A sinful world rejects the word of God and pushes back hard against it, but God does not give way, and neither should his servants. They represent him, and they need to be filled with the same determination to fight against wickedness that the Lord has. Those who speak for the Lord require great courage. They may not have natural courage – John Calvin said that he was by nature a retiring man who preferred to avoid the public eye – but they must seek for courage from the Holy Spirit to do what he has called them to do. Often they will be called to stand in a minority or even alone, against a whole world that rebels against the Lord. They must not look at this situation with the natural eye but with the eye of faith. Natural reason sees that it is outnumbered, but the eye of faith sees that the Lord is on our side, and none can stand against him. It says, with Elisha, ‘Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them’ (2 Kings 6:16). It speaks with a power that is able to lay low the consciences of many because the truth witnesses against them from within them where they are not able to defend against it. That courage within the Lord’s spokesman arises from an assurance that he has the truth and the truth of God will prevail against all. The Lord could speak for himself, but it is the privilege of his servants to speak for him, and they must know that they are speaking for him. Because they do so, they must not speak other than in the way that he would speak. What could be more unfitting than for the prophet to speak for God while cowering before the people? ‘Thus saith the Lord’ cannot be delivered in a quavering voice – ‘If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God’ (1 Peter 4:11).
Those who commit extreme sins should expect extreme punishments from God. Korah and his company perished in a unique way, which fitted the wickedness of their rebellion (Numbers 16:29-33). Nabal was smitten by God soon after his mistreatment of David (1 Samuel 25:38). One hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib were destroyed (2 Kings 19:35), and Sennacherib himself was slain by two of his own sons (2 Kings 19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:21). Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost and as a result fell down dead in front of God’s people (Acts 5:5). On account of his hubris Herod was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. (Acts 12:23). The prophetess, figuratively known as Jezebel, who seduced those from the church of Thyatira, was punished in such a way that all knew this was the signal punishment of God (Revelation 2:20-23). The devil and the beast and the false prophet will be tormented forever (Revelation 20:10).