Repentance
From Eco-Bible 1
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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Turning away from sin and to God. Involves changes in both attitude and actions.
See also: When God "Repents", which is related to how God interacts with humans on the human level.
Scripture Pages that Link to Here
- If Israel repents, after abandoning God (and being judged), God will remember his promises (to the patriarchs) and will not totally abandon them...
- The people who refused to enter the land repented of their sin... But repentance (or remorse) DOES NOT CHANGE THE CONSEQUENCES. They would all die in the wilderness.
- After the judgments of chapter 29, if they turn back to God and obey him, God will turn back to them and restore them to the land. (So far, this has only happened in part. The final fulfillment is yet to come.)
- The people wanted deliverance from their enemies; but the first thing needed was repentance (not relief from troubles).
- God has no obligation to deliver those who reject him. They need to first change their attitudes... then cry out to God. (Even then, the only basis they had for expecting deliverance was God's promises to their forefathers. It's not that people deserve God's deliverance!
1 Kings 8:35-40 & 2 Chronicles 6:26-31
- The way out of affliction: It starts with prayer that involves confession and repentance. (When God judges the land/people.)
- "If they pray toward this place [the temple], and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them..."
- God was turning the people's hearts back to him... this involves repentance - something that would have to happen before the famine would be allowed to end.
1 Kings 9:1-9 & 2 Chronicles 7:12-22
- If God sends drought/locusts/pestilence and the people humble themselves/pray/repent, God will forgive and heal the land.
- When he judged Israel, because of their constant rebellion, they looked to him for deliverance ... but it was only superficial. Their hearts did not change. They had remorse, not repentance.
- A reference to God delivering people who (because of their sins) had become prisoners (probably in a foreign land), in bondage and affliction. He delivered them after they repented.
- Also a reference to people who were given a wasting disease (because of their own foolishness)... and after they turned to him in repentance, he delivered them out of it.
- Isa 1:15b-16 - ...Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
- When God sends judgment, the only legitimate response is repentance. Yet they refused to do this.
- Because of this, they would be destroyed, without any chance of escape from judgment.
- Isa 31:6-7 - Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel. For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold--sin which your own hands have made for you.
- Therefore, repent! This present command to return to God is connected with the future reality that they will abandon their idols (see Isaiah 30:22). In other words, do it now; don't wait for the future!
- The ecological restoration mentioned here is preceded by a call to repentance - v. 6-7. More about the people's necessary conduct is found in chapter 56 (such as in Isaiah 56:1-2).
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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