DIE NASIES WAT DIE RYK VAN CHRISTUS NIE DIEN NIE, SAL ONDERGAAN EN VERWOES WORD

DIE NASIES WAT DIE RYK VAN CHRISTUS NIE DIEN NIE, SAL ONDERGAAN EN VERWOES WORD

“Want die nasie en die koninkryk wat jou nie sal dien nie, sal ondergaan, en dié nasies sal seker verwoes word.” (Jesaja 60:12)

“Al die eindes van die aarde sal daaraan dink en hulle tot die Here bekeer, en al die geslagte van die nasies sal voor u aangesig aanbid. Want die koninkryk behoort aan die Here, en Hy heers oor die nasies. Al die grotes van die aarde sal eet en aanbid; almal wat in die stof neerdaal, sal voor sy aangesig kniel en hy wat sy siel nie in die lewe kan hou nie.” (Psalm 22:28–30)

Die Statevertaling se kanttekeninge by Jes. 60:12,

55) Dat is, welke zich aan het Rijk van Christus niet willen onderwerpen. 

56) Want buiten de kerke Gods is geen zaligheid. Die behouden worden, die worden gezegd de kerk toegedaan te worden, Hand. 2:47. Openb. 21:24. 

57) Of: zullen gans en al vergaan. Hebr. verwoestende verwoest worden, of: met verwoesting verwoest worden, te weten die u niet willen dienen. Vgl. Ps. 37:22. 

Geneva Bible Notes:
He shows that God has given all power and authority here in earth for the use of his Church, and that they who will not serve and profit the same will be destroyed. 

Luister gerus na hierdie prediker (rev. Robert McCurley, Greenville Presbyterian Church) se verklaring van Jes. 60:12, by die 20ste minuut en verder. Hy wys daarop dat die fokus in die teks is nie die nasies en volke wat die kerk van die Here vervolg nie (‘sins of commission’), maar juis hulle wat weier om die Christus as Koning positief te erken, bely en ook te dien op in hul persoonlike lewens ‘en’ ook hul ampsterrein (‘sins of omission’), dus, om sy kerk en evangelie ook te erken en te beskerm (NGB art. 36). Ja, hulle wat nie net in hul persone en gesinne en kerke lewens nie, maar ook hul wat in hul ampstake, Hom nie wil dien en erken nie (bv. burgerlike owerheidspersone), sal vergaan en verwoes word (sien ook Ps. 2:10-12 se waarskuwing):  Providence of the Nations

Gaan ons as individue en volke en lande vandag onder, veral ons wat meen ons is of was Christenvolke, omrede die ‘slegte politiek en/of ekonomie en/of slegte leiers’? Dit is slegs die simptome, die slegte vrugte, maar die wese van ons volk se sondes se verval, individueel en gesamentlik, is dat ons die Here onse God verlaat het vir afgode, nie op God se redding alleen in Christus vertrou nie, sy wet verag vir ons lewens.

Totius skryf op ‘n plek in sy Versamelde Werke, oor ware verootmoediging, nie net individueel nie, maar ook volksverootmoediging en bekering weg van onchristelike -ismes, dit is nog netso en nog meer aktueel vir ons tye:

“Tot vertroue op dié God spoor die profeet Juda aan. Hoe nietig moet die mensegewemel uit die hemelvertes lyk! God is onverstoorbaar in sy wese en werk. Ja, ook in sy werk. Daarom roep die profeet sy volk terug tot die wet en tot die profete Jes. 8:20. Alleen wanneer hulle dit verlaat, sal hulle geen daeraad (toekoms – slc) hê nie.

Helaas, ons het maar al te seer by wêreldgrotes heil gesoek en gemeen dat die voortbestaan van die Afrikaanse nasie van ‘n slim buitelandse politiek afhanklik is. Vandaar dat ons  oorstroom is deur allerlei vreemde -ismes: imperialisme, liberalisme, humanisme, nasionaal-sosialisme, kommunisme en wat nie al nie — alles vreemde goed wat gretig geïmporteer is.

Daarteenoor is die Bybels-Calvinistiese grondslag van ons volkslewe veronagsaam.

[Sien ‘Calvinisme as worstel van ons volksbestaan, HG Stoker; en, Totius se eie: Ons roeping en toekoms, vir meer oor die bybels-calvinistiese grondslae waarom ons moet voortbou – slc]

Ten opsigte van verskillende -ismes is al ‘n gedugte les geleer. Sal ons dan nou weer ‘n  eksperiment met ander -ismes gaan waag? Die sogenaamde nuwe vorme wat in die verlede die volk sou gered het, het op ‘n treurige mislukking uitgeloop. Hulle het die Afrikaanse volk geruïneer: hulle het die armblankedom geskep, hulle het die naturellevraagstuk oneindig  bemoeilik, hulle het ‘n onnasionale onderwysstelsel in die lewe geroep, hulle het . . . maar genoeg.

Die Afrikaners is hulle terdeë daarvan bewus dat hulle op ‘n verkeerde trekpad was. Ons sal net moet oppas dat nie weer ‘n verkeerde koers ingeslaan word nie, sal die lyde van die verlede louterend op hede en toekoms inwerk. …”

“Al die afwykinge in die publieke lewe moet deur die volk duidelik geken word, anders mis die biddag sy doel. Dit is dan ook ons beswaar teen die gewone manier om ‘n biddag te hou. Dit bly by algemeenhede, terwyl daarenteen die straf (bv, droogte) ‘n bepaalde vorm aanneem. Die Here wil dus op bepaalde punte nadruk lê deur sy besoeking, en dit lyk of die volk daarvoor sy oê toemaak!

‘n Eerste vereiste is dus dat daar ‘n gees van verootmoediging oor die hele volk kom. Dit geskied wanneer die hele volk sy sondes ken by die lig van die Woord van God en in staat is om dié sondes met naam en toenaam op te som.

Ken die voormanne en bewindhèbbers, almal saam geneem, hulle sondes, en gaan hulle ons in die publieke lewe voor om tot berou en gebed aan te spoor? Kom daar in die dae van bitter droogte ‘n roepstem van die kant van diegene wat in hoë plekke sit, om ons tot vernuwing van die verbond met God op te vorder? En straf God dan nie ‘n volk óók om die sonde van sy voorgangers en bewindhebbers nie? Lees maar die historiese en profetiese Skrifte.

Laat ons nader aan huis kom. Ken die Gereformeerde Kerk sy sondes? Is dit ‘n lewende geloof wat hy openbaar, of is dit sleurdiens, formalistiese verstening, ou-gewoonte-werk? Is dit in ons huise beter? Is daar ‘n liefdeband wat die huis tot ‘n paradys maak? Of swerf ons buite-om, om dáár elkeen sy eie genoeë te soek? …

Die punt, wat ná die verootmoediging ter sprake moet kom, is die bekering.

Laat ons hier duidelik onderskei om die saak duidelik te kan voorstel. Daar is ‘n persoonlike bekering tot saligheid (dit word vir ons verduidelik deur die gelykenis van die verlore seun in Luk. 15). Maar die Skrif spreek ook van ‘n volksbekering (soos dié van Israel wanneer hulle die vreemde gade uit hulle midde wegdoen en die Here weer dien, Rigt. 10). As daar staan dat Israel die afgodery weggedoen en die Here weer gevrees het, wil dit nie sê dat aImal persoonlik met ‘n hartgrondige bekering hulle tot God gewend het nie. Nee, dit is nooit almal Israel wat uit Israel is nie.

Daaronder word verstaan dat die hele volk as een man hom opmaak om die openbare gruwels uit die land te verwyder. Hierdie volksbekering word intussen deur die Skrif ewe seer geëis as die persoonlike bekering. En dit is dáárop dat op die biddag in verband met die volksnood aangedring moet word. Natuurlik is hierdie onderskeiding tussen persoonlike èn volksbekering geen skeiding in die strenge sin van die woord nie. So ‘n algemene boetedoening kan sy uitwerking in suiwer geestelike opsig ook op die enkele persoon hê, en omgekeerd.”

‘N VERDERE PAAR VERKLARINGS OP JESAJA 60 (sien die volledige kommentare vir die volledige openbaringshistoriese konteks):

i. Calvyn:
“He shows, therefore, that there is no reason why the Jews should doubt as to the restoration of the temple, because the Gentiles will aid them to the utmost of their power, But here Isaiah looks at something higher than the building of the visible temple; for he intends to speak of that obedience which kings and nobles and the common people render to the Church when they promote, as far as they are able, pure doctrine.

Shall perish. He goes still farther, and confirms his statement the more by declaring that “the kingdoms and nations which will not serve the Church shall be destroyed.”

And if so dreadful a punishment was pronounced against those who did not aid the Church, what shall we say of the tyrants who rush upon her with furious attack, and labor with all their might to destroy her? If careless and slothful men do not pass unpunished, does not a fearful vengeance await the ungodly, who disturb and overturn the work of the Lord?

The nations, I say, shall be utterly destroyed. What he had said in the singular number he immediately repeats in the plural, in order to show that even the whole world, if it be involved in the same guilt, shall likewise perish; for their multitude will not be able to prevent all who are estranged from God from perishing, and ungodly men will have no excuse for throwing obstacles in each other’s way, or for encouraging each other to impiety and wickedness. Kings and nations are said, as we have already seen, to “serve the Church;” not that she exercises any dominion over them, but because God has committed to her the scepter of his word by which he rules.”

ii. J.A. Alexander:
“The whole is rendered clear by the assumption, not got up for the occasion, but resulting from an extensive exegetical induction, that the threatening was intended to apply, in its most obvious and strongest sense, to all those nations which refuse to be connected with the church or Israel of God.”

iii. Albert Barnes: 

“That will not serve thee – That will not become the servant of the church of God: that is, that will not promote its interests, obey its laws, and maintain the true religion.

Shall perish – This is applied particularly here to a ‘nation’ and a ‘kingdom.’ The idea is, that no nation can flourish that does not obey the law of God, or where the worship of the true God is not maintained. History is full of affecting illustrations of this. The ancient republics and kingdoms fell because they had not the true religion. The kingdoms of Babylon, Assyria, Macedonia, and Egypt; the Roman empire, and all the ancient monarchies and republics, soon fell to ruin because they had not the salutary restraints of the true religion, and lacked the protection of the true God. France east off the government of God in the Revolution, and was drenched in blood. It is a maxim of universal truth, that the nation which does not admit the influence of the laws and the government of God must be destroyed. No empire is strong enough to wage successful war with the great Yahweh; and sooner or later, notwithstanding all that human policy can do, corruption, sensuality, luxury, pride, and far-spreading vice, will expose a nation to his displeasure, and bring down the heavy arm of his vengeance.

There is no truth of more vital interest to this nation (America) than this; no declaration in any ancient writing expressive of the course of events in this world, that hangs with note portentous interest over this republic, than that ‘the nation that will not serve God shall perish.’ As a nation, we have nothing else to depend on but our pubic virtue, our intelligence, our respect for the laws of heaven. Our defense is not to be in standing armies – but in God, as our living and everwatchful protector and friend. Our hope is not in a vast navy, in strong ramparts, in frowning battlements, but in the favor of the Most High. No martial array, no strong fortresses, no line-of-battle-ships, can save a nation that has cast off the government of God, and that is distinguished for the violation of treaties and for oppression, bribery, and corruption.

The nation that violates the Sabbath; that tramples on the rights of unoffending men and women; that disregards the most solemn compacts; and that voluntarily opens upon itself the floodgates of infidelity and vice, must expect to meet with the displeasure of the Almighty. And it is as true of an individual as it is of a nation. Of any human or angelic being; of any association or combination of human beings or angels that does not obey God, it is true that they shall be utterly destroyed.”

iv. Keil & Delitzsch: 

Isaiah 60:12 is connected with this nehūgı̄m; for the state of every nation and kingdom is henceforth to be determined by its subjection to the church of the God of sacred history (עבד, δουλεύειν, in distinction from shērēth, διακονεῖν, θεραπεύειν), and by its entrance into this church – the very same thought which Zechariah carries out in Isaiah 14:16. Instead of כי־הגוי, כי is more properly pointed according to certain MSS with munach (without makkeph); the article before haggōyim is remonstrative, and the inf. intens. chârōbh makes the thing threatened unquestionable.

v. Matthew Henry:

Even those that do not belong to the church may be a protection to it. And the greatest of men should not think it below them to minister to the church, but rejoice that they are in a capacity, and have a heart, to do it any service. Nay, it is the duty of all to do what they can in their places to advance the interests of God’s kingdom among men; it is at their peril if they do not; for (v. 12), The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; not that they must perish by the sword or by human anathemas, or as if this gave any countenance to the using of external force for the propagating of the gospel, or as if men might be compelled by penalties and punishments to come into the church; by no means.

But those who will not by faith submit to Jesus Christ, the King of the church, and serve him, shall perish eternally, Ps. 2:12. Those that will not be subject to Christ’s golden sceptre, to the government of his word and Spirit, that will not be brought under, or kept in, by the discipline of his family, shall be broken in pieces by his iron rod. Bring them forth and slay them before me, Lu. 19:27. Nations of such shall be utterly and eternally wasted, when Christ shall come to take vengeance on those that obey not his gospel, 2 Th. 1:8.

Hoor ook Pierre Viret se woorde:

“For, just as He alone can give us a perfect Law according to which we ought to govern ourselves, so He can likewise give appropriate rulers, magistrates, pastors, and ministers to put that Law into effect and whom He can fashion as instruments suitable to His service. He can also give power to their offices and ministries to properly order those over whom they have charge to His obedience. For, just as He gives His Law to make us understand how we have failed and to recognize our need, so He also gives the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ His Son, who renews our hearts and gives the gifts and graces necessary to accomplish this Law.

If this is done, then there is neither monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, nor any form of civil government whatever, having its foundation in this Law of God, which would be unsuitable to human society and to all nations, over which God shall preside.

On the other hand, if this Law isn’t obeyed, we can expect nothing but the horrible confusion, destruction, desolation, and utmost ruin of all empires, kingdoms, countries, cities, communities, peoples, nations, and all commonwealths. We have sufficient examples of this in all the kingdoms and in all the peoples who have ever existed on the earth since the beginning of the world to induce us to believe it; to which we can add the testimonies which we so clearly see in all histories both ancient and contemporary and both human and divine.”