1150. The Punishment When We Forget

The Punishment When We Forget

"And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day, that ye shall surely perish.

"As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God" (Deu_8:19-20).

The closing words of this 8th chapter, are enough to startle any one. Where is the man who desires to have God take the witness stand against him? and yet this is what God does when we forget Him.

When Moses was old, and God was about to call him home, he stood before the children of Israel and made his final plea. His warnings should ever have been remembered. Study some of his memorable words in Deu_28:58-63. All of the words of this curse fell upon Israel literally. Israel, in after years, did forget the Lord her God; she refused the words of His Law, and her plagues were wonderful. They were great, and of long continuance. Let us observe some of the things brought upon Israel because of her forgetfulness.

He brought on Israel all the diseases of Egypt.

He scattered her among all the peoples, from one end of the earth to the other; He compelled her to serve other gods; He gave the sole of her foot no rest; He gave her a trembling heart; He gave her failing eyes; He gave her sorrow of mind; He hung her life in doubt, He filled her with fear by day and night.

The Christians of to-day may think that they can ruthlessly forget the Lord their God, but they must remember that "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and rebuketh every son whom He receiveth." The people may think that they can sin against God, but God will bring them down in due time. The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all those who deny the Lord. The nations who forget God will be cast into hell. Let us repent while yet it is called to-day.

"God of our fathers, known of old,

Lord of our far-flung battle line,

Beneath Whose awful hand we hold

Dominion over palm and pine,

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget–lest we forget!

"The tumult and the shouting dies,

The captains and the kings depart,

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice

A humble and a contrite heart

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget–lest we forget!"

–Rudyard Kipling.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR