Hook Of Judgment

Discernment is not judgment. Discernment allows you to act in wisdom, increases your sightedness, allows you to hear the Lord’s directions, and helps you remain under the covering of the Lord. Comparison or judgment uncovers and places another on the hook and brings division. The expression “on the hook” has the connotation of a debt, something is owed, and someone is obligated to pay. Attached to the unpaid debt, is a sense of blame;[1] judgment blocks mercy as you listen to an unholy spirit.

This brings discontent and erects a wedge of alienation silencing healthy communication, and promotes gaping, or the opening of the mouth in hostility. If you pick up an offense against another person, examine it, and make comparisons, you will slide into speech which manifests antagonism.

Where abuse occurs, longing to stop the abuse may escalate to the subconscious desire to displace, or destroy the position that gives one power to abuse. That line is further blurred as the imagination moves into thoughts of retribution, then to thoughts to undermine or destroy the person. Comparisons lead to misinterpretation of another’s behavior causing anger, with picking up offenses as accusations are made. The moment we make accusations, we align ourselves with our enemy, the accuser of the brethren; the Lord, who hears, will stand against us.

Silence

Aaron and Miriam, confronted by the Lord speaking truth, were silent. What were they thinking? Were they repentant? Neither asked for forgiveness. They were silent. Silence does not mean acquiescence or repentance; it may have strong rebellion at its core.

Did the Lord wait in silence for their response? I think He did, but there was no contrition, no response to Him. The Lord loves humility. To those who respond in humility, He shows tender compassion. As they clung to silence, what He saw kindled His anger. Was Miriam still rebellious? Did either feel self-justified? The Lord’s anger is righteous, He sees all; He judges without partiality, based on complete truth with nothing undisclosed. In their silence, He saw the truth hiding in their hearts. As suddenly as He appeared, He was gone.

Self-righteous & Religious

Miriam and Aaron used religious jargon when they presumed to speak against the Lord’s chosen vessel. Sadly, those who love the Lord often move in self-righteous judgment, which aligns them with the accuser of the brethren and opens doors to allow religious spirits to manifest.

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees felt superior as they lived separated lives. They were religious, but the Word had no life in them. Christ is the Word; He brings life.

If the Word is not living and breathing in you, ask the Spirit to reveal if a religious spirit is at work.

Like Miriam and Aaron, we will be confronted with Christ in others. If we do not respond with appreciation, respect, and then in humility before the Lord, seek to learn from them, it will engender secret jealousy, which opens the door to disrespect causing us to give place to a stronghold that is threatened by the Living Word. We will feel threatened by the beauty in the other person and perceive it as a danger to be eradicated through manipulation, deception, or slander

Entitled

As the life of Christ within us is smothered, feelings of entitlement grow. God’s blessing cannot be received with gratitude if we embrace the false perception we deserve them, or they rightfully belong to us.

Feelings of entitlement legitimize theft and validate accusations. Truth, friendship, a person’s good name or position become fair game to undermine through flattery and deception, as we secretly make unjust accusations that uncover the one we feel threatened by.

Viewing the person through eyes of deception, we come into agreement with religious spirits and spirits of accusation and are blinded to the person’s true character. Such spirits unite with envy, hatred, unforgiveness, and murder. Self-justified, we slander. Believing our accusations are true, we rob the person of his dignity as a human being created in the image of God. Entitlement means the ends justify the means. Unwittingly, in the process, we disrespect ourself and become a vessel of unrighteousness.

Light

If Miriam and Aaron had been sincere and their hearts pure, they would have responded by falling on their faces, crying, “Lord, I have sinned. Please forgive me. Cleanse my heart and my mouth. Lord, have mercy so I may truly know you!”

But religious comparisons make us oblivious to the depth of intimacy we or those we resent share with the Lord.

We hide in the dark, rejecting light, because we don’t want our deeds revealed. When Miriam and Aaron remained silent before the Lord, they hid from truth, for intimacy with the Lord meant they had to let go of their offenses against Moses to come into the light.

Although the Lord clarified the difference between the intimacy they experienced with Him, compared to the intimacy Moses experienced with Him, their religiosity and self-righteousness blinded them to their treachery against Moses. Blind to that sin, they couldn’t understand their treachery was actually against the Lord who chose them and placed them in a position of trust, but who also chose Moses and placed him in a different position of trust.

This week, before you allow accusations to rest in your mind – choose to forgive. Verbally bring the person before the Lord. Though they sinned against you, take them off your hook of judgment. Place him or her on God’s hook. Release them from the debt they owe as you lay their offenses at the feet of Jesus. Verbally bless that person. Give thanks for this opportunity to fellowship with Christ in His sufferings.