Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Things that are intolerable for which the earth is disturbed, bringing confusion and chaos wherever they are found.
Sunday, December 16, 2001
“When you get to where you’re going, where are you going to be?”
ECC 1:2 “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
ECC 2:11 But as I looked at everything I had tried, it was all so useless, a chasing of the wind, and there was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. (TLB)
ECC 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is fear God and keep His doctrines, this applies to every person.
ECC 12:14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
EPH 5:14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeping ones And arise from the dead ones, And Christ will shine on you.”
REV 3:2 Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die;
Grace reaches out and touches us, while justice tells us the right thing to do.
return – Qal imperative – shuwb = a command to return to that place of authority even though the authority is wrong and out of order.
1. The divine solution does not include running away from the problem or the scene of adversity.
2. The divine solution recognizes the principle of human authority even though that authority has been abused and distorted.
ROM 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
3. Abuse of human authority comes from neglect and apathy [Abram] or lack of capacity for authority accompanied by mental attitude sins [Sarai, Hagar].
4. TLJC is teaching here that running away from authority is never the answer to anything.
All divine solutions take cognizance of authority.
When God says, “Go back,” He provides the logistical grace support to return to the scene of adversity.
HOS 8:7 For they sow the wind, And they reap the whirlwind.
His adultery and the resultant repercussion of Hagar’s pregnancy caused him to become dishonorable and a coward.
No one learns how to live until they can identify and respect authority, regardless of the person in authority.
earth – erets = a piece of ground, a home, a certain place.
Quakes – ragaz = to quiver with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear; fall apart, be troubled, tremble, be disturbed, bring confusion and chaos wherever they are found.
God has established a divine mandate of authority and order in the world and any violation of that order is to be condemned.
This is a serious evil because there is no training and no capacity for authority and leadership.
The fool is the person who is very productive in life, LUK 12:16-18, and thinks, “What shall I do with my abundance of blessings?” and saves them for himself.
The fool doesn’t realize, LUK 12:20, someday God will say, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?”
1CO 4:7 What do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
REV 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich, in fact, I have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,”
“I don’t need a local assembly,” – a violation of HEB 10:25.
“I don’t have to give or support a ministry or my pastor,” – a violation of GAL 6:6.
“I don’t have to discover or utilize my spiritual gift,” – a violation of 1TI 4:14.
“I don’t have to celebrate the Lord’s supper,” – a violation of 1CO 11:24-25.
Unloved – Qal passive participle – sane = to be hated personally, to be odious, to be despised, to be looked down upon.
“When a woman who is hated or despised or is looked down upon by others, rules her husband.”
An odious woman is in rule.
Woman is to man either his greatest curse or greatest blessing.
Maidservant – shiphcah = a female slave, a maid-servant belonging to a mistress.
supplants – Qal imperfect – yarash = to try to drive out previous tenants, try to possess their place, seize, rob, inherit, expel, impoverish, ruin.
Lack of authority leads to lack of discipline and integrity which leads to rebelliousness and self-indulgence.
PRO 30:21 Under three things the earth quakes [disorder and confusion and chaos results], And under four, it cannot bear up:
PRO 30:22 when a person with no capacity is put in a position of authority, when a fool is satisfied with his self-indulgence,
PRO 30:23 When a woman, who is hated or despised by others, rules her husband or when a female slave tries to take the place of her mistress.