Topical Bible: Contempt: Causes Saints to Cry to God

◄ Contempt: Causes Saints to Cry to God ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Contempt, a feeling of disdain or scorn towards someone or something, is a recurring theme in the Bible, often depicted as a challenge faced by the faithful. This attitude of disrespect and derision can lead the saints to seek refuge and solace in God, crying out for His intervention and justice.

Biblical Instances of Contempt

1. Hannah's Prayer: In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah experiences contempt from Peninnah, her husband's other wife, who mocks her barrenness. This scorn drives Hannah to fervent prayer, seeking God's favor and intervention. Her heartfelt plea is recorded in 1 Samuel 1:10, "In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears."

2. David's Lament: King David frequently faced contempt from his enemies and even from those within his own household. In Psalm 123:3-4 , he cries out, "Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud." David's response to contempt is a model of turning to God in prayer, seeking His mercy and deliverance.

3. Nehemiah's Response: When Nehemiah sought to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he faced contempt and ridicule from Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah 4:4 records his prayer, "Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads." Nehemiah's reaction to contempt was to bring the matter before God, trusting Him to handle the opposition.

4. Job's Suffering: Job, a man described as blameless and upright, endured contempt from his friends who wrongly accused him of sin. In Job 19:18 , he laments, "Even little boys scorn me; when I appear, they deride me." Job's response to this contempt was to maintain his integrity and continue to seek understanding and vindication from God.

Theological Implications

Contempt is not merely a social or emotional issue but a spiritual one that challenges the faith and perseverance of believers. It often serves as a catalyst for deeper reliance on God, prompting the saints to cry out for His justice and mercy. The Bible consistently portrays God as attentive to the cries of His people, offering comfort and vindication in His perfect timing.

Practical Application

For believers today, encountering contempt can be a test of faith. The biblical response is to turn to God in prayer, seeking His strength and wisdom to endure. The examples of Hannah, David, Nehemiah, and Job encourage believers to remain steadfast, trusting that God hears their cries and will act on their behalf. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:19 , "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written: 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'"

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 4:4
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 123:3
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Suffering of Love.
... And this causes conflict; for while the indulgent mother ... Love as hatred, and returned
it with contempt. ... when the noblest and godliest saints suffered cruelest ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxviii the suffering of love.htm

The Sin against the Holy Ghost.
... of God, failing of its purpose, always causes hardening of ... that in the hearts of
the saints awful thoughts ... Second, not mere contempt of that glory, but the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxvii the sin against the.htm

Describes an Effect which Proves the Prayer Spoken of in the Last ...
... once painful and pleasant, Our Lord sometimes causes in the ... great King.' [324] So
felt other saints who retired ... your advantage than bring on you contempt as it ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter vi describes an effect.htm

The Endless Quest
... the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it ... To let a slight, a contempt,
an affront, an insult ... such great, and such greatly rewarded, saints of God ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xxiii the endless quest.htm

Bourdaloue -- the Passion of Christ
... shall be much more terrible than the contempt which you ... time that we fall into sin,
which causes death to ... "For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/bourdaloue the passion of.htm

The Fear which Terminates in the Second Death.
... And here the saints in every age, have groaned, being ... fear which leads to destruction
"that which causes men to ... but they have power to pour contempt upon them ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xx the fear which.htm

Antichrist in the Psalms
... made it ready." It is this which causes the Remnant ... of the Remnant in view of the
contempt and opposition ... promises that He will gather His saints together unto ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/antichrist in the psalms .htm

They Shall be Called the Children of God
... still'; the king would take it in high contempt of his ... then the dew of tears falls
from the eyes of the saints. ... Too much sunshine causes a drought in our graces ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/19 they shall be called.htm

The Alarum
... like the assembly of the skies; and causes the meeting ... from earth are from his troubled
saints; but then ... nor suffer his government to be treated with contempt. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the alarum.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... the spirit of adoption to make us cry, Father, Father ... day, unforgiven to-morrow"a
child of God to-day ... foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm