THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHAMELESSNESS
shamelessness - having or showing no feeling of shame, modesty, or decency; brazen; impudent.
shame
1. a painful feeling of having lost the respect of others because of the improper behavior, incompetence, etc. of oneself or of someone that one is close to or associated with
2. dishonor or disgrace
3. a person or thing that brings shame, dishonor, or disgrace
When a society loses their fear of God, they take their clothes off, become openly lewd, and beastly, like an animal, brutal, etc.
They become shameless. (man urinating facing traffic, homosexual activity in public parks, exposing themselves to people, no remorse for brutality). Romans, chapter 1 gives better explanation.
But here, God is talking about His people.
Zeph 3:1-5
3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
Verse 1: The condition of shamelessness as God sees it-filthy, polluted, oppressive.
Jer 6:15
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Verse 2:
1. “She obeyed not the voice”
a. of God
b. of conscience
c. the Prophets
2. “She received not correction”-they did not profit by this chastisement.
They gained no benefits from their problems: Grace or Humility
3. “She trusted not in the Lord”- they did not look to the Lord for help in their ensuing problems, but rather sought for support from: Self and Man
4. “She drew not near to her God”
a. Did not worship Him
b. Didn’t walk in His ways
c. Because they felt no need for God
d. Ultimate blame for this conduct must fall on leadership…
Any nation or church whose leaders follow this progression is doomed to develop total “Shamelessness”.
Verse 3: Notice it is the Princes Within that destroy the people and that the judges do their work in the dark (workers of darkness)
Verse4: 1. The Prophets are a. Light- No seriousness, no deep conviction. b. Treacherous-They betray the souls of the people for the sake of worldly honor, pleasure, and profit.
2. The Priests have: a. Polluted the sanctuary (nothing holy anymore)
b. Done violence to the Law (which teaches right & wrong) in order to excuse themselves and lull the people into spiritual slumber.
When people are spiritually dead and have no fear of God, they have no shame.
But never forget: “The Lord is in the midst thereof…”
