God never speaks in vain; his warnings are never superfluous. If we think that what we have heard from him is trivial, we have certainly misunderstood it. His word is powerful and his correction gets to the heart of the problem in us. There is always a humility required when we come to the word of God, and we must start by assuring ourselves that every word of God is deeply significant. Sometimes he catches the proud in their overconfidence, by saying what is deliberately open to misunderstanding, but only to those who think too highly of themselves or fail to take him seriously. God’s knowledge is infinite, and our understanding is finite and darkened. If we are ever to gain from the word of God, we must recognise this and admonish ourselves as we approach him.
Judah will understand nothing of what is said. They continue to tell themselves, ‘No harm will come to us.’ Though you may be well taught in doctrine and well advanced, you can become a spiritual dunce again, incapable of having the word strike you. Become very confident. Backslidden, feel more secure. They become their own worst enemies. The drunk stumbles about, seeing a topsy-turvy world around him. He cuts a foolish figure, and does not realise it. Do you hear the warning of God? Be careful: it may be your last opportunity and God must punish you severely. Be careful with spiritual duties. Draw near to God, repent – don’t bury your talents somewhere. God has given you gifts and you are not using them.
If the severity of the Lord will not move us, will we be moved by his pity and his tears for us. Is God more concerned for us than we are for ourselves? That should wake us up. Self-pity is so often indulgence, but realism in the face of calamity at the hand of God is indeed good for us. It is good that we realise the true nature of our predicament and mourn over it. This will drive us to seek the Lord’s forgiveness.
Why should I listen? Because it is the Lord who has spoken. We depend on his word and there is no hope for us without it. None of us can reach out beyond the enclosure of our world and understand. That is why true religion must be revealed – God must speak from glory – in ways none could quibble with. Without this, we would not know how to approach him. We need to listen for no one else has any credible, satisfying explanation for what we are doing on earth, our nature, a sense of eternity, a moral conscience which we cannot keep, a standard written on our hearts which we cannot reach. There is no accounting for this except that we are made in the image of God. No other message tells of a way of salvation suitable for us as poor lost sinners.
It doesn’t say go and live better, but it says there is a Saviour and we may come freely. None other gives such a glorious future. It is tragic that atheism tells us such foolish things: the human race is an accident, no one designed this world, no intelligent being exists. All our hope, all our finely tuned feelings, just arise from the random relation of atoms. All you are, all you feel, is all just an accident, a chance event without meaning. All you ever do is doomed to extinction. All effort and desire of the human race will eventually be buried forever.
‘God has spoken’, but he would only do so if he has an interest in helping us. He has used words recorded for all mankind, words which can be tested, not some private communication to each individual. If he spoke of future events, we may be sure all will be fulfilled. If he says this or that will happen, it certainly will. We must receive it, respect it, act on it.