tempted to minister out of personal feelings, for self-aggrandizement and empowerment or for personal vindication and self-defense. If we forget that we are His servants to do His bidding and to represent Him, to work for His purposes, we are no longer fit for office. Few people, other than pastors, understand just how grave and erosive these temptations are. Lord, have mercy! So it will likely fall on deaf ears to warn congregants not to put their pastors to the test. There are some parishioners who actually delight in this and are eager to see their pastor fall. Such are perverse beyond description! Those who engage in such evil corruption certainly remain under the wrath of God.
So let us learn, and remain alarmed by the dangers around us. Let us repent and cling to God’s grace and mercy. And let us take great care not to slide down the slippery slope – all the way into impenitence, unbelief, and hell.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, it is always difficult for Your people to see the dangerous temptations of the cultures and societies that we live in. It is impossible for us to extricate the evil hooks that the wickedness of our times place in our hearts and minds without Your help, without the clarity of Your Word. Forgive us for naive capitulation, and for our lazy ease in accepting the status quo and our stubborn resistance to change. As You have called us to faith and salvation, so protect and preserve us that we not fall away into impenitence and rebellion against You. Have mercy on us all! Amen.