Nations that Forget God
The subject of hell is widely ignored today, even by evangelical teachers and pastors. Heaven is commonly mentioned at funerals, of course, since almost everyone attending a funeral wants to think that the deceased has gone there (assuming there turns out to be such a place). Hell is rarely acknowledged as even a possibility, on the other hand, even for mobsters or other criminals.
Nevertheless, HELL [ SHEOL ] real and it is going to be more fully populated than heaven. The Lord Jesus said (and He should know!), "Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: . . . Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
But just who are the "wicked" that will be turned into hell? According to the Bible, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10), and "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19), by the principle of Hebrew poetic parallelism, our text would indicate that "the wicked" are those who "forget God," where the connotations of "forget" is "become oblivious to."
Can whole nations become oblivious to the true God of creation--and do business and legislate and conduct all their affairs just as though God no longer existed? If so, those nations (or at least those citizens of those nations who practice such wickedness) are in mortal danger. "Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross" Psalm 1119:119).
In the days of old, the leaders of the city resided daily at the city's gates. The gate was the place of business and government interaction. Everyone had to enter or exit through the gate which made it the obvious location of commerce and political affairs. Genesis 19:1 says, "...and Lot sat at the gate of Sodom..." Many biblical scholars believe that high rankling officials such as governors or mayors, High Priests, and Judges dwelled daily at the gates of their city. Something evil was going on at the city gates. (Read the story of Lot, Absalom, and Eli the High Priest)
But "Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6) and "blessed are all they that put their trust in him" (Psalm 2:12). We who trust Christ therefore surely need to work and pray earnestly for our nation, and our people, that we return to genuine love of God and His Word.
Renew Your Mind: Psalms 91:1-16 (The Message) You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, 2 Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" 3 That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. 4 His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. 5 Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, 6 Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. 7 Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. 8 You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the WICKED into corpses. 9 Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, 10 EVIL can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. 11 He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. 12 If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. 13 You'll WALK unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions CALL ME and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. 16 I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"
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