Topical Bible: Judgments: Different Kinds of Abandonment by God

◄ Judgments: Different Kinds of Abandonment by God ►

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In the biblical narrative, the concept of God abandoning individuals or nations is a profound expression of divine judgment. This abandonment is not indicative of God's capriciousness but rather a response to persistent disobedience, idolatry, and rejection of His commandments. The Bible provides several instances and types of abandonment, each serving as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.

1. Abandonment to Sinful Desires: One of the most explicit forms of divine abandonment is when God allows individuals to pursue their sinful desires as a form of judgment. In Romans 1:24-28, the Apostle Paul describes how God "gave them over" to impurity and degrading passions because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. This abandonment is a relinquishment to the consequences of their own choices, highlighting the seriousness of rejecting God's truth.

2. Abandonment of Nations: The Old Testament frequently records instances where God abandons entire nations due to their collective sin and idolatry. In Judges 10:13-14, God tells the Israelites, "But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them deliver you in your time of distress." This abandonment serves as a national judgment, emphasizing the covenantal relationship between God and His people.

3. Abandonment of the Temple: The departure of God's presence from the Temple is a significant form of abandonment. In Ezekiel 10:18-19, the prophet witnesses the glory of the Lord departing from the threshold of the Temple, symbolizing God's withdrawal from a place that had become defiled by idolatry and corruption. This abandonment underscores the holiness of God and the necessity of purity in worship.

4. Abandonment in Silence: At times, God's abandonment is manifested through silence, where He refrains from speaking or intervening. In 1 Samuel 28:6, King Saul experiences this when he inquires of the Lord, but "the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets." This silence is a form of judgment, reflecting the severance of communication due to Saul's disobedience and rebellion.

5. Abandonment to Captivity: The Babylonian exile is a poignant example of God abandoning His people to captivity as a result of their persistent sin. In 2 Kings 24:20, it is noted, "For because of the anger of the LORD, it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that He cast them out from His presence." This abandonment serves as both punishment and a means of purification, intended to bring the people back to repentance.

6. Abandonment of Individuals: Individual abandonment is also depicted in Scripture, often as a result of personal rebellion against God. In the case of Samson, Judges 16:20 records that "he did not know that the LORD had departed from him" after he revealed the secret of his strength. This personal abandonment highlights the consequences of breaking vows and disregarding divine calling.

7. Abandonment to Spiritual Blindness: God sometimes abandons individuals to spiritual blindness as a judgment for their hardened hearts. In John 12:40, it is said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them." This abandonment is a judicial act, reinforcing the gravity of rejecting the light of Christ.

These various forms of abandonment by God serve as a testament to His justice and holiness. They are not arbitrary but are deeply rooted in the moral and spiritual order established by God. Each instance calls for reflection on the importance of faithfulness, repentance, and the pursuit of righteousness in the believer's life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 4:17
Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter xvi. --Fear of Singularity.
... for this he makes use of two kinds of deception ... itself to do violence in a hundred
different ways, both ... Their judgments and remarks are to be pitied because it ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter xvi fear of singularity.htm

Saul Rejected
... There are two kinds of devotion to God: that of ... His judgments strike the innocent
with the guilty ... love, as parallel in substance, though different in instrument ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/saul rejected.htm

Article xxvii (xiii): of Monastic Vows.
... of sins and justification, than do other kinds of life ... statutes that were not good,
and judgments whereby they ... by God's command is of a different kind, namely ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 35 article xxvii xiii .htm

The Education of the World.
... the same power of discrimination between different kinds of truth ... It commands in
a different way, but with a tone ... at all as those who accept judgments at second ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/the education of the world.htm

Of Vows. The Miserable Entanglements Caused by Vowing Rashly.
... So different is the nature of present monachism in ... prostituting themselves to all
kinds of lasciviousness ... I will keep thy righteous judgments." Calvin observes ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 13 of vows the.htm

The Gentile Christian Theology. Paul and the Gospel of Faith.
... But there are two kinds of righteousness, or rather ... how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past ... existence (which would require a different verb), but ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 71 the gentile christian.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... Accordingly, all kinds of oaths are generally promissory ... of my mouth; for I have
hoped in thy judgments. ... Covenants must have been the different dispensations of ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... day reminding us how far his secret judgments surpass our ... comprehends single churches,
which exist in different towns and ... to a net in which all kinds of fishes ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

Covenant Duties.
... The different communities of the Church should not stand ... By encouraging some kinds
of intercourse among themselves, they ... the way of truth: thy judgments have I ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iv covenant duties.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... Very different, O Manich??us, is the object of your worship. You have departed from
God in the pursuit of your own fancies, which of all kinds have increased ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm