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Psalm 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee.
In Peru where we were privileged to serve for eighteen years as missionaries, we learned that it was offensive to show your back to people. It was the idea of not turning your back on them. To face someone was to show respect. If someone walked up to a group of friends talking the circle widen and they were let in. They were never left on the outside or behind the backs of the others.
In this passage of Scripture, we have lost people, wicked, that are throwing God’s Word behind their backs. They do not want to hear His instruction. They are showing God and HIs Word great disrespect.
They couldn’t be taught because they wouldn’t be. They hate God teaching them.
Now God reminds them that they have no right to speak His Word. They have no right to say that they are in covenant with Him. They do not love Him or His Word.