They Know Not What They Do

They Know Not What They Do
 

It applies to all of us; me too! When it's me, I beat myself up in my head and heart. I'm not hungry, and I'm weak. Ever realize way late you've done something terrible or wrong? Can't go back and undo it; feel shame, so foolish. "Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'" (Luke 23:34). If we sin against someone, they know we're sinning; they're feeling it! "I feel like I was so blind, yet with my eyes open!" Ever been there?
"And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, 'There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.' And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.' And Nathan said to David, 'Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, "I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."'" (2 Sam. 12:1 - 10). King David just kept on going until his mistakes were pointed out to him. His sins of adultery and murder he ws blind to until he was confronted by Nathan. How David must've been ashamed and wanted to make his sins disappear! I know that's what I felt. I've been there. Have you? For David, his comfort came from the prophet Nathan telling him the Lord put away his sins. But us, when we realize our sins, we confess and count by faith on Jesus that our sins are removed from us.

Are we any different from the Israelites? When we realize a danger coming, or even perceive the potential of one, do we trust in the Lord to get us through it, or do we complain or fear for our lives and/or welfare? From Exod. 14:10 to 17:7, from Deut. 1:26 - 28, from Num. 11:1 - 21:9, they murmered and complained is what is written, but really what was going on inside was fear in their hearts and minds that they would die of hunger or thirst a number of times.There was also a couple of times of rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Now if you see Moses calling on the power of God to deliver so many plagues to Pharaoh, and you see Aaron's dead wooden staff bud, bloom, and bare fruit, why would you rebel against their obvious God-given authority? And if God sweetens bitter water, provides bread (manna), even quail till you're stuffed, yet you complain before receiving each time, do you realize you're rebelling and doubting God's provision, or are you blind to it? Don't we fear until we receive His provision and His protection? We know not what we do.

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." (Prov. 5:21 - 23). Ever listen to an unsaved man talk? I often have to deliver mailwhere one lives at an apartment complex. He sees one in authority walk across the parking area, and cusses at him low enough not to be heard by them, but loud enough for me to hear. He brags about asking someone to step outside, and other incidents where he threatens others. One woman once talked to him about his everyday speech, and he blew it off. Nobody else talks to him about his aggressive hostility. One day, we see him with a black eye! He makes a lame excuse, and goes right back to his threat and intimidate verbiage, blind to the fact that occasionally he will continue to find people who will knock the chip off his shoulder for him. He doesn't realize what he's doing. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." (Prov. 12:15).

Drunkards and drug users create their own excuse for not knowing what they're doing. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." (Prov. 20:1). It's one thing to have a medical problem that induces some form of dementia or delusion, but another to drink or take drugs that cause hallucinations or obliviousness.

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.' And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things." (Acts 5:1 - 5) Just like blaspheming, some people don't realize when they're lying to God. In this case, Ananias dies for his lie! Many people don't know what blasphemy is, so they speak it or believe it because they don't know what it is! "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Tim. 1:19 - 20) To raise a human to God status is not just idolatry, but also blasphemy. Likewise, lowering God from His qualities to some imperfection is also blasphemy. Two men were demeaning women and talking about God; then I heard one say that God made a mistake and gave them a mouth. I told them that was blasphemy, and they didn't speak again in my presence that day. Another person put in writing a blasphemy calling Mary the spouse of the Holy Ghost. For one thing, she was married to Joseph, and God doesn't need a help meet! "And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.'" (Gen. 2:18).
So many of us don't realize what we're saying or doing, and our eyes are wide open while we're saying or doing so wrong! Now while we're all human and capable of making all kinds of mistakes, not knowing what we're doing, let us also be prepared to forgive people the things they do wrong. We are plenty able to make offenses of our own. "Then came Peter to Him, and said, 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?' Jesus saith unto him, 'I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me that thou owest.' And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 'O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?' And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.'" (Matt. 18:21 - 35).