Zephaniah 3:5 The just LORD is in the middle thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning does he bring his judgment to light, he fails not… I. A DEMONSTRABLE FACT. 1. Asserted by Scripture. In addition to the statement of the text, that "the unjust knoweth no shame," may be cited other declarations to the same effect from both the Old (Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 8:12) and the New (Ephesians 4:19; Philippians 3:19) Testaments. 2. Proved by experience. Besides the individuals to whom the above passages allude, persons are often met with in actual life who not only seem, but so far as can be discovered from their behaviour actually are, insensible to shame. II. A PSYCHOLOGICAL ENIGMA. 1. Shame the fruit of sin. Exemplified in the case of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:25; Genesis 3:7). Shame is the outward sign of the soul's inward consciousness of guilt. 2. Sin the death of shame. If shame does not lead to repentance, and so to the destruction of sin, sin will soon assert its supremacy over shame and lead to its extinction. III. A SIGNIFICANT PHENOMENON. Teaching: 1. The possibility of complete spiritual deteriotation. When a soul can no longer feel ashamed on account of sin, when its moral perceptions have become darkened, and its conscience is deadened, the process of spiritual or religious degeneration has reached its lowest point. The soul is practically dead in trespasses and in sins. It has become essentially and permanently unjust. 2. The impossibility of ultimate red, raptly. The soul that cannot blush is at least perilously near the condition of those of whom it is written, "It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance" (Hebrews 6:6). - T.W. Parallel Verses KJV: The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. |
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