"And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of God rose against His people, till there was no remedy" (2 Chron. 36:15-16).
These verses describe the nature of God and the nature of His people, the nation of Judah.
Concerning the nature of God, He is both compassionate and wrathful. He showed compassion by sending the prophets to warn His people of their destructive course. When He saw how His people mistreated His prophets and rejected their warnings, His wrath was stirred up.
Concerning the nature of God's people, the OT nation of Judah chose to mock God's messengers, despise God's words, and scoff at God's prophets. As a result, there was no remedy. God raised up Babylon to punish Judah for her sins and they went into Babylonian captivity.
The prophet Jeremiah asked, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?" (Jer. 8:22). Jeremiah offered the balm, God's forgiveness, if they repented of their sins, but they rejected it.
"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down, says the Lord. Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is and walk in it;then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it'" (Jer. 6:15-16).
Jesus' parable of the Wicked Vinedressers in Matthew 21:33-46 is a commentary on God's gracious dealings with His people, His constant pleadings for them to repent, their determination to persist in wickedness, their willingness to kill Christ, and their final rejection by God.
This parable shows God's care for His people, His patience toward Israel and us, and His judgment, indicating that there is a limit to His patience.
This parable also shows that the Jews mistreated and killed God's prophets. The chief priests and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, eventually saw to it that Jesus was crucified. They abused their privileges and responsibilities. They rejected the remedy--Jesus.
When we, as Christians, see what is going on in our nation and the world, we are disturbed by the lack of respect for authority, the lack of respect for God and the Bible, abortion, adultery, fornication, pornography, dishonesty, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana in some states, etc.
Like the OT of Judah, we may be reaching the same point they did--"till there was no remedy." Regardless of how corrupt our society and world becomes, God is still sovereign and He is still the remedy. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). Christians are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). The gospel of Christ is God's power to save those who believe (Rom. 1:16).
We have a choice to make. We can either accept or reject the remedy--God and Christ. That choice carries eternal consequences with it. Choose wisely.
-Scott Vifquain
These verses describe the nature of God and the nature of His people, the nation of Judah.
Concerning the nature of God, He is both compassionate and wrathful. He showed compassion by sending the prophets to warn His people of their destructive course. When He saw how His people mistreated His prophets and rejected their warnings, His wrath was stirred up.
Concerning the nature of God's people, the OT nation of Judah chose to mock God's messengers, despise God's words, and scoff at God's prophets. As a result, there was no remedy. God raised up Babylon to punish Judah for her sins and they went into Babylonian captivity.
The prophet Jeremiah asked, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?" (Jer. 8:22). Jeremiah offered the balm, God's forgiveness, if they repented of their sins, but they rejected it.
"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down, says the Lord. Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is and walk in it;then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it'" (Jer. 6:15-16).
Jesus' parable of the Wicked Vinedressers in Matthew 21:33-46 is a commentary on God's gracious dealings with His people, His constant pleadings for them to repent, their determination to persist in wickedness, their willingness to kill Christ, and their final rejection by God.
This parable shows God's care for His people, His patience toward Israel and us, and His judgment, indicating that there is a limit to His patience.
This parable also shows that the Jews mistreated and killed God's prophets. The chief priests and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, eventually saw to it that Jesus was crucified. They abused their privileges and responsibilities. They rejected the remedy--Jesus.
When we, as Christians, see what is going on in our nation and the world, we are disturbed by the lack of respect for authority, the lack of respect for God and the Bible, abortion, adultery, fornication, pornography, dishonesty, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the legalization of marijuana in some states, etc.
Like the OT of Judah, we may be reaching the same point they did--"till there was no remedy." Regardless of how corrupt our society and world becomes, God is still sovereign and He is still the remedy. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). Christians are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). The gospel of Christ is God's power to save those who believe (Rom. 1:16).
We have a choice to make. We can either accept or reject the remedy--God and Christ. That choice carries eternal consequences with it. Choose wisely.
-Scott Vifquain