CUT OFF - REMOVED - REND

CUT OFF - REMOVED FROM THE EARTH - KINGDOM RENT FROM YOU

We see these three phrases used throughout Scripture to those that had removed themselves from obeying and serving the Lord.  God is consistent in His rebuke, warning and adminstartion of judgment and wrath upon a people, a person, or the church that will not adhere to His ways with all their heart.

Most recently I preached a sermon on the very Scriptures of God saying, 'I will remove you from the earth.'  It is one of the most horrifying thoughts to understand what is being said here.  God will not only kill a person, allowing them to die, but remove their existence from the earth. 

I want to set forth these words of warning to us today.  We verily guilty before Him for much of their same actions and sins.  And we are in danger of repeating the same edicts mentioned in our title. 
Let us do the following:

1.  Let us see in Scripture the useage of these phrases and understand why God did what He did to them.

2.  Let us learn the lesson for our ownselves, lest we be found guilty and reap the same results.

3.  Let us know what it is the keeps men from being CUT OFF - REMOVED FROM THE EARTH - AND HIS KINGDOM RENT FROM US

I Kings 9:7, "Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for My Name, will I cast out of My sight. . ."

The previous verse, verse 6, gives us why God would set into motion to do these things.  'If ye turn from following Me and serve other gods.  then. . .'  As if is consistent with all God's ways, He has told us what to expect and what to do.  He is very clearn and precise.  There is no way that one could not understand what is required of us today. 

I Kings 11
v. 11, "Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded thee I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant."
v. 12, ". . .but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son."
v. 13, "Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David My servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I ahve chosen."

So Solomon had been warned, several times throughout his life to maintain his obedience.  The reminder of King Saul should have been enough of what the Lord would do to a king, a people, a nation that is disobedient.  He rent it from Saul and gave it to David, his father.  He also heard the vocie of God when God came to him twice to obey and do. 

How many times has God came to you and I to warn us? to remind us? History reveals these truths set before us.  The Scriptures reveal these truths and the 'handwriting is on the wall'. 


v. 31, "And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces:  for thus saith the Lord, the God of Isarel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:"
v. 35, "But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes."

And we see the fulfillment of that which Solomon had been warned of, was now coming to pass.  God had selected Jeroboam to rule over Israel, he would have ten tribes. This was also followed by a warning, that if he obeyed as David did, he would be established.  It also came with the understanding, that if didn't obey, as Solomon and Saul, it would be rent from him as well.  The folly of men is to think that we can get by with our sinfulness and disobedience.  We know there is a price to pray in the future, but there is also a price to pay now and for our children.  How evil is the men that thinks no thoughts but for themselves.  'Be sure your sin will find you out.' How I fear this for my sake and my chidlren's sake!

I Kings 13:34, "And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth."

The sin of Jeroboam, made Israel to perpetually sin.  He made two calves, false gods and placed them in Dan and Bethel.  He began his kingship with sin and ended horribly in the sight of men.  This chapter 13 is a clear testimony of God's desire that 'none should perish from the earth'.  HE sent a prophet to warn and turn him back from his folly.  A warning that he did not give heed to, and sealed his fate of destruction.  Jeroboam's sin caused Israel to sin and they never recovered.  There is not one good king, 'that did right in the sight of the Lord' named among them.  They all did evil in the sight of the Lord, and refused to humble themselves. 

But for Jeroboam, the pronouncement is given, 'to be cut off, and destroyed from the earth'.  Now when God pronounces such a thing for the evil of men, how shall  any man preserve himself?  How shall any of us exist or maintain a lineaage?  When God cuts off a man, and removes him, it is in wrath and destruction.  Consider the consequences of provoking the Lord to wrath!

I Kings 14:8, "And rent the kingdom away from the house o fDavid,a nd gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as My servant David. . ."
v. 10, "Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone."
v. 14, "Moreover the Lord shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day:  but what?  even now."
v. 15, "For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and He shall root up Israel out of this good land, which He gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, becasue they ahve made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger."
v. 16, "And He shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin."

This chapter reveals the very word of God being spoken and fulfilled.  He had warned Jeroboam to be like DAvid, not like Saul and Solomon.  Jeroboam knew the results of his sin.  HE had been warned in chapter 13 by the prophet for his idolatry and causing the people to forsake the Lord.  and now, here lay his son dying, and the warning comes again, that not only would the son die, but all his household would be removed from the earth in a violent manner.  His name would be removed from the earth; his kingdom would be rent from him and given to another; he would be no more.  And forever, he bears the edict, 'the man who made Israel to sin and be destroyed'.  Can you think of no greater damning edict than that?  Forever through the oracles of history, Jeroboam is know as the 'man who made Israel to sin'; costs them the promised land; diminished the witness of Israel to the nations; and gave great occassion against the Name of the Lord God.  Horrifying and should cause of us to tremble!  How mindful should we be that our actions and reactions carry great consequences toward others around us. 

And verse 14, reminds us of the urgency of the hour, 'but what? (great questions of the Bible)  Even now'. 

I Kings 16:3, 4, "Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son Nebat.  v. 4 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

v. 11, 'And it came to pass, when he bagan to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baashal:  he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends."

the lesson of Jeroboam, was not enough for Baasha, to learn.  He became king, by God's mercy, and wiped out Jeroboam, knowing it was directly for making the false gods and rebelling against the Lords word.  And now as king, he was just as evil, and just as disobedient.  And so the same fate of Jeroboam, was pronounced against Baasha and his household.  I marvel at the announcement of the prophet, that it was never just the man, but his line. 

How much more should you and I caution ourselves for our sins?  And how quickly does the Lord implement it?  By verse 11, Zimri comes in and kills Baasha's son and we see anyone and everyone that was close or near to the family.  Caution again, about having the condemnation of the world on us when we stand before the Lord.  'Touch not, taste not, handle not' the things of this world, lest we become unclean.

I Kings 21:21, "Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel."

One of the great sermons preached was on this very chapter, 'Pay-Day Someday', preached by R G Lee.  And here again, it is demonstrated that the 'wages of sin is death'.  After Jezebel had done her evil of killing Naboth, all so that a selfish king could have a garden, the prophet comes.  Nothing is not seen by God, He sees all, and HE knows all.  When practice evil, the last thing they want is to hear from the Lord, pronouncing against them for their evil sins.  'Hast thou found me, O my enemy?'  And the prophet Elijah responds, "Yea, I have found you, for you have sought to practice evil against the Lord."  And evil against the Lord can never be left unattended too.  It will answered for. 

And so the announcement comes, 'you will be cut off from the earth'.  And not only 'you, as an individual, but all your possibility of a future generations shall be removed from the earth.'  God pronounces, "I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity and will cut off all males."  Thus elminating any chance for future generations.  God will remove his family name from the earth for his evil ways against Him.  The "I will's" of God are so profound and certain.  They hold power and authority from Him, Who cannot lie.  Give thought to these 3 I will's from God toward Ahab and all the wicked men of the earth - bring evil; take away and cut off.  Oh, how careless we are in life.  How severe is the penalty of sin and death.  and again, the reminder of our future generations being removed from the earth due to our iniquity.  O Lord, have mercy upom me and these that glean these truths from Thee. 

II Kings9:8, "For the whole house of Ahab shall perish:  and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:"

The fulfillment of God's Word through Elijah the prophet upon the house of Ahab wouuld not be implemented.  Ahab is dead and buried, and as the Lord had said, He would not do it in the days of Ahab, but in the days of his son.  Elisha the second generation of prophet to follow Elijah sends to anoint Jehu the captain to be the instrument of this 'cutting off'.  And once again, it shows and reveals that the Word of the Lord shall come to pass in His time.  Mark well when God says, "I will cut you off". 

II Kings 10:11, "So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining."

I give this verse, for one reason, to show again that a peron's sin does not just affect them.  The sin of Ahab did not just affect his life.  Neither does our sins just affect us.  Note in this verse, how wide was the influence of Ahab and each area of his life was affected till the point of death and being cut off from the world.  Wide is the influence of evil, and greater is its impact on the whole.  How many died for one man's sin? As in the case of Adam; so in the case of Ahab.

II Kings10:32, "In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Irael;"

there is no direct statement or phrase of 'cut off' or 'removed from the land or earth'.  However, the one word, 'cut short' is given.  It is the beginning of the end for them.  Since Jeroboam made Israel to sin, and done nothing but provoke the Lord to anger, He begins to come against them.  He begins to disect them apart, and remove them from the promised land.  there is no explanation found in these series of verses of chapter 10:32 - 36.  But it is enough that we know they had forsaken the Lord and be disobedient all along the way.  It is just anothe evidence of God's mercy that they would not be cut off, but repent and turn back to Him.  Much is the parallel of the United States and the church in North America today.  We are being 'cut off' systemically.  Now it may be lessening us to purge us for revival; or it may be lessening us for judgment.  Only the Lord knows; but this much we do know - He is right in all His ways.  Read, glean, and learn the lesson of time found in the Sacred Word.  And if we don't then we are doomed to repeat their same folly and meet their same ultimate end. 

II Kings 17:18, "Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight:  there was none left but the tribe of Judah only."

And now the end for Israel comes.  The phrase that we have not seen before is, 'very angry'.  We have seen God provoked, we have seen Him angry, and the wrath of God.  But we have not seen 'very angry up to this point (that I can find).  so much was He 'very angry' with them that He removed them out of His sight.  Oh, how dreadful to be in such a case!  How utterly hopeless when God removes a nation, a peopel out of His sight.  For if God is not looking upon us, then who is watching out for us? who is protecting us? who is helping us?  There is none.  And He removed them until there was none left in the land.  Just as He had said would happen becasue of their not keeping His Word and comandments and forsaking Him in all their ways. 

And are we not near here to this place of God being 'very angry with us'?  Being removed out ot the earth and out of this nation and its benefits?  If we don't understand these truths soon, there will be no turning back, we will repeat the same ways of Israel. 

II Kings 24:3, "Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah to remove them out of His sight for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;"

It is the parallel of the end of II Chronicles, where Scripture declares, 'until there was no remedy'.  One of the most awful phrases in Scripture.  This also is at the end of the days of Judah.  There disobedience, sin and provoking of the Lord to anger has culminated to a new height and their final demise.  God removed them out of the promised land, out of the city of David and removed the temple and the things of it. 
when God removes a people it is for no reason at all, there is severe reasons behind it. 



Revelation 2:5, "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

this passage of Scripture is the church of Ephesus.  It is the church where the Apostle Paul labored so hard and long.  It is where Timothy was bishop.  It is our book in the Bible, the book of Ephesians, whcih is a meaty, very spiritual book.  And yet here, this spiritual, powerful church, is warned of its candlestick being removed and put out if they did not repent.  One of the most moving books on this church and this phrase is found by Robert Murray McCheyne.  Due to sickness, McCheyne traveled to Israel to be a missionary and recover.  In his journey to Israel, he went through the region of Turkey and found the city of Ephesus.  There trying to locate the church, he found the foundation  of the building, the remains of this church, where the body gathered and labored.  And upon the land was a corn field.  Their candlestick had been removed and put out. 

Twice in this verse alone, Christ speaking throughout all chapter 2 and 3 in regards to the 7 churches, He uses the 'I will' phrase.  And when God says, "I will" it is an absolute that shall be done.  Timing is the only thing left unclear sometimes, it shall happen.  But God fulfilled that if they did not repent, He would remove them.  There was no church left there to be found, God removed them.  

We are not removed from this warning.  If the church does not repent, the candlestick of America will be removed as well.  Is the church in England and Europe not enoguh of a modern example?  Is Martin Luther and the Proetestant Reformation not and example?  Is JOhn Wesley and the Methodist Church not an example?  We are held to give an account.  We need to learn this lesson that has been fulfilled throughout all Scripture and in our modern times.  'Be not deceived, God is not mocked.' 

Written:
2/14/13
Updated:
2/15/13
2/16/13
2/19/13
2/22/13

SIN OF THE LAND

SIN UPON THE LAND DUE TO THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE
-More specifically the sin of innocent blood;

First I will list the instances of this in the Scriptures.  Followed by identifying the sin and response of God.  Each passage to demonstrate to us that this inqiuity is still named among us today.  Secondly, I will show our present day iniquity that continues to provoke God and cause fierce judgment against us.  Lastly, the remedy for all of this, both demonstrated in Scripture as well for us today.

Bible Passages


Genesis 4:10, "And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground." 

Cain raised up and slew his brother, thus committing the first murder recorded in the Bible.  The first murder on the earth.  And it is revealed and taught within this great sin, that blood has been shed, and it speaks to God.  For His very life is found in the blood and it reveals to Him His Own. 

Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood:  and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls:  for it is ithe blood that makes an atonement for the soul."

If the blood be shed, the life ceases to be.  It was sacred unto God always, for His very nature, which is life. 

Deuteronomy 19:10, "That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee."

This chapter deals specfically with the sin of murder in the land.  Blood is the very essence of life.  this passage is one of the first occassions in the Scripture to reference, 'innocent blood'.  Pre-meditated, malicious, hateful murder is not innocent, but planned and calculated.  Chapter 19 in Deuteronomy is about those that committed murder by accident.  As referenced in the slipping of an axe head off and killing someone near by, in verse 5.  The phrase of innocent blood is referenced in verse 3, 'whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past'.  Even though it was done in ignorance, blood was still shed and must be atoned for. 

Deuteronomy 21:1-9, "So shalt thou put away the guilt of inncoent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord." 

This passage is helpful for us also in the problem that when murder is committed but the murderer is not known of what to do.  Blood has been shed, the land has been defiled, but that one or group of people responsible is not known.  Simply because there is not a culprit or guilty person to charge, does not remove the fact that the blood has been shed and contaminates the land. 



II Samuel 21: 1, "Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." 

King Saul had been dead for years, But his actions of killing innocent blood was being judged upon the land and people. 

I Kings 2:31, "And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father."

Joab, as David's general, had killed Abner and Amasa during those days of battle and wars.  Joab killed Abner, because Abner had killed his brother during one of the battles. It is was a death of revenge.  Had he fought him in battle upright and honestly, that would have been one thing; but Joab did this in an evil manner of deception and trickery.  David had just got done making peace with Abner to convey all the tribes of Israel to make David their king.  Joab hearing of this, calls Abner back to talk with him and in disguise of his hand brings him in to hug and kills him.  Abner did not even suspect it, he died out of battle.  This blood was not to be on David but on Joab.  Solomon ends up killing Joab for the death of this man in innocence. 

the second 'innocent blood' by Joab's hand was Amasa.  After Joab had killed Absalom, during those days of upheaval and mutiny by David's own son, Joab killed Amasa.  David had given specific instructions that no one was to kill Absalom. Joab refused to listen, but in considering Absalom a threat to David and the kingdom, he slew him with three darts as his hair was tangled in a tree branches.  I don't think David ever forgave Joab for this insurrection.  And after they returned to Jerusalem, David made Amasa general in place of Joab.  Joab did not take to this lightly, but conviving again, he slew Amasa with that same embrace.  He killed Amasa to be general again.  Joab had a lot of blood on his hands, much like David did for the warfare.  This warfare prohibited David from building the temple. 

II Kings 21:16, "Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another:  beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord."

It was not for the innocent blood alone that  provoked God, but it is one of those that are specifically stated.  There were numerous iniquities and sins spoken against, even back to their rebellion from the days of leaving Egypt that God pronounced His anger against. 

II Kings 24:3, "Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, to remove them out of His sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; v. 4 and also for the innocent blood that he shed:  for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon."

This chapter and verses carry the same reference as the actual pronouncement against Judah and Jerusalem as found in II Kings 21.  But there is the notable difference mentioned here, 'which the Lord would not pardon'. 

Present Day 'Innocent Blood'

It is not a mystery that abortion is our current day sin.  Since it was legalized by the Supreme Court ruling in 1973, millions of babies have been killed, murdered, many women have died from the process and emotional pain of this sin, and an entire generation has been removed from the earth.  It is a constant, daily murder process in many nations around the world.  All this blood is poured out on the earth, upon the nations, the blood cries out to God, Who is the give of it to make retribution for their killing.  Especially, since they have no voice, nor way to defend themselves.  But they will have a voice at the Judgment Seat, but then it will be too late.