Hebrews 3:7-19
Q.1. Why did the writer use the quotation from Psalm 95? How should the warning be applied today? – (Heb.3:7-13)
The Psalm was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It documented God’s displeasure with the failure of Israel to trust Him throughout their forty-year wilderness journeys – As I swore in My wrath, `They shall not enter My rest’ (Heb.3:11). The writer warned against having an evil, unbelieving heart, hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (see Heb.3:12-13). We fall away by the deception of our sinful natures, and by insulting God when we do not listen to His voice and fail to trust him. This happens whenever we fall into sin, and also when we try to substitute other ways to regain our right standing with God.Â
Q.2. How does the reading describe the sins we should avoid? What are the consequences of ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit? – (Heb.3:7-19)
God continually spoke to Israel … and still does so today. Israel hardened their hearts against the promptings of the Holy Spirit and kept provoking God (see Heb.3:7-11). The Lord kept doing miracles, yet Israel kept testing God. He was angry to the point of loathing them. He warned his readers – Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you, an evil unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God (Heb.3:12). The antidote to falling away is to encourage one another at every opportunity while it is still today (see Heb.3:13). True children of God hold fast their assurance from the beginning until the end (see Heb.3:14). God reveals Himself, so we can be partakers of His grace and not end up like the children of Israel whose bodies fell in the wilderness during the time of Moses (see Heb.3:16-17). The writer of the book of Hebrews recalls the anger of God against His people that provoked Him by their unbelief (see Heb.3:16-19). This record of Israel’s past is a strong warning not to fall into unbelief because of the trials of life.