And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
This verse belongs to Moses' song that recounts God's past dealings with Israel and foreshadows future events, including the final victory of the faithful when Christ returns in power and glory. God set waymarks in His dealings with ancient Israel lest they forget the history of the past, and He commanded those events to be framed into song and kept in memorials in sight. The song preserved those events as a reminder for the people, so parents could teach them to their children and repeat His providential care, goodness, mercy and deliverance to inspire thanksgiving and praise. Just as that song was to be often repeated, so His people in this generation are to often recount His goodness and wonderful works as a wonder-working God.
When the Lord saw it means when He saw His own sons and daughters turn from Him to strange gods, worship other gods, and forget, forsake and lightly esteem the God and Rock who made and formed them and was their salvation. Their idolatry, abominations, corruption, disobedience, rebellion and unfaithfulness, including sacrificing to devils, provoked Him to jealousy and anger. The verse means God loves His people but abhors sin and rebellion, and He abhors His people when their conduct provokes Him. Departure from God brings swift calamity and divine anger and judgment with no remedy for those who persist in rebellion.
As a faithless, froward and perverse generation with no faith, they bring withdrawal of His favor so He hides His face from them to see their end. He will also provoke them by using a people who are not His people and a foolish nation. In Josiah's day the verse pictured conditions actually existing in Judah, revealing God's abhorrence of sin as Josiah considered continued apostasy and its consequences. It warned that continued apostasy and rebellion would bring judgment.
The verse requires God's people to trust in Him alone and not seek help from those who do not serve Him. Seeking guidance from evil spirits instead of trusting the God of Israel is such a provocation of the verse, and it leaves the people unable to look to God for help. The warning applies to rebellion against God's law and despising His Sabbath, and parents' transgression and failure to teach their children obedience have helped bring the world into rebellion against God.
This verse belongs to Moses' song that recounts God's past dealings with Israel and foreshadows future events, including the final victory of the faithful when Christ returns in power and glory. God set waymarks in His dealings with ancient Israel lest they forget the history of the past, and He commanded those events to be framed into song and kept in memorials in sight. The song preserved those events as a reminder for the people, so parents could teach them to their children and repeat His providential care, goodness, mercy and deliverance to inspire thanksgiving and praise. Just as that song was to be often repeated, so His people in this generation are to often recount His goodness and wonderful works as a wonder-working God.
When the Lord saw it means when He saw His own sons and daughters turn from Him to strange gods, worship other gods, and forget, forsake and lightly esteem the God and Rock who made and formed them and was their salvation. Their idolatry, abominations, corruption, disobedience, rebellion and unfaithfulness, including sacrificing to devils, provoked Him to jealousy and anger. The verse means God loves His people but abhors sin and rebellion, and He abhors His people when their conduct provokes Him. Departure from God brings swift calamity and divine anger and judgment with no remedy for those who persist in rebellion.
As a faithless, froward and perverse generation with no faith, they bring withdrawal of His favor so He hides His face from them to see their end. He will also provoke them by using a people who are not His people and a foolish nation. In Josiah's day the verse pictured conditions actually existing in Judah, revealing God's abhorrence of sin as Josiah considered continued apostasy and its consequences. It warned that continued apostasy and rebellion would bring judgment.
The verse requires God's people to trust in Him alone and not seek help from those who do not serve Him. Seeking guidance from evil spirits instead of trusting the God of Israel is such a provocation of the verse, and it leaves the people unable to look to God for help. The warning applies to rebellion against God's law and despising His Sabbath, and parents' transgression and failure to teach their children obedience have helped bring the world into rebellion against God.