What other scriptures warn against forsaking God's laws and commands? Setting the Stage: Jeremiah 16:10 “When you tell these people all this, they will ask you, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced all this great disaster against us? What is our guilt, and what sin have we committed against the LORD our God?’” The question raises a timeless issue: God judges when His people abandon His commands. Scripture answers with consistent warnings. Echoes from the Torah • Deuteronomy 8:19–20 — “If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods … you will surely perish.” • Deuteronomy 28:15 — “If you do not obey the LORD your God … all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” • Leviticus 26:14-15 — “If you will not listen to Me … and so break My covenant.” • Joshua 23:15-16 — “If you transgress the covenant … you will perish quickly from the good land.” Warnings in the Historical Books • 1 Kings 9:6-7 — “If you or your sons … do not keep My commandments … I will cut off Israel from the land.” • 2 Chronicles 7:19-20 — “If you turn away and forsake the statutes … then I will uproot Israel from My land.” Songs and Wisdom Literature • Psalm 89:30-32 — “If his sons forsake My law … I will punish their transgression with the rod.” • Proverbs 28:4 — “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked.” • Proverbs 28:9 — “Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.” The Prophets Amplify the Alarm • Isaiah 5:24 — “They have rejected the law of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” • Jeremiah 11:10 — “They have returned to the sins of their forefathers … they have followed other gods.” • Ezekiel 20:13 — “They did not walk in My statutes … then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them.” • Hosea 4:6 — “Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” • Amos 2:4 — “They have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept His statutes.” • Zechariah 7:11-13 — “They refused to pay attention … so great wrath came from the LORD of Hosts.” • Malachi 2:8-9 — “You have departed from the way … you have not kept My ways.” New Testament Reinforcement • Matthew 5:19 — “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments … will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” • John 14:15 — “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Romans 1:28-32 — “They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God … they are worthy of death.” • Hebrews 2:1-3 — “Pay closer attention … how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” • Hebrews 10:26-27 — “If we deliberately go on sinning … only a fearful expectation of judgment.” • James 1:22-25 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • 1 John 2:3-4 — “Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar.” • Revelation 22:14-15 — “Blessed are those who wash their robes … outside are … everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Key Takeaways for Today • God’s expectation of obedience spans both covenants; His character and standards do not change. • Forsaking His commands brings loss of fellowship, blessing, and ultimately invites judgment. • Loving God and keeping His word are inseparable; obedience is the fruit of genuine relationship. |
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