Soul’s Delight

Line By Line - Hebrews 10
post 133


I was on a whole different track this morning when the LORD guided me resistively onto this course of study. I never did get to finish what I was intending!

“…But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2b

contrite 5223 nakeh; smitten, i.e. (literally) maimed, or (figuratively) dejected.
Trembleth 2730 chared; from 2729; fearful; also reverential:- afraid, trembling.
2729 charad; a prime root; to shudder with terror; hence to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety):- be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble.

The secret to this man is a maimed spirit?
Someone who actually shudders with fear at God’s word?

~are you serious?~

It seems so. But we simply cannot reconcile this with the God we Americans have come to love. So lets follow this passage to see the guy who’s spirit is not maimed, the guy who does not shudder in fear at God’s word;

“He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dogs neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul *1 delighteth in their abominations,…” Isaiah 66:3

We see in this passage that they are doing the actions that are required;
They are supposed to kill an ox for a peace offering. - Exodus 24:5, Leviticus 17:3-4
They are supposed to sacrifice a lamb. - Exodus 29:38-42 Leviticus 3:7
They are supposed to offer and oblation. - Leviticus 2:4, 3:1, 22:18-19
They are supposed to burn incense before God. - Leviticus 16:13, 16:6-7

But for some reason God appears not to take their actions favorably.
But at least he tells us why;
Because they have chosen their own ways, and their soul (who they are, their emotions, their deep longings of their heart,) delight in their abominations.

Since we know the required actions listed are not abominations, we must ask; What are their abominations they delight in which makes God reject their offerings? In fact offends God by their offerings, which he required?

Aren’t offerings supposed to be for the forgiveness of sins?
So why would God take their offerings of requested forgiveness as yet more offense?
The next verse explains;

“…because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear; but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” Isaiah 66:4b

It seems very clear that God does not take pleasure in us choosing to do that which we know he does not like, then afterwards coming to him asking forgiveness.
In fact, not only will he reject this request for forgiveness, but he also does some choosing of his own;

“I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them;...” Isaiah 66:4a

Wow, at this point God himself will send them tailored delusions. And bring about the events which they fear.
These are not the actions of a God intending to save this person!
This person had all the chances they are going to get.
Now where is your verse indicating there is always hope until you die?!

~Ya, but this verse was written about the Jews, we live under grace now!~

Really?

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” II Thessalonians 2:11 (New Testament)
“Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” II Thessalonians 2:10

~That’s not me. I don’t reject the truth, I don’t take pleasure in unrighteousness.~

Really?

Young Christian, tell me what fills your ipod; music from the children of hell, or music, sermons and podcasts from Gods children?
Young Christian woman, what does your heart delight in; Going to the local rave on Friday night, or listening to a sermon that reaches your soul and makes your heart expand in joy?
Young Christian man, what does your heart delight in; Going to a football game or a monster truck rally out of state, or hearing from God himself as you study his word?
Christian child, what does your heart delight in; The Veggie Tales or Harry Potter and Aladin?
Older Christian, what does your heart delight in;… does anything come to mind anymore? How about eating a very good dinner, or feasting in his word?
(Now instead of understanding I am making general representations of everyone’s personal sins, don’t begin arguing that these are not sins, or you don’t do these specific sins. Apply your own public or secret delights here. Do your ungodly delights take the place of delighting in God?)

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26 *2

~But I am not an adversary! I am a Christian saved by grace alone!~

Keep reading the passage;

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?" Hebrews 10:29

By your casual and thoughtless constant interaction with the sins that delight your soul, you then regularly come back to the cross where our Savior was killed for you, to expect your weekly dose of blood covering like collecting your welfare check?
Are you serious?!

But this passage is not done;

“For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” Hebrews 10:30
Say what?!
~I always thought that verse was talking about God taking vengeance on the wicked in behalf of the Believers, Not taking vengeance ON the believers!~

But are you even a believer if you fall into this blasphemy of sacrificial blood trampling?
Read on;

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38

How much more clear can God be?
Grace does not cover this conduct.

Period.

So now that we have a new perspective on just who is being addressed in this passage, it has a whole new terrifying meaning and application. I urge you to read the whole passage with yourself in mind.
And if you find yourself actually trembling suddenly in fear of the implications, if your spirit is really seriously wounded by the truth in this passage;
you may just become one of those in the first verse at the top of the page!

The Dirty Grace we have adopted here in America is not even the Christian faith, but a poison of the Devil to keep us from life. *3

“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39

Only those who seriously and fearfully choose real faith over a false faith that allows those things which are contrary to God, can call themselves Christians.

Be one!

* * * * * * *

*1 Soul 5315 nephesh, from 5314; properly a breathing creature, i.e. animal or (abstract) vitality; used very widely in a literal accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental).

*2 anyone who has spent time around an old folks home knows of the two basic kinds of old people; the kind and pleasant, and the angry and fearful.
What is a greater shock is to see an old saint become an angry and fearful old person.
What happened? I submit this verse has the answer. In stead of facing and dealing with the besetting sin all their life, they chose to cover it up by the acts of a saint.
They spent their life fooling all but those closest to them, and now in their final days their spirit knows the end results will not be in their favor.
Yet well meaning Christians, in false love, sooth their fears, and affirm their Christianity, allowing them to push off the fear that is gripping them in their last few days.
When what they need is to come face to face with the cause of the fear so they can make it right with the Savior before they pass on.
Yet this passage suggests it actually may be too late for this repenting of some, depending on what they knew of, and how they chose to live, their salvation!
It truly is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

*3 American Grace - please read this previous post if you haven’t already - http://when-did-reason-die.blogspot.com/2010/11/american-grace.html