“They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.” (Ps 69:21-25) – Thus are stated the terrible consequences concerning Israel’s rejection of Jesus.
Unfortunately there are people who, in the name of Jesus, use passages like this to justify their malice. Which is worse – the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, or persecuting (in the name of Jesus) those who reject Him? Let us state the obvious; Those who harm the lost, those who justify their actions in the name of Jesus are the essence of antichrist. It is antichrist inasmuch as it blasphemes the good will of God through practicing evil in the name of His Anointed One. This is worse than anything an atheist might do.
From the beginning, the purpose of God has been to give life. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Ps.16:11) It is also clear that from the beginning man has transgressed and has turned from life. In view of this, God is willing for us to understand the consequences of death; “. . let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see. .” He wants us to understand that we might repent. And in repentance we find mercy. One might ask; “What can be done when His mercy is rejected?” This is a good question. First of all, everyone has been guilty of this. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) Secondly, redemption is held for those who dwell in the darkness of rejection. This its beauty. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:21)
Ps 103:1 [A Psalm of David.] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.