What does "add iniquity to their iniquity" reveal about sin's consequences? Setting the Scene: Psalm 69 David cries out under ruthless persecution. His language is raw, honest, and Spirit-inspired. In verse 27 he pleads, “Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not enter Your righteousness.” (Psalm 69:27) Parsing the Phrase • “Add iniquity to their iniquity” pictures sin piling up, one layer atop another. • The Hebraic idea is of a ledger where debts keep being posted without settlement. • David is not asking God to make people sin but to allow the natural momentum of their rebellion to continue until judgment is unavoidable (cf. Romans 1:24). What the Words Reveal about Sin’s Consequences • Sin snowballs. Rejecting God’s warnings compounds guilt, leading to deeper darkness (Proverbs 4:19). • Accumulated sin seals spiritual blindness—“let them not enter Your righteousness.” Persistent rebellion bars access to God’s saving favor (Isaiah 59:2). • Divine justice operates by perfect record-keeping. Every unrepented act is noted (Revelation 20:12). • Judgment is proportional. The greater the stockpile of iniquity, the heavier the eventual reckoning (Matthew 23:32-36). Spiritual Dynamics Behind the Snowball Effect 1. Hardened Heart – Repeated sin callouses conscience (Hebrews 3:13). 2. Darkened Mind – Truth becomes distorted; evil appears good (Ephesians 4:18-19). 3. Slavery to Sin – Each act of disobedience strengthens chains (John 8:34). 4. Inevitable Exposure – What is stacked in secret will be unveiled in judgment (Luke 12:2-3). Supporting Scriptures • “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” (Proverbs 29:1) • “Because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath.” (Romans 2:5) • “Let their table become a snare.” (Psalm 69:22) —the very blessings misused become instruments of downfall. • “Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ sins.” (Matthew 23:32) —Jesus echoes Psalm 69’s imagery. Key Takeaways for Today • Sin never stays static; tolerate one compromise and another follows. • God’s patience is real, yet finite. Unrepentant persistence invites Him to let us have our way—until judgment falls. • Repentance breaks the cycle instantly: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” (1 John 1:9) • Vigilant humility—daily confession, swift obedience—prevents the ledger from ever filling up. |
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