Do You Fear God? The Enormous Weight of Accountability

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Do you fear God?  Do you fear God’s judgment? A God fearing people is a people that shall be saved from the penalty of sin.

Introduction

God is the sovereign ruler of His creation, do you fear Him?  Do you fear God’s judgment?  Of course, we ought to fear God and His judgment, but the actions of mankind show that we live with little to no fear of God.  Living without fear of God’s judgment is a great mistake, which is what we will take a look at in this week’s lesson commentary.  This week’s Sunday School commentary will cover scripture from Jeremiah 23:18-24. 

Mankind’s Foolish Arrogance

Jeremiah served as a prophet to the southern kingdom, which was made up primarily of the tribe of Judah, along with Benjamin and the Levites that returned from the northern kingdom.  While the southern kingdom did experience some good times under kings like Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, they also had wicked kings like Manasseh.

Jeremiah was called as a prophet during the reign of a good king, Josiah (Jer. 1:1-2).  Yet, during his time as a prophet, Jeremiah watched the southern kingdom, under the rule of wicked kings, fall into the same sin that led to the fall of their brothers in the northern kingdom of Israel.  

What led to the fall of Judah’s brethren to the north?  Pride and arrogance.  Kings like Ahab chose to ignore God’s prophets, prophets like Elijah.  As Proverbs 16:18 teaches, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Jeremiah spent his days crying out against Judah, rebuking Judah, and calling for repentance, but what did the people do?  In a prayer to God, Jeremiah acknowledged that the people mocked him and waited for his downfall (Jer. 20:7-18).  Like their brethren in the northern kingdom, Judah had become arrogant in their way, believing their wickedness was OK.

God Rebukes Man’s Foolish Arrogance

The scripture of today’s commentary comes from a passage of scripture about false prophets.  A false prophet portrays themselves to be a prophet of God, but the words they speak don’t come from God.  A prophet received prophecy from the Lord and delivered the prophecy to the people.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 teaches one how to be able to tell whether someone is a prophet of God or not.  Moses told the people that if a prophet shared a prophecy, all they needed to do was wait to see if the thing they prophesied about happened.  You see, God’s prophets prophesied about future events.

The last such prophet of God who prophesied about the future was Christ.  Prophets of today, those who are either called a prophet or call themselves a prophet, are teachers of what has already been prophesied.  If you think of me as a prophet, I would personally correct you and tell you that I am a minister, re-teaching and sharing what Christ has already taught and shared.

False prophets versus true ministers

Our lesson opens with God’s words about the false prophets whom those in Judah had raised.  God asked, “Who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word (Jer. 23:18)?”  This is a question that could only be directed to false prophets.

You and I, along with everyone of sincere faith, when we open and study the word of God, we stand in God’s counsel.  Also, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth and error, dwells in us and He leads and guides us into all truth (John 16:13).  Therefore, the presence of God’s wise counsel is always with us, and helps us to know and understand His way.  These thoughts are echoed in Jeremiah 23:22.

However, false prophets do not hear from the Lord.  In fact, the false prophet does not seek to enter God’s presence.  The words of a false prophet come from their own fruition, not God.  Then, they would go to the people as if they had a message from God, glorifying themselves rather than the Lord (Jer. 14:14).  These thoughts are echoed in Jeremiah 23:21.

This reminds me of what is shown in the prophecy of Micah 2-3.  Like Jeremiah, Micah was sent to prophesy to the people, but the people would tell him to keep quiet (Mic. 2:6).  The people would raise prophets of their own who justified their wickedness, rather than call out their wickedness as sin.

On this note, true ministers and teachers of the word understand that we have a great responsibility in ministering the gospel.  In James 3:1, James spoke of how teachers of the gospel shall receive a stricter judgment.  This same thought was also shared by Paul in Hebrews 13:17.

There is stricter responsibility for those who lead because our words and actions can, and often do, influence the thoughts and actions of others.  Matthew 23, when Jesus spoke harshly about the scribes and Pharisees, adds to the notion of stricter judgment for those who are seen as spiritual leaders.

The reason why one would continue to prophesy and teach falsely would be a lack of fearing God.  Now, lacking fear would typically be thought of as a good thing.  You see, one who lacks fear is often assured of themselves and confident.  Such confidence is good to possess, as confidence often breeds success.  

However, confidence that either comes from ignorance or foolishness is not good.  Ignorance and being foolish should not be thought of as one in the same – they are not the same.

Ignorance means that one lacks understanding and must learn.  Foolishness means that one has been given wisdom and instruction, but chooses not to heed it (Prov. 1:7).  The confidence of a fool is arrogance, and such arrogance will always meet a humbling end (Prov. 14:12).  So, one ought to turn away from such arrogance, right?

Judgment awaits the false prophet

Jeremiah 23:19 speaks of a whirlwind having gone forth in fury, which would fall violently upon the head of the wicked.  A whirlwind, or a tempest, speaks of a wind storm, or tornado.  Tornadoes, as we know, leave destruction in their path.  

Now, was a literal tornado headed for the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day?  No.  The use of a whirlwind in this scripture is for describing the judgment of God towards the false prophets.  God’s judgment against the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day, and of the present, will be destructive.

When Jeremiah 23:20 tells us, “The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart,” let’s understand that no mercy would be shown to the false prophet.  This is a thought that puts me in mind of the unpardonable sin.

In Matthew 12:31-32, when speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus made it clear that all sins would be forgiven except blasphemy against the Spirit.  Jesus said this to the Pharisees with great warning to them.  The statement was made at a time when the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being a worker of the devil (Matt. 12:24).

Blasphemy of the Spirit is to deny the works of God.  Taking away one’s ability to follow the way of Christ, many may not realize this, but it is dangerous work.  False teaching, teaching a doctrine that denies the works of God, is incredibly dangerous because it moves against the gospel of God.  

God’s judgment will fall upon those who blaspheme His works, and He will show no mercy when that day comes.  Jeremiah 23:20 expresses, “In the latter days you will understand it (the violent whirlwind) perfectly.  The implication is that this judgment is reserved for the final judgment.  However, we know that Judah would fall into the hands of Babylon, and many of Judah faced swift and violent judgment on Earth.

Why Is God Not Feared

With the violent whirlwind, God’s judgment, in mind, another question is raised.  In Jeremiah 23:23-24, the Lord asks, “Am I a God near at hand, And not a God afar off?”  The Lord asked, “Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?  Do I not fill heaven and earth?”

These are questions that lead me to ask the question:  Why does man not fear God? 

Our local forecasters have gotten really good at providing severe weather warnings nearly a full week ahead of the severe weather.  If there are going to be storms capable of producing tornadoes, they give us much warning.  Hours and even minutes before the storm hits, the local forecasters continue to warn.

Question:  Why do you suppose the forecasters give such warnings, even up to the last minute?  The answer is the most obvious, isn’t it?  The forecasters are trying to give us ample warning so that we can make preparations and save ourselves.  

Before his death, Moses warned the children of Israel about their rebellious hearts (Deut. 31:24-29).  Moses’ warning should have been repeated for generations upon generations, yet, after Joshua’s death, generations rose and did wickedly in the sight of God (Judg. 2:10).

There is a lack of fearing God today because man continues to move further away from knowing Him.  You see, there are many today who don’t believe there is a God.  At the same time, there are many today who believe that if God does exist, He does not care or He is not paying attention.

These very same thoughts are what led to the fall of the northern kingdom and the conquest of the southern kingdom.  God is certainly present and aware of all that is happening in the world today.  To think otherwise would be foolish, considering that God has given us His word.

A Time to Prepare

The word of God is a well-known word in every corner of the earth.  It is well-known that the Lord is coming and that He will judge.  This means that the word of God serves as both a warning and hope; hope to those who believe and a warning to those who do not.

Everyone ought to be living in a manner, preparing themselves to stand before God.  Those who live in a manner of fear live in a manner to endure the fire– His judgment (Heb. 11:6).  Those who don’t fear God, don’t make preparation to endure the fire.  For this, they will be consumed by the fire, and the whirlwind will carry them into everlasting darkness.

Again, we are reminded of the sovereignty of God.  Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess.  There is no such thing as hiding in a secret place from God.  The Lord knows everything about this creation, including you, inside and out.  So, instead of trying to hide from God, one must prepare to hold oneself accountable.