PROVERBS 1:24-30
(24) Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
(25) But ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof:
(26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
(27) When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
(28) Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me:
(29) For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD . . .
“Then shall they call upon Me,” but it will be too late. And it was too late. Nearly 40 years after they had Jesus put to death, the Jews were being revisited by Jesus — differently.
Historians say the Roman siege of Jerusalem lasted around 2 years. Men, women and children were SLAUGHTERED mercilessly. Within miles all around Jerusalem, there were no trees — they’d all been cut down to make crosses, like the one Jesus had hung on. Crosses? Yes, to nail up Jews all over the landscape.
“but I will not answer . . .” I’m sure many Jews very loudly called upon God in those horrifying years, praying prayer after prayer, prayer after prayer . . . and God did not hear them.
“. . . they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me . . .” No special efforts, even seeking God early, even staying up late; fasting; denying one’s self of many pleasures; crying out in moanings and beseechings and utterly screaming in agony DID NOT MAKE GOD HEAR. HE HAD CLOSED HIS EARS TO THE JEWS OF THOSE DAYS.
“For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD . . .” They had not chosen to fear God and submit themselves to His Very Own Son. They had Jesus crucified.
A PLEA TO MODERN JEWS
Please, any and all Jews who are reading this:
DON’T DO THE SAME AS YOUR FATHERS DID!
YOU STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT CHRIST. AS LONG AS YOU ARE ALIVE, AS LONG AS YOU CAN STILL GIVE YOUR HEART TO GOD, YOU CAN MAKE THINGS RIGHT WHERE YOUR FATHERS WENT WRONG!
Pray something like this:
Dear Jesus, I need you. I am yet in my sins. My fathers have sinned also, and I am sorry for their sins. PLEASE FORGIVE US! I believe that you are the Son of God who came into this world to forgive us and free us from our sins. Please cleanse me by your Precious Blood that you shed for me on the Cross. I repent now, I TURN, FROM MY SINS. I turn from my wrong attitudes and actions; I turn from the sins of my ancestors.
I believe you ROSE AGAIN, and therefore have power over death, and can save me and give me a new heart and ultimately take me to Heaven. Please cleanse my body, soul, and spirit, and help me to walk uprightly — obeying your Word in the Old AND New Testaments. Please baptize me in the Holy Spirit, and help me follow your Spirit every day.
Thank you Jesus, for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen!
Once you have REPENTED, TURNED FROM SIN, and TURNED UNTO CHRIST, then the promises in these verses apply to you:
Micah 7:18-20, Amplified Bible
“Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy and loving-kindness. He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show Your faithfulness and perform the sure promise to Jacob and loving-kindness and mercy to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.”