Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: Character
- Character: Having the interior life that is necessary to support the work that God sets before a person. It is hearing from God and obeying. It is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.
As you
will see as this post unfolds, I could have easily spoken about this chapter
under the idea of ambition. However, as
I wrote about that yesterday, I think I’ll turn this around and look at this
topic in the idea of character. Either
way, I believe that we will arrive at the same conclusion.
If we
look at verse 5, we get a glimpse of the sin about which God is angry. Israel is proud. Their pride has caused them to stumble in
their guilt. They aren’t coming to the
Lord for guidance and wisdom; they think that they know it all already! They are not looking into their life to try
and find places where they might be guilty of sin and making mistakes. They are convinced of their greatness.
If we
continue this thought in verse 7, we see that they are faithless with respect
to the Lord. Faithlessness is the great
product of pride. If I am proud and have
the character of leaning upon only myself, how am I going to be faithful to
anyone else?
Now we
turn to the end. What is the condition
that God sets up for the removal of His wrath?
The people need to turn to Him and repent. God is showing us the character that is
needed. So long as our character is
leaning upon ourselves, we risk God’s wrath.
But when we have the character to humble ourselves before God, rely upon
Him, and do His will then we find that we are readily placed in His vast mercy.
In the
end, it really is about character. Do I
pursue the things of my own ambition and focus on myself? Or do I pursue the things of God and adopt a
more humble character in His presence?
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