Topical Bible: The Heathen: God: Punishes

◄ The Heathen: God: Punishes ►

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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 and are outside the covenant community. The Bible consistently portrays God as a righteous judge who punishes the heathen for their idolatry, immorality, and rebellion against His divine authority.

Divine Justice and Punishment

God's punishment of the heathen is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, emphasizing His holiness and justice. In the Old Testament, the prophets frequently declare God's impending judgment on the nations surrounding Israel. For instance, in the book of Isaiah, God pronounces judgment on Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, and other nations for their wickedness and arrogance (Isaiah 13-23). Isaiah 13:11 states, "I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless."

Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah delivers oracles against the nations, highlighting God's sovereignty over all peoples and His intention to hold them accountable for their actions. Jeremiah 25:31 declares, "The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations; He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword."

Examples of Punishment

The Bible provides numerous examples of God punishing heathen nations. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a stark illustration of divine retribution for rampant sinfulness (Genesis 19). The plagues of Egypt demonstrate God's power and judgment against a nation that oppressed His people and defied His commands (Exodus 7-12).

In the New Testament, the theme of divine punishment extends to the eschatological judgment. The book of Revelation vividly describes the ultimate judgment of the nations, where God's wrath is poured out on those who oppose Him and persecute His people (Revelation 16-19). Revelation 19:15 proclaims, "From His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter."

Purpose of Punishment

God's punishment of the heathen serves multiple purposes. It upholds His righteousness and justice, demonstrating that He does not tolerate sin and rebellion. It also serves as a warning to other nations and individuals, calling them to repentance and acknowledgment of His sovereignty. Furthermore, it vindicates God's people, assuring them that He will ultimately deliver them from their enemies and establish His kingdom of righteousness.

God's Mercy and Redemption

While the Bible emphasizes God's punishment of the heathen, it also reveals His desire for repentance and redemption. The account of Jonah and Nineveh illustrates God's willingness to relent from sending calamity when a heathen city turns from its wickedness (Jonah 3). This underscores the biblical truth that God is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion" (Joel 2:13).

In conclusion, the biblical portrayal of God's punishment of the heathen underscores His holiness, justice, and sovereignty. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of repentance, while also highlighting God's mercy and desire for all nations to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 44:2
How you did drive out the heathen with your hand, and planted them; how you did afflict the people, and cast them out.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joel 3:11-13
Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
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Micah 5:15
And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the heathen, such as they have not heard.
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Habakkuk 3:12
You did march through the land in indignation, you did thresh the heathen in anger.
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Zechariah 14:18
And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, with which the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
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Library

The Wrath of Love
... One of the earliest heathen notions why troubles came was, it seems, that the gods
were ... wise and serious man"I punish my child, or my dog, and God punishes me ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxix the wrath of.htm

Whether the Church Should Excommunicate Anyone?
... who refuses to hear the Church: "Let him be to thee as the heathen or publican ... Now
God punishes the sinner in many ways, in order to draw him to good, either by ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the church should excommunicate.htm

Father and Child
... sermon preached by St Paul to the heathen at Lystra. ... Despising the goodness of God,
by which He has been ... Him, before He threatens and before He punishes at all ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxi father and child.htm

Psalm V.
... according to that, "Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine ... His sun
to rise on the good and on the evil:" for even when God punishes sinners, He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm v.htm

The Kingdom of Heaven
... and apostles, of a God who judges and punishes such generations ... on it, we should
probably have been heathen at this day. ... get back the old belief, that God is a ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxx the kingdom of.htm

The Third Commandment
... When the heathen saw the Jews, who professed to be God's people, to be scandalous,
it made them speak evil of God, and ... (1) Sometimes God punishes swearing and ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 3 the third commandment.htm

God's World
... to our own day, to old heathen superstitions, which ... giving up the old faith that
God's judgments are ... that he rewards righteousness and punishes iniquity; till ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon x gods world.htm

Rom. I. 18
... glory of God." (Psalm 19:1.) For what will the Greeks (ie Heathen) say in ... "God punishes
their sin by sin" (Weiss), that is, He made them reap the bitter fruit ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iii rom i 18.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... II."The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and ... fire dissembles not; it
exposes and punishes what it ... Atheists who know not the true God, and pay ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

The Word of God.
... The Word of God, like those old heathen gods ... rewards itself, every foolish and unjust
act punishes itself, by ... His cross, and saying to them, "Behold your God!". ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xiv the word of.htm