Encountering the presence, holiness, and glory of the LORD in the Old Testament was a harrowing experience.
- Exo 20:19 – “Do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”
- Exo 28:35 – “It shall be on Aaron when he ministers…so that he does not die.”
- Exo 30:20 – “They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die.”
- Lev 8:35 – “You shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the Lord has charged, so that you do not die.”
- Lev 16:2 – “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die.”
Is it any wonder that Psalm 99:1 declares, “The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!”
But what happens when they don’t? What happens when we don’t?
The LORD himself asked in Jeremiah 5:22, “Do you not fear me? Do you not tremble before me?” What prompted those questions? Behold the rotten fruit of hearts that do not tremble…
- Jer 5:1 – Corruption instead of correction
- Jer 5:2 – Hypocrisy instead of holiness
- Jer 5:3 – Rebellion instead of repentance
- Jer 5:4-6 – Selfishness instead of submission
- Jer 5:7-11 – Adultery instead of adoration
- Jer 5:12-13 – Brazenness instead of blushing
- Jer 5:14-19 – Rationalization instead of revelation
- Jer 5:20-22 – Foolishness instead of faithfulness
- Jer 5:23-25 – Stubbornness instead of surrender
- Jer 5:26-31 – Wickedness instead of wonder
Which led to, “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!…She has become a slave.” (Lam 1:1)
Thank God there is hope despite our unholiness! (Isa 66:1-2)
Thus says the LORD:
“Heaven is my throne,
__ and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
__ and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
__ and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
__ he who is humble and contrite in spirit
__ and trembles at my word.
This sermon was delivered on February 15, 2015.
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