The Obligation to Warn About Sin - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 19:10,

"In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin."

King Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of families as judges, "to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes", verse 8. When he did so, he provided them instructions that were to be kept.

The instruction above points to the culpability these judges would have if they did warn sinners that came before them of their sin. Serving "faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord", verse 9, required their follow through in this, otherwise the Lord's wrath would land on the judges!

This instruction causes me to think of the responsibility I have to warn others of their sin before the Lord. Were I to fail in this, would I be culpable before the Lord?

Of course, there are those whose over-high estimation of themselves consider themselves to be above others, those who feel they are more righteous than others, better than others. Jesus warned against such arrogance in his parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Luke 18:9-14.

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ^'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."'"

Jesus pointed out, "all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Verse 14.

However, it is a very different thing to know truth and keep it from others, particularly when that truth just might save their eternal lives. Unless someone knows they are a sinner in need of the Savior, they may never embrace Jesus Christ. Knowing the truth that the sin we are all guilty of will lead to certain eternal death does obligate us to share that truth to others. Keeping that truth from them brings a certain guilt to us.

We read in Proverbs 24:11-12,

"Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,'
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
    Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?"

Jehoshaphat's instruction to the judges he appointed is a reminder for me today that I have an obligation to explain to others their need of salvation - they are sinners.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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