Topical Bible: The Heathen: Cruel

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In the biblical context, the term "heathen" often refers to nations or peoples who do not worship the God of Israel and are outside the covenant community. The Bible frequently portrays these groups as engaging in practices and behaviors that are contrary to the ways of God, including acts of cruelty.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 2:1-3 : "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: 'Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.'"
· This passage highlights the rebellious nature of the heathen nations, who conspire against God and His anointed. Their defiance is often accompanied by acts of aggression and cruelty.

2. Psalm 10:2-3 : "In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise. For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD."
· The wicked, often synonymous with the heathen, are depicted as oppressors of the needy, driven by pride and greed. Their cruelty is evident in their exploitation and disregard for the vulnerable.

3. Ezekiel 25:6-7 : "For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you clapped your hands and stomped your feet and rejoiced over the land of Israel with utter contempt, I will indeed stretch out My hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and exterminate you from the lands. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.'"
· The Ammonites, a heathen nation, are condemned for their cruel rejoicing over Israel's misfortune. Their heartless actions provoke divine judgment.

4. Amos 1:13 : "This is what the LORD says: 'For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even for four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead to enlarge their territory.'"
· The Ammonites are again highlighted for their extreme cruelty, committing atrocities to expand their borders. Such acts are condemned by God and serve as a testament to the brutal nature of heathen practices.

5. Habakkuk 1:6-7 : "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation that marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and feared; their justice and sovereignty proceed from themselves."
· The Chaldeans, another heathen nation, are described as ruthless and self-serving, imposing their own form of justice. Their cruelty is part of their identity, instilling fear in those they conquer.

Theological Implications:

The depiction of heathen cruelty in the Bible serves as a stark contrast to the righteousness and justice that God demands from His people. The actions of these nations often bring about divine retribution, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of His justice. The cruelty of the heathen is not only a reflection of their rebellion against God but also a reminder of the moral decay that ensues when societies reject divine law.

Throughout Scripture, the cruelty of the heathen is used to illustrate the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of adhering to His commandments. The biblical narrative consistently calls for the people of God to remain distinct from such practices, upholding a standard of compassion, justice, and righteousness.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 74:20
Have respect to the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 1:31
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Primitive Church
... of persecution.] The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan must ever be at war,
and the fierce and varied sufferings inflicted by the cruel heathen on all ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter v the primitive church.htm

Preaching among the Heathen
... object worthy of adoration, it was almost impossible to turn the heathen from their ...
The martyrdom of Stephen, and the cruel part that he himself had acted upon ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 18 preaching among the.htm

Slaughter of Many Persons by Valens an Account of their Names, in ...
... Chapter XIX."Slaughter of Many Persons by Valens an Account of their Names, in
Consequence of a Heathen Prediction. The cruel disposition of the emperor was ...
/.../chapter xix slaughter of many persons.htm

The Heathen, who have not a Full Revelation of the Truth...
... The heathen, who have not a full revelation of the truth, for they are not taught ...
wished torn in pieces at safe distance from him: so much the more cruel he if ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xxi the heathen who.htm

The Charge of Infanticide Retorted on the Heathen.
... The Charge of Infanticide Retorted on the Heathen. ... But then you make away with them
in a more cruel manner, because you expose them to the cold and hunger, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter xv name charge of.htm

The Arians Openly Take Sides with the Heathen in Attacking the ...
... The Arians openly take sides with the heathen in attacking the words: "He that
believeth on Me ... of the trumpet and the badge of the priest brought a cruel war to ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter x the arians openly.htm

Heathen Plots
... When all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were ... Open opposition
may be fierce and cruel, but it is fraught with far less peril to God's cause ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 55 heathen plots.htm

Endurance of the World's Censure.
... Jews, as St. Paul too by the heathen; so, many after him were put to death
also, and that by the most cruel torments. It would not ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon x endurance of the.htm

The Scattering of the People
... Sing us one of the songs of Zion.' (Verse 3.). 'Sing to these cruel heathen
who have wasted our country, and carried us away into slavery! ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter v the scattering of.htm

The Cry of the Heathen
... How shall we imprison thee for ever, thou cruel Moloch; how shall we for ever chain ...
to say "Come over and help us," but let me be the heathen's spokesman, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the cry of the heathen.htm