January 18, 2004

GOD GAVE THEM UP

Romans 1:21-23

 

   The fall at Babel 's tower was two-fold. First "they glorified Him not as God," and "neither were thankful" (Romans 1:21). God's glory demands our praise, and His goodness our thanks. Glory and thanks are connected as Moses said, "Show me Thy glory." And God said, "I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD, and I will be gracious ...and I will show mercy..." (Ex. 33:18-19). This shows God's glory, but also His goodness in many ways. God's witness to the Gentiles was that "He did good, and gave...rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14:17). Paul declared God's goodness in that He "made the world and all things therein...and gives to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:24:25). God asks no repayment. He does expect us to be thankful. "O give thanks unto the Lord, for His is good, and His mercy endures forever" (Psa. 136:1,2,3,26).

   Three times we read the solemn words, "God gave them up..." (1:24,26,28). How sad this departure from God and the resulting ruin. Compare the fall of these Gentiles with that of Israel in Psalm 106:

 

Romans 1

Psalm 106

They changed the glory of the uncorruptible

God into an image...man...birds...beasts...

creeping things (23)

"They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped

the molten image. Thus they changed their

glory to the similitude of an ox (19,20)

They did not like to retain God in their knowledge (28)

They forgot God their Savior (21); Therefore He said He would destroy them (23)

Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness... vile affection (24)

They joined themselves unto Baal-peor and ate the sacrifices of the dead (29)

Inventors of evil things (30)

They provoked Him to anger with their many inventions (29)

 

"Lo, this only have I found, that God created man upright but they have sought out many inventions" (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

 

Ivan L. Burgener