Biblical Psychology
“And you shall remember there your ways and all your deeds by which you have been defiled in them. And you will hate yourselves to your faces for all your evils which you have done.” Ezekiel 20:43
Hate – In a world governed by mantras of self-esteem, Ezekiel would probably be fired. Actually, he was. The people in those days were not much different than the people in our days. They didn’t want to have some man of God telling them that they were despicable, that their fathers before them were despicable, and that they needed a good soak in self-loathing. But that’s what the prophet Ezekiel communicates. The Hebrew word qut means “to despise, to feel revulsion toward something or someone or to abhor.” In an age when a visit to the sanctuary is an expectation of feeling good, upbeat and hopeful, Ezekiel probably couldn’t get a job there either. But Ezekiel is right (actually, it’s God who is speaking). Without hatred for the former things – and for the legacy of those former things – there won’t be much reason to praise either. Rescue doesn’t mean much if it is only an improvement to self-esteem.
Job loathed his miserable condition. We can identify with that. Covered with boils, the victim of numerous catastrophes, the scapegoat of his friends and his wife, Job had every reason to despise his circumstances. But the same word describes God’s revulsion at the disobedience of His people. That’s a bit more difficult to accept, especially when we are too often a part of that disobedience. Finally, the righteous are characterized by their abhorrence of the wicked. This usage treads all over our contemporary policies of tolerance. Tolerance? You’ve got to be kidding. The sight of men deliberately rejecting God’s ways should cause us enormous grief, first, because we love God and know that it grieves Him, and second, because we were once on that side of the fence and we know the pointlessness that accompanies such rejection.
Biblical psychology isn’t very accommodating. It is enormously compassionate but it is thoroughly intolerant. The message to those who are in rebellion is pretty simple – Repent! Don’t expect sympathy, justification, rationalization or genealogical excuses. Turn around. Stop minimizing your acts of treason against the Creator. Face yourself and see who you really are (or were). Recognize the monster in the mirror – and hate what you see so that you will be able to walk away from that oh-so-familiar face. In biblical psychology, self-hatred is the beginning of real transformation.
For those who have been rescued, looking back is often very painful. That’s okay too. There are good reasons for that pain, not the least of which are reminders of how much we longed to leave it all and how long it took to do so. We have no desire to return to the sewers where we once made our home. It’s nice to know that we don’t belong there anymore. It’s nice to know we are no longer that old face in the mirror.
Topical Index: hate, qut, despise, Ezekiel 20:43
Boker tov Skip
Todah rabah [thank you] for the loving pat on the head this morning and the accompanying spiritual pop on the backside. I needed this.
Where would we be without having seen the righteousness of God expressed through The Christ, the Messiah, our Redeemer. The more we see His eternal beauty, the more we want to see Him and NOT ourselves. If you must esteem someone, let it be Yeshua. Good Word, Skip.
“self-hatred is the beginning of real transformation.”
“Wherefore I abhor my words, and repent, seeing I am dust and ashes” (Job 42.6)
-If we need to “see” a “picture”of what “repentance” ( a foreign word to so many) looks like- Psalm 51 is the place to go and David is our “go-to” guy. David messed up. He erred. He “sinned.” Not only did he sin (and he did), but in David’s very thorough and very carthartic repentant state- He entered into the core of the matter and confessed (another interesting “Bible” word)- “against Thee and Thee only have I sinned.” David was absolutely heart-broken over his condition and this my friends is the same condition every one of us need to find ourselves in. We cannot be “saved” (what does this strange word mean?) until we are “lost.”
Several “Bible” words have been mentioned already. (Sin, repentance,confession)- How many reading these very words, don’t have a clue (they might have a guess- but my guess is they just don’t even care) about what these “words” represent.
This is the “place” David entered into. It is not so much our “sin” we need to worry about. Don’t look so “holy.” All have sinned. Please read this and understand: “it is not the “amount” of sin. It is the “fact” of sin. This is what I am attempting with such a poor vocabulary to communicate. G-d is holy.
Very holy. How holy? He is sinless. Without sin. No sin. Absolute purity and light. And light cannot dwell with darkness. Isaiah 59.2 tells one thing and one thing only “separates” us from G-d. It is sin. Not “the” sin, or a particular sin- any sin. In any “amount” at all.
I don’t know if this will be “good news” or not to many, but it is true. G-d does not “weigh” our “good deeds” against our “not so good”, er.. “bad.” The righteous Judge does not declare (on that day- and yes, there will be “a day”)- Okay.. you’re not so bad after all.. let this one enter..
Not the “amount” of sin. David’s history is written for all to see and to know. I know what David did. Murderer, Adulterer, Sinner. Just like me. One more “tag” I need to hang around David’s neck. A man after G-d’s own heart. “Forgiven Sinner.” “Just”, (justified), just like me.
(Psalm 32:1) -“Of David. A maskil. (How) Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Even as I write these words, my eyes are leaking. Why?- Because, dear family – I know G-d’s forgiveness and I am so grateful for what Yeshua has provided for me. Atonement through the blood of His cross.
It is not the amount of sin, it is the fact of sin. “All” have sinned. From Adam on down to our children’s children- “all” have sinned. East to West, North to South- around the globe and back again- “all” have sinned. “All” we like sheep have gone astray- “we” have turned “every one” to his own way- and the LORD has laid on Him (who?)- the “iniquity” of us “all.” Hallelujah for the cross of (the) Christ.
But David lived B.C. How could He be “saved/rescued/delivered/redeemed/restored/renewed?” The exact same way you and I are. -Repentance from “sin and self” and faith toward YHWH- a compassionate, merciful forgiving Father, who in His infinite goodness has provided an Atoning, Perfect Lamb who was given unto us (-for unto us a Son is born). A Redeemer. A Savior. “Restorer of the breech” (between sinful man and holy G-d). A Mediator/Arbitrator/Bridge between (holy) G-d and sinful man.
If you are one of the “remaining few” who believe.. “I’m not so bad”, or lay down next to “that fellow in the gutter” and say “at least I’m not as long as he is”, I want to say (once again), it is not the “amount” of sin, it is the fact of sin. It is not how “sinful” we are, it is how “holy” G-d is and G-d is holy. Just ask Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8)
I want to end this with some “good news”- straight from G-d’s book. “If we confess our sins, (just like David did), He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us (what were His words spoken from the cross?) from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1.9 (and we will rejoice, just like David did!)
(Psalm 32:1) -“(How) Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” -Yes, David, amen.
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He must increase, but “I” must decrease.
Not “I”,but Christ.
The victory won for us by Christ was on three “fronts.” -He gives to us His victory over Sin. He gives to us His victory over “Self”. He shares with us His victory over Satan. He showed/demonstrated for us (as the second Adam) how to be “fully human.” For more on this victory over “self” (as Pogo once said- “we have met the enemy and he is us!”), please “google” this wonderful piece written by A.B. Simpson. You will arrive at the same conclusion as I, – any form of “self”, YHWH will not allow. I am so grateful to say- “I” have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless “I” live – yet, not “I”, but Christ.. (For “you” are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in G-d). May YHWH give us discernment, understanding and wisdom, in all these things. Amen.
It is true,-“a man wrapped up in “himself” makes a mighty small package.”
“THIRTY-ONE KINGS, OR THE VICTORY OVER SELF. by A. B. SIMPSON.”
Modern day psychologists would tell us we cannot truly love others until we learn to love ourselves. Another teaching of the world that does not line up with the Scriptures. “Express yourself”, “Love yourself”, “You are entitled”, “Rule the air” (a new Verizon ad), “I have the right”…we could name it and claim it and decree it, however, the slave of Christ has no rights! WHAT!!?? Yes, that is right. Only what God gives you as your lot in life, will you have unless YOU decide to conquer and divide the spoils and be the master of your own destiny. In an age where we cover up sin with names and phraseology that excuse us before one another, we perish for lack of knowledge…the knowledge of what God has instructed and ordained. Thank God for REVIVAL, for a renewing of our minds and the “right” to become the sons of God. AND we only have that right because he GAVE it to us. We are nothing and have nothing without Abba.
Uh, one thing to think about with regard to “ruling the air”…who, according to the Scriptures has been given present power over the air? We need to be very careful for what we desire to rule and reign over. Holy Spirit of the Living God, transform our thinking as we immerse in your Word. Wash us, purify us, cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Test us, reshape us, mold us, through your flood and fire. Use these teachings to challenge us as we are being conformed into the image of Christ. Grant us wisdom and discernment. May the longing for the things of this world decrease as our vision is set on Christ. Lead me away from self and other idols. Empower me to tear down every idol. Call us as deep unto deep. Teach us Your Way! Teach us how to declare the beauty of the LORD that we may be counted worthy of the crowns that one day we will lay at the feet of Yeshua, the only One worthy.
Amen! It is true-we are to love our neighbors (a word of proximity- thank you Skip!) as ourselves. But in order to truly love “ourselves” we first need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. To “see” ourselves as YHWH sees us. We are “valuable” because we are “valuable” to Him. We are able to “love one another” because He first loved us and demonstrated this love (the “how-to”) for us. We are able to serve one another because Yeshua demonstrated this service for us when He “girded Himself with the towel to wash the feet of His talmudim/disciples. “Self” does not want to wear this towel. But when we come to the place of total surrender to the Lordship of (the) Christ, we find wearing this “towel” is pleasing to our Abba, and brings a smile to His face and joy to our hearts. There is great joy in serving Him and we serve Him by serving others. “Let (allow) this mind to be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus.” This mind was (and is) the mind of a servant. As we come into contact every day with our family, friends and neighbors- our singular thought should be- “how may I serve you?”
Indeed our all-loving G-d is mercifully intolerant. In His loving-kindness, he does not spare the rod. At my very lowest, I was immersed in rebellion and unforgiveness. Praise Him who rescues us from ourselves!
Skip, This seems to contradict what you said in “Yeshua the Prophet”?
I guess I’m just too close to the work here. I don’t see the contradiction. Would you elaborate please?