I wonder if there will come a day when God commands us (should we be found worthy), not to pray for Gods children in Christianity any more.
That makes me tremble. I pray our hands are completely clean.
Gary
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Hey Pastor John,
What is “the great transgression” in Psalms 19?
Julie P.
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Hi Julie,
The “great transgression” could be any sin that God refuses to forgive. Jesus mentioned blasphemy against the holy Ghost as the only unforgivable sin, but he must have meant that was the only sin that would under no circumstance be forgiven. There are sins other than blasphemy with which men can provoke God to such wrath that He will not forgive them. One example is found in Isaiah, where some of God’s people laughed off His call for repentance:
Isaiah 22
- And in that day, my Lord, the LORD of Hosts, called for weeping, and for mourning, and for baldness, and for the girding on of sackcloth.
- But behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen, and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine, saying, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die!”
- And in my hearing, it was revealed by the LORD of Hosts, “I will damn myself if atonement for this iniquity will be made for you until you die, says my Lord, the LORD of Hosts.”
Another example is found in Jeremiah, where God is so determined to destroy His people because of their rebellion against Him that He commanded Jeremiah to pray no more for the nation:
Jeremiah 7
- “And as for you, don’t you intercede for this people, and don’t you lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, nor make entreaty to me, for I will not hear you!
- Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
- This is a nation that does not obey the voice of Jehovah their God, nor receive correction. Truth has perished, and it is cut off from their mouth.”
But that commandment was so hard for Jeremiah himself to believe, for he knew how dearly God loved His people, that God had to repeat that commandment a couple of more times:
Jeremiah 11
- As for you, pray no more for this people! Yea, lift up no entreaty or prayer for them! For I will not hear when they cry out to me because of their trouble.
Jeremiah 14
- And Jehovah said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good!
- For they fast without me listening to their cry, and they offer up burnt offering and meal offering without me accepting them. But with the sword, and with famine, and with pestilence will I consume them.”
So, the “great transgression” can be any transgression that provokes God to the extent that no number of prayers, no amount of tears, and no works of repentance will be accepted by Him. God is love, as John said, but in that case, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Thank you for the question. It is an important one to understand.
Pastor John