Self-restraint is not in vogue right now. Rather indulgence. Lust of the flesh is now license. ‘If you feel it, do it.’ ‘t doesn’t make you a bad person so go for it.’
But we know differently. If someone has no self-restraint with food, they get fat, sick, tired and unhealthy. If someone doesn’t have self-restraint in their words, and I’m not talking the cheap shots taken on lines but the ones said in person, then lack of self-restraint can cause life-long damage to many. Even through the generations. If someone has no restraint with things like alocohol, addictions are the result. If we don’t have self-restraint in any of our behaviors, it can lead to destruction.
Self-restraint is a sign of maturity. It’s easy to take cheap shots in a comment section on social media; it’s easy to live in lasciviousness conduct, it’s easy to do things that we feel and think but are damaging to others and ourselves. It’s mature to restrain one’s fleshly nature and walk in love. To forgive when that is not what is felt. To care for one’s enemies. To hold your tongue when you want to speak when doing so is fruitless or is harmful.
But when one throws off restraint and is unfaithful in the things of the LORD, chaos, distress, disorder and crises abound.
When King Jotham of Judah passed away, his son Ahaz became king. Instead of following in any of the righteous ways of his ancestors, he followed his own lusts of his heart and unraveled everything. He cast images of the Baals, he killed babies as a means of offering sacrifices, he built high places, and he went to war without the help of God.
Because of it the northern King Pekah came against him, moved by the hand of God to bring judgment against Judah. But Pekah was so vicious against his brothers of Judah, that God had to rebuke him. He was humbled and sent all the captives back to Judah, fed, wounds cared for, clothing provided and more.
And even though King Ahaz was shown mercy, he still was flailing.
“the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the LORD” (2 Chr 28:19).
The whole nation of Judah had to pay the price of their leader who threw off restraint.
In his desparation, King Ahaz reached out to the most feared enemies for help the Arameans–the Assyrians. And yet they took his money, the articles from the temple, and ditched him.
Just at a loss he sacrificed to the gods of the Arameans, as they seemed to be having a lot of victory. Maybe if he just sacrificed to their gods, he would get that same kind of power.
“But they were the downfall of him and all Israel” (2 Chr 28:23).
When Ahaz died after 16 years as king, they refused to even bury him in the tombs of the kings. It was that bad. But hope wasn’t lost. He had a son named Hezekiah whose faith would take your breath away.
But it didn’t take away from what Judah had suffered.
It didn’t take away where Ahaz had led the people.
It’s a dangerous thing for anyone to throw off restraint.
Eph 4:19-24
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Psalm 2
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
