Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
For forty years after Jesus Christ had predicted the overthrow of Jerusalem, God’s grace and mercy had continued to shield them from themselves. God had delayed the coming destruction so that those who desired to be saved from it could find their refuge in Jesus. But as is so often the case, many had mistaken His grace for weakness and most of them continued in sin, just as if Christ had never spoken.
The grace and longsuffering of God is very often misunderstood to mean that Christ would not fulfill that which He has warned us about. This misinterpretation of grace is explained in the scriptures. Noah preached the same sermon for 120 years until it began to sound like a broken record, and for all intents and purposes, it seemed as if he was under a serious delusion, for the evidences of history, and the evidences of science suggested that his message could be completely off the rails.
Noah could have preached some of those positive sounding sermons, given by motivational speakers, to have their congregants pumped and fired up with the promise of a bright future. The only problem is, God had not commanded him to deliver any such sermon.
Isaiah 30:9 This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord. 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!