2 Chronicles 36:16,17
“but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against His people, until there was no remedy. So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or frail; He handed them all over to him.”
Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.” They were mocking God. This is the opposite of fearing God. To fear Him is to believe His words. They didn’t. They made light of it. This is extreme. It’s one thing to not believe, but to make it so public. They are trying to get others to go along with them. That is an evil of itself.
The second part of the Galatians passage is that we reap what we sow. This is especially true with God. He allowed them to reap quickly. This isn’t common. Most who don’t believe live their whole lives before their end. I’m not saying they are promised this. It’s more so God’s mercy and patience trying to move them to repentance.
God is just. No one can bring a charge against Him. At the great White Throne Judgement all of the damned will come before God and have their deeds shown to them. It will make perfect sense. No one will be able to raise an argument before Him. They will have to bow before Him.
We, as believers, aren’t to rejoice at this justice. It is right, but we aren’t to rejoice. Even though it may be a justice that benefits the good. We aren’t to rejoice at these times.
We should pray and have compassion. There will be collateral damage. Innocents will be left in some tough situations. We should pray for them and possibly assist, if possible.
This is different than what is often modeled in the Old Testament. We often witness some praying against their enemies. We also see them rejoicing at their downfall.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:44,45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” This is radical. No other faith teaches this. Some teach no retribution, but not to love their enemies.
This takes divine assistance. It’s not natural to love one’s enemies. It’s counterintuitive. Peter thought he was being generous in Matthew 18:22,23, ‘Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.”‘ I’m sure Peter was shocked.
I like what Jesus said in Matthew 5, “so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father.” Loving our enemies is a godly trait. We can’t do it without Him. He will put love in our hearts. It still can be difficult. He will help.
Lord, help us to fear You. Help us to obey Your words. Thank You that we are walking with You. Help us to not rejoice at others downfall. Help us to pray for our enemies.