T he Israelites turned away from the law and the prophets, abandoned and corrupted the worship of God, acting in direct contradiction to the truth which God had expressly revealed to them. Thus, they had become unprofitable which carries the idea of fruit becoming rotten and bad-smelling, or decomposing meat with a foul repulsive stench, not fit for intended consumption, unprofitable for its design and purpose. Their revolt and apostasy, turning to idolatry had become offensive to God, making themselves useless and unfit for what they were designed for – to serve God, to promote His glory, their own good and the good of others. Disobedience and idolatry were evidently the cause of this rottenness. They were worse than filthy rags before God and He would turn away from them, much less use them to show forth His praise and glory. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote about repentance from dead works, that only the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ can purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God [Hebrews 6:1; 9:14]. Only saving faith in the Lord Jesus, serving Him with our talents for His glory, can result in living and enduring good works. Every man’s works shall be made manifest on the day of judgment, and they will be tested by fire to see their worth. Gold, silver and precious stones will withstand the fire, but hay, wood and stubble will all be burnt up [1 Corinthians 3:12-13].
LESSON
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
THOUGHT
Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins. – Thomas Brooks
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