Topic: Blasphemy Forbidden [DCLM Daily Manna 9 November 2020 Devotional By Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Leviticus 24:10-23 (KJV)
10 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;
11 And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Key Verse: “And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death” (Leviticus 24:16).
MESSAGE:
A story was told of a drunkard in a village, who was used to cursing God after he had drunk. He would raise his stick towards heaven and curse, and say to onlookers: “You see, God is not there, He doesn’t even exist, if not He would have answered me”. The drunkard continued this until one day, after his usual drunkenness, when he attempted to do the same, he was struck dead at the spot.
Blasphemy is a sin where an ordinary finite creature begins to insult and disrespect a high and holy God who never does wrong. Blasphemy was grievously punished by death in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, Jesus sternly warned against it saying, “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men…But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation” (Mark 3:28, 29).
Our scriptural reference today is a sad end of a young man born by an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, who blasphemed God because he had a quarrel with an Israelite. The judgment meted out to him became a deterrence to anyone who would want to take the name of God with disrespect. Blaspheming God, His Name, His Word or His Spirit is dangerous!
One may think that the more civilised the world is, the more cultured it becomes. But today, people have even become worse in their attitude towards God. Some people disrespect God without any compunction. The enemy is secretly bringing into the Church blasphemous comedy, where proponents use holy things and holy names for profanity.
The things relating to God are holy and must be held in high esteem with reverential fear. We must never see them with disdain or hold them in disrepute.
Thought For The Day: Fear God and keep His commandment; don’t pollute His word.
The Bible In One Year: Lamentations 1-3
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
