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REJECTING AND DESPISING OF THE WORD OF GOD

Text: TEXT : ISA 5:24
7 October 2007

(I) DANGERS OF HAVING A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD

1. Unfruitful

“…Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes?” Isaiah 5:4

2. Concern with socialising rather than God’s work

“Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! The harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the LORD, Nor consider the operation of His hands.” Isaiah 5:11-12

3. Spiritually famished

“Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge; Their honorable men are famished, And their multitude dried up with thirst.” Isaiah 5:13

4. Pride…being defiant against God

“Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if with a cart rope; That say, ‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.” Isaiah 5:18-19

5. Exchanging good for bad

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

6. Think that they are smart when they are not

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:21

(II) DUE TO A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE LORD’S WORD

1. No desire for knowledge

“…Because they have no knowledge…” Isaiah 5:13

2. The rejection of the law

“…Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts…” Isaiah 5:24
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

3. Despising the word of God

“…And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 5:24
” ‘Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’ ” Numbers 15:31

(III) DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING DISREGARDED THE WORD OF GOD

What would happen if there is continual blatant disregard for the Scriptures?

1. Deterioration and destruction

“Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust…” Isaiah 5:24

2. The anger of the Lord is aroused

“Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets…” Isaiah 5:25

(IV) DEALING WITH OUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

1. Time for a spiritual reality check

2. Truth of the matter

3. Treat our lack of knowledge seriously

4. To truly begin pursuing the knowledge of God