Page 20 - April 2025 - Truth & Tidings

metaphoric expression that signifies a known Him who is saying, ‘Vengeance
conscious despising, disdain or spurning is Mine, I will recompense, saith the
of Christ and the “new and living way” He Lord;’ and again, ‘The Lord shall judge
has inaugurated. To shun our separated His people’” (10:30 YLT). Whether it be
position and privilege to “enter into the through temporal discipline, or by recom-
holiest by the blood of Jesus” (v19) is tan- pense of reward at the judgment seat of
tamount to esteeming “the blood of the Christ, we can be sure of this: “The Lord
covenant” (i.e., “the blood of Christ,” 9:14) shall judge His people.” Accordingly, we
as being menial, dispensable or ordinary must not be deceived into thinking we can
in worth. These, alongside abandoning sin with impunity. “If any man defile the
the “house of God” (i.e., the “habitation of temple of God, him shall God destroy; for
God through the Spirit,” Eph 2:22), would the temple of God is holy, which temple
be an insult of the highest degree, far more ye are” (1Co 3:17). “God is not mocked:
severe than grieving (Eph 4:30). This is for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
God’s holy assessment of what one who he also reap” (Gal 6:7). “He that doeth
“was sanctified” would be doing if they wrong shall receive for the wrong which
were to spurn the truth concerning the Son he hath done: and there is no respect of
of God, His blood and the Spirit of grace. persons” (Col 3:25). As privileged King
Remember, His thoughts are infinitely David once discovered, God’s forgive-
higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9). ness did not exempt him from discipline:
We are not told what the punishment “The sword shall never depart from thine
would be. All we are told is that it would house; because thou hast despised me ….
be certain, fearful, and much worse than The LORD also hath put away thy sin ….
to be taken in death (vv27,30-31). Howbeit … the child … shall surely die”
A Certain Recompense to Be Feared (2Sa 12:9-14).
(10:30-31) Thanks be to God, Christ has “put away
In verse 30, the writer cites Deuter- sin” (Heb 9:26), and if we sin, we can
onomy 32:35-36. The reference is of no be sure of His righteous advocacy and
coincidence, for Israel’s sin and God’s forgiveness upon earnest confession (1Jn
response to it have a remarkable parallel to 1:9). However, the heinous character of
the fourth warning. Israel “forsook God,” sin to our thrice-holy God has not dimin-
“lightly esteemed the Rock of his salva- ished with salvation. Sin is still sin, and
tion,” and “provoked him to jealousy” wilful sin committed by a believer is far
and “to anger” (Deu 32:15-16). They were more serious than sin by an unbeliever.
to be “wise,” “understand” and “consider Given the cost of our redemption, God’s
their latter end” (v29), for their sin and un- beloved Son, we should have an elevated
faithfulness were being “laid up in store” hatred for sin and an acute sensitivity
(v34). That is, while the Lord did not deal towards sinning against His revealed will
with each one immediately, their deeds (Psa 19:13; 101:3; Pro 8:13; Rom 12:9). Our
would not be forgotten. The Lord was prayer is that the solemnity of the warning
sure to judge and recompense. Moreover, will have a positive influence upon us all
He reserved the right to decide when and who bear “the name of Christ,” our be-
how such judgment would be dispensed. loved Saviour who “loved righteousness,
Thus, the writer says, “For we have and hated iniquity” (2Ti 2:19; Heb 1:9).

116 TRUTH kTidings April 2025