Topical Bible: The Heathen: Employed to Chastise the Church

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In the biblical narrative, the term "heathen" often refers to nations or peoples who do not worship the God of Israel. Throughout Scripture, God uses these nations as instruments of chastisement for His people, Israel, when they stray from His commandments and covenant. This concept underscores the sovereignty of God over all nations and His commitment to holiness and justice.

Old Testament Instances

1. Assyria and Israel: One of the most prominent examples is the use of Assyria to discipline the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The prophet Isaiah records God's intention: "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath" (Isaiah 10:5). Here, Assyria is depicted as an instrument of divine wrath, used to correct Israel's idolatry and rebellion.

2. Babylon and Judah: Similarly, Babylon is employed to chastise the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The prophet Jeremiah warns of this impending judgment: "I will summon all the families of the north," declares the LORD, "and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon" (Jeremiah 25:9). Babylon's conquest and the subsequent exile serve as a severe but redemptive measure to bring Judah back to faithfulness.

3. The Philistines and Judges: During the period of the Judges, God frequently allowed neighboring nations, including the Philistines, to oppress Israel as a consequence of their disobedience. Judges 3:12 states, "Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, and He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel" . This cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance highlights God's use of foreign nations to discipline His people.

Theological Implications

The employment of heathen nations as instruments of chastisement reveals several theological truths:

· Divine Sovereignty: God's control over all nations is evident. He raises and deposes kings and uses them according to His purposes (Daniel 2:21). This sovereignty assures believers that even in judgment, God remains in control.

· Holiness and Justice: God's use of heathen nations underscores His commitment to holiness. He cannot tolerate sin among His people and will take necessary measures to correct and purify them (Amos 3:2).

· Redemptive Purpose: While the chastisement is severe, it is not without purpose. God's ultimate aim is the restoration and repentance of His people. As Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives" .

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the concept of God using external forces to discipline His people continues, albeit in a more spiritual context. The early church faced persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities, which served to purify and strengthen the believers' faith. The Apostle Peter writes, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God" (1 Peter 4:17), indicating that trials and tribulations serve a refining purpose.

Conclusion

The biblical theme of God employing heathen nations to chastise His people serves as a sobering reminder of His holiness and the serious consequences of disobedience. It also offers hope, as God's discipline is ultimately an expression of His love and desire for His people's restoration.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 26:33
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
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Jeremiah 49:14
I have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent to the heathen, saying, Gather you together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.
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Lamentations 1:3
Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwells among the heathen, she finds no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
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Ezekiel 7:24
Why I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
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Ezekiel 25:7
Behold, therefore I will stretch out my hand on you, and will deliver you for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut you off from the people, and I will cause you to perish out of the countries: I will destroy you; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
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Daniel 4:27
Why, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
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Habakkuk 1:5-9
Behold you among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which you will not believe, though it be told you.
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Library

Of the Jurisdiction of the Church, and the Abuses of It, as ...
... him be unto thee as an heathen man and a ... civil penalties, but as became them, employed
the word ... accustomed, in their judicial proceedings, to chastise with the ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 of the jurisdiction.htm

The Tares.
... Large portions of it have been heathen from a ... Looking minutely to the phraseology
employed, we find that ... the Canaanites in the land to chastise and exercise ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/ii the tares.htm

C??sarius of Arles.
... take away thy sins; may God chastise thy sins ... which prevailed in Gaul, he employed
Greek, which ... frequent marching and countermarchings of heathen, or recently ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/neander/light in the dark places/caesarius of arles.htm

Calvin -- Enduring Persecution for Christ
... A heathen could say that "It was a miserable thing to save ... would He not have just
cause to chastise us daily ... us to offer ourselves to God to be employed in any ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/calvin enduring persecution for.htm

The Life of Mr. Robert Blair.
... against the education of youth in heathen writings.""Whereupon ... arrival, he was as
much employed in public ... Scots, and again prepared to chastise them with a ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr robert 6.htm

Against the Modern Free-Thinkers.
... talking, he was little better than a Heathen; excepting only ... The thoughts of a
Free-thinker are employed on certain ... thee, I than not fail to chastise thee for ...
/.../sect ix against the modern.htm

The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii.
... If he commit sin, I will chastise him with the ... redeemedst to Thee out of Egypt, heathen
and their ... to this person, that the personification has been employed. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the promise in 2 samuel.htm

The Sower.
... lips by the pitiless persecution of heathen governments: in ... in the world and the
specific terms employed by the ... he abide its slave, it will chastise him when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/i the sower.htm

Enthusiasm.
... favour of a tenet which had been employed in support ... they were commonly regarded;
and the Church would have ... opinion which looked upon the heathen as altogether ...
/.../abbey/the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter vii enthusiasm.htm

Dogmatic.
... judgment, and power to benefit some and chastise others, how ... the idols and images
of the heathen who are ... that prin with the infinitive is employed where the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/i dogmatic.htm