hidden his face – Praying Pint

43.b. “Wilderness” – 7.i. Sinai – “You shall not murder.”

Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.

Leviticus 24:21 Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.

Psalms 10:8-11 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

Proverbs 1:11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

Proverbs 1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

Isaiah 26:21 For behold, the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

1 Timothy 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Jesus carefully explained the heart of this commandment. He showed that it also prohibits us from hating someone else because we can wish someone dead in our hearts, yet never have the nerve to commit the deed. Someone may not kill from a lack of courage or initiative, yet his or her heart is filled with hatred. (Guzik)

When God “set a mark upon Cain” (Genesis 4:15), He marked thereby His abhorrence of the murderer. The “seven precepts of Noah” included one which distinctly forbade the taking of human life (Genesis 9:6). In all countries and among all peoples, a natural instinct or an unwritten tradition placed murder among the worst of crimes, and made its penalty death. The Mosaic legislation on the point was differenced from others principally by the care it took to distinguish between actual murder, manslaughter (Exodus 21:13), death by misadventure (Numbers 35:23), and justifiable homicide (Exodus 22:2). Before, however, it made these distinctions, the great principle of the sanctity of human life required to be broadly laid down; and so the law was given in the widest possible terms—“Thou shalt not kill.” Exceptions were reserved till later. (Ellicott)

Thou shalt not do any thing hurtful to the health or life of thy own body, or any other’s. This doth not forbid our necessary defence, or the magistrates putting offenders to death; but it forbids all malice and hatred to any, for he that hateth his brother is a murderer, and all revenge arising therefrom; likewise anger, and hurt said or done, or aimed to be done, in a passion; of this our Saviour expounds this commandment, Matthew 5:22. (Benson)

The sixth commandment requires that we regard the life and the safety of others as we do our own. Magistrates and their officers, and witnesses testifying the truth, do not break this command. Self-defence is lawful; but much which is not deemed murder by the laws of man, is such before God. Furious passions, stirred up by anger or by drunkenness, are no excuse: more guilty is murder in duels, which is a horrible effect of a haughty, revengeful spirit. All fighting, whether for wages, for renown, or out of anger and malice, breaks this command, and the bloodshed therein is murder. To tempt men to vice and crimes which shorten life, may be included. Misconduct, such as may break the heart, or shorten the lives of parents, wives, or other relatives, is a breach of this command. This command forbids all envy, malice, hatred, or anger, all provoking or insulting language. The destruction of our own lives is here forbidden. This commandment requires a spirit of kindness, longsuffering, and forgiveness. (Henry)

Thou shalt not kill. Not meaning any sort of creatures, for there are some to be killed for the food and nourishment of men, and others for their safety and preservation; but rational creatures, men, women, and children, any of the human species, of every age, sex, condition, or nation; no man has a right to take away his own life, or the life of another; by this law is forbidden suicide, or self-murder, parricide or murder of parents, homicide or the murder of man; yet killing of men in lawful war, or in defence of a man’s self, when his own life is in danger, or the execution of malefactors by the hands or order of the civil magistrate, and killing a man at unawares, without any design, are not to be reckoned breaches of this law; but taking away the life of another through private malice and revenge, and even stabbing of a man’s character, and so all things tending to or designed for the taking away of life, and all plots, conspiracies, and contrivances for that purpose, even all sinful anger, undue wrath and envy, rancour of all mind, all malice in thought, word, or deed, are contrary to this precept, see Matthew 5:21 and which, on the other hand, requires that men should do all they can for the ease, peace, and preservation of the lives of men. (Gill)

You know the sings of the times when looting, destruction of property, violent demonstrations, killing, wounding, etc are not only tolerated but condoned, and when peaceful protests and public prayer for the unborn are deemed unacceptable, breaking the law, and deserving punishment. Abortion is murder. There is no love, mercy, kindness, or preservation of innocent life.

The professionals at Planned Parenthood will work to get you the services you need, whether or not you have insurance. Our staff can also let you know if there is financial assistance available for your abortion and other related costs, like transportation. If there’s no Planned Parenthood health center near you, AbortionFinder.org can help you find a trustworthy abortion provider.

Abortion funds may be available to help you pay for your abortion. Abortion funds may also offer help with transportation, lodging, childcare, and other resources you may need to access abortion. The National Network of Abortion Funds connects people with organizations that can provide financial and logistical support for people getting abortions in the U.S.

Just because the culture makes murder of the unborn legal does not mean it is in the eyes of God. We think it very wrong to kill born babies in ritual sacrifice. This is recognized by everyone of sound mind, and yet, the unborn are legally sacrificed day after day. Globally, over 70 million are killed each year, and over 500,000 in the US. In the US there are ~198 abortions per 1,000 live births. Changing the name from murder of the unborn to “Women’s Choice” or “Rights” to make it legal does not make it right in God’s eyes. It is murder of the innocent unborn baby.

40.s. “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them”

Exodus 3:7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters.

Psalms 22:24   For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Psalms 34:4   I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 34:6     This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalms 106:44    Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.

Psalms 145:19    He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

400 years, or close to it, God’s chosen people were oppressed. Think about that. We declared our independence from England 246 years ago. Add another 154 years to our history and have us living under oppression this whole time and this would be the life of Israelites for generation after generation. 400 years. During these 400 years of oppression, God knew what was going on. God saw it. Year after year it continued. If you had not known freedom and this was the only life you knew, would it make it bearable? No. However, it might make it seem like this is just the way things are, always have been, and always will be. What hope would you have for the present? What hope would you have for the future? It would seem hopeless for life any better.

400 years. I still have a hard time putting this into perspective. The Bible is filled with example after example of God’s protective and mighty hand defending and bringing rather quick resolution. It is also filled with examples of His seeming delays. Of course, we can look to and trust God when He answers immediate prayers. What kind of faith can wait year after year, knowing the promises of God, claiming these promises, believing them, trusting in them, but not seeing tangible evidence of them? This kind of faith keeps eyes, heart, mind, and soul focused on God and not the circumstance or situation. This kind of faith knows without a doubt that God is able and limitless in what He can do. This kind of faith says; “God is able, but if in His plan and purpose I do not see His hand at work I know He is watching over me. He loves me. He will strengthen me. He is God.”

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

10.w. “Your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Micah 3:4 Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.

Deuteronomy 31:17-18    Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’  And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.

Deuteronomy 32:19-20   “The LORD saw it and spurned them, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.  And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.

Isaiah 59:1-15    Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;  but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

How sad, terrible, and overwhelming to have God hide His face from His people? How big is the separation when there is no answer from God? When there is sin in our lives and in our nations and we have known what it means to seek and follower after God but have willfully chosen paths away from Him can we expect and answer from Him? The answer to this is yes and no. When we come to our senses like the prodigal son He is there with expectant arms wide open. It is in the time between our unfaithfulness and willing disobedience, and a drought of God’s Word in our life when we will find that it is not so much Him speaking into our lives but rather we are not listening. The worst part of this is that we choose to not listen and then wonder why, when troubles find their way into our lives, God does not seem to be anywhere near us. God orchestrates and/or allows troubles to come on individuals and nations. He has used these times to draw them back to Him, recognizes their sin, repents, and turns away from that which was appalling to obedience to Him. As a nation, we find ourselves in a time now that prudent minds would seek God with a humble heart. But this isn’t what we do, is it? We look to local, state, and federal governments to answer our questions and fix the troubles we are facing. Could it be that God is taking away (hopefully temporarily) that which we hold so dear in this world? I do know this unless we turn to Him with humbleness and repentant hearts our nation will go from worse to worse. Seek Him, dive deep into His Word, and open the ears to your hearts, minds, and souls.

Mind set on the Flesh

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Psalms 34:21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

Psalms 35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalms 94:23 He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.

Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Luke 19:41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

John 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Job 22:17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

Job 21:14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

Psalms 10:4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Psalms 10:11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

There are many reasons man can come up with that leave no room for God. Do any of these sound familiar; “He does not exist. If He does exist I am good enough. There are multiple ways to God/heaven. I am too busy. I will focus on God when I am older. I have plenty of time to get right with Him. When I compare myself against others I am much better than most…….” Man can find host of reasons but none hold true. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is no other work man can do to be right in the eyes of God than to believe in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, acknowledge their sin, repent, and humbly serve, honor and obey God. Believing in Jesus Christ is relying on, clinging to, and trusting in Him. How are we to grow in our understanding of Him and His purpose for us each day if we are not culturing a heart deep desire each day? Spend time in His word each day.