KEEP IT UP BUDDY

KEEP IT UP BUDDY!

2 Kings 13:22-23

22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

23 And the Lord  was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.

           My Momma had a unique way of warning me to stop my wrongful behavior. She would raise one eyebrow (a talent I inherited) and squint with the other eye while saying firmly: “Keep it up buddy.” This is, of course, was not meant to allow me to actually continue the behavior. It meant that if I didn’t stop quickly judgment would surely fall.

           In our Scripture, this morning, there seems to be a thinly veiled warning. Things were not good but, because God had made a covenant with the patriarchs, He would not destroy them – as yet! In other words God had raised one eyebrow, squinted with the other eye menacingly, and warned “keep it up buddy!”

           Warren Wiersbe explains that “when the people sinned so flagrantly that they blasphemed the name of the Lord and defiled His land that God permitted both Israel and Judah to be defeated and taken into bondage. In 722, Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, and in 586, Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians.”

           When those who call themselves Christians change the name and nature of sin to make it acceptable, I think God begins to raise one holy eyebrow as if to say “Keep it up buddy!”

Col 3:5-6

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Dear Lord, in wrath remember mercy. Revive us again. AMEN