As a follow-up from my last commentary, the “daughters of Zion” and the “sons of God” seem to be the feminine and masculine gender phrases for the same people. Some of each were haughty and some righteous.
Now for today’s commentary:
KEY
VERSES: Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not
enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:3). Little children, yet a little
while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: A new commandment I give unto you, That
ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
(John 13:33a-34)
Adam and Eve were adults, but in their innocence, they were very good. The two of them… what did they do? Of course, they loved God, but in marriage, they loved one another. Jesus gave to the little children, not truly a new commandment, but a little used one. Since original sin, God’s children can’t seem to love one another!
Little children are prone to sin. Since original sin, all but one was “shapened in iniquity” in the womb (Psalm 51:5). Since Jesus was not a product of sexual intercourse, he was not born in sin. For all others, none are without sin (Rom 3:23).
Children are prone to sin. It is instinctive. When babies cry for the breast, their sole care is for themselves for nourishment and safety. It is innocence, though, because their personalities and attitudes are in formation. “They know not what they do,” as Jesus would say, and are forgiven of their attitudes!
Eve was innocent in her sin, because she was as a little child. God had told her nothing about sin, but only Adam. Adam was held accountable for sin because he knew the rule, and the punishment. However, as a little child he failed to understand what punishment is; he could not comprehend death because death was unknown in the Garden of Eden. He looked for a change in Eve, saw none, and was satisfied that God must be wrong! His knowledge-base was limited; he even thought that he could cover their own sins (with fig leaves, no less; Gen 3:7).
However, when Adam found the work of his own hands insufficient, God provided a coat for the two (Gen 3:21). It covered all their skin, not just their genitalia. For the first time ever, Adam and Eve were no longer as little children; they saw death first hand. They were no longer without excuse! Both Adam and Eve accepted God’s grace because they revered their Maker. They loved still him despite the consequences, as little children are wont to do!
The relationship between the children of God was triangular. They loved one another and they loved God, not only because God had created them, but gave them a second chance. Little children can often ignore the punishment and still love the parents afterward. Adam and Eve never ceased loving their Father!
Because of grace, Adam and Eve are indubitably in a new Paradise this day. They took their punishment, learned from their mistake, and a conversion took place. Adam and Eve, thanks to God, were remade in His image. He originally generated them, and after their conversion, God regenerated them. Their “new” commandment was to love one another. The old commandment was to obey me or you will die. (Gen 2:17).
“Very good” meant that Adam and Eve were to love the creatures, the Creator, and each other. They failed to understand love. They did, however, understand lust. They confused love and lust, and knew nothing of death! Mankind are still little children; love is not an emotion, and few have little understanding of death!
What is love? It is hard work to be long-suffering for God and others. It is the work of kindness, and patience. In other words, love is the twelve fruits of the Tree of Life (Rev 22:2), and they must be picked off the right tree! The work of love is not forced labor; the Tree stands there with its low-hanging fruit, but the child must reach for it of his own accord, and eat of that fruit. The Lord provides, but His children must be willing to eat of it.
Conversion is understanding that the fruits were not provided by themselves or others, but by God. Rebirth (born again) is coming to understand that without God there is no fruit and no mercy. That without God Paradise in Heaven is unobtainable, as well as eternal life.
Adam and Eve suffered humility and were meek because as little children, the Father knew their sin and they were ashamed. God humbled them, and their nakedness was revealed to them. Their flesh, once very good, became disgusting to them (Gen 3:7).
Many of you may remember when you were caught stealing the first time. You knew that you were guilty and were ashamed when confronted by others. Your ceased to have esteem for yourself, and were ashamed.
Adult sinners are not so quickly humbled, but use their knowledge and reason to lessen the guilt: Everyone steals; everyone lusts; everyone sins; I did little wrong! That is rationalization. Children have not learned that because of their short lives. Adam and Eve rationalized with blame, and short of logic, were quickly shut down by God.
Little children know that their arguments are insufficient, and may not like it, but submit to the wisdom of their fathers.
“Don’t get burned,” we all have been told when near the stove. Children have never been burned, so they cautiously get near the heat. They learn why not when they get too close to the heat and remove their finger. Children are smart. Adults would have to actually touched the burner to learn their lesson. “Fire” in this case is sin. Children heed the warning and adults don’t!
“As the little children” is not a New Testament teaching. Israel, in the time of kings, were the “little children.” The people in Israel were the haughty daughters of Zion. They knew the Law of God, but because they failed to comprehend God’s fury, they continued to stick their fingers in the good things they thought came from other gods. Baal and Mot seem to provide good things. Those gods were like child molesters; “I will give you candy if you come with me!”
Think on that… Satan, tucked away in the skin of a playful snake, was a child molester. He deceived the son of God and the daughter of Zion into leaving their Father for some candy from God’s Tree.
It wasn’t even his “candy” to give, but belonged to God for safe-keeping. Satan remains to this day, a child-of-God molester. He is always hiding in unseen places and offering goodies for those who would follow him!
Adam and Eve were taught the cunningness of Satan. Sacred literature reveals that Satan continued his child-molestation, but time and time again, their Father found him out and rescued them. That’s what God does with His little children to this day, and what he did for Israel time after time!
Adam, as a child, did not listen to his Father, but his little playmate Eve (Gen 3:17). He learned who had wisdom, and began to listen to His Father. His nature is said to have returned to childlike, wherein he listened to his Father.
From the key verses, becoming as little children follows conversion. When I was a child, I sought to become “good” before I came to God. That was laughable, but children do silly things because they do not know.
Conversion is a humbled child of God whose new nature is desiring to do God’s Will. Israel, under the kings, never got to that point, although like some little children, they ran away from home – from the House of God. Ironically, the children do what pubescent children often do; they ran off to Ashtoreth’s “whore house.” God wanted them back!
Whom
shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them
that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be
upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a
little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he
speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause
the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the
word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line
upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might
go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isa 28:9-13)
Isaiah’s words from God were about childish Israel. He knew their childishness and offered reprieve. Little children who know right from wrong, although they may not understand punishment, would follow their Father’s Will just because He has always kept them safe! Israel had been bailed out many times, but they were haughty and rebellious “daughters of Zion.” They failed to learn from their experience with fire, even as would little children. God brought that to their attention!
“Doctrine” was hard to understand for the Israelites because they still sucked the paps and drank the milk, but failed to understand the source of the nourishment and Who provided it! Like rebellious children, they were given rules – God’s precepts. Good children are not given rules because they love and respect their fathers. There is no need for rules, except for one: Love!
My own father had few rules with his younger children because we didn’t need them. We were responsible and worked although we were not expected to work. Because we honored Dad’s will and loved him, he had few hard rules for us to follow. As for myself, I did Dad’s will because I loved him so much, and respected him as my father. Of course, sometimes I did Dad wrong and was ashamed. Dad’s punishment was his disappointment in me. That’s the same as with our Father in Heaven.
Dad made us cut our own tree switch. In effect, us children discipled ourselves. Oftentimes, although the switch was cut and in hand, there was no punishment because we were humbled without it! God works that way too, and I am glad that I had a godly father.
The rebellious daughters of Zion (the Israelites) knew all the rules (precepts) and followed the line, but they were rebellious because of the strict rules. It was easier to follow Baal and Mot than Yahweh. Their path was broad and easy, whereas Yahweh’s Way was straight and narrow!
As rebellious children, the Israelites failed to understand that the precepts were not the line to be walked. The Law made them err because foolish children don’t understand the rules, but always see how far they can go to test the punishment!
Jesus didn’t want the Jews to be as the haughty daughters of Zion, but as humble meek mindful children who behave because they love.
All those endless precepts, 613 in all, destroyed Israel. How could they ever love God if they were always seeking ways to circumvent the precepts? They failed to understand that those precepts were not to prevent them from doing wrong things, but prescriptions for right living for eternal health.
Good children take their “medicine” without question. Bad children often spit it out or throw tantrums. As for Israel, they did what they wanted to do. They ignored God’s will and became evil adults. God destroyed them and they were scattered and kept in bondage to nations with other gods.
Judah, on the other hand, was a type of good child. They loved God, but often transgressed as children will do. However, they never entirely left God, but flirted with other gods. Patient and merciful Yahweh took them back and kept them safe until they too became haughty daughters of Zion. They too were destroyed and dispersed as self-emancipated children often are. By God’s grace, he regenerated Judah. Both nations were children, but thought they knew it all. Conversion would have made them like good dutiful children again, and with their knowledge, that they would not be punished.
As Eve didn’t seem to die, Adam ate too. Haughty daughters of Zion still don’t understand death! They don’t believe in Hell, nor do they believe a good God would send them there. Immature thinkers don’t seem to understand, that like David who judged himself, sinners determine their own fate. Israel knew that they might perish, but failed to understand that God would allow that to happen.
Good children know that their fathers are true to their word. When their daddies say something, they mean it. Jesus wants haughty daughters of Zion converted to righteous daughters of God! Rebirth changes the attitudes of rebellious children to loving children. If there is no change in attitude, the children remain in rebellion. Being as the little children are not those in rebellion, but those who submit to their father’s will merely because they love their father!
Remember… that God’s first child acted as if he was God. After God covered his sins, he went back to the submissive innocent child he was at the creation. That is regeneration.
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