Doomed to Repeat

There’s an old adage which states, “Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” The idea behind is that time has left us examples of certain actions and the ramifications which those of the time faced for their actions. Mankind must learn from these past examples or undergo the same punishment for his refusal to learn. Notice that those who do not learn are doomed to repeat the past. One can rest assured that this will come to pass. The past is not something that “may” or “might” be repeated. The word “doomed” gives the idea that it will come to pass.

Think back to God’s message to Judah during the days of Jeremiah. “The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.” (Jeremiah 3:6). God wanted to know if Judah had been paying attention to the apostasy which Israel had committed. Idolatry was running rampant as the nation was collectively going up to the high mountains to offer sacrifices to these idols. They were going to the groves to commit fornication in the name of these idols. The nation was in essence committing spiritual adultery. God begged them to return and yet, they would not listen. Due to their unwillingness to listen, Israel ended up going into captivity under the rule of the Assyrians. Judah was witness to everything (Jeremiah 3:7-8). Sadly, instead of learning from the past, Judah repeated it. “…yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:8-10). Judah did not learn from the past mistakes of her sister and the nation went into captivity under the Babylonians. They were doomed to repeat it.

Speaking of Babylon, Belshazzar, possible son or grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, should have learned from the mistakes of his father. Nebuchadnezzar learned a hard lesson concerning his pride. God would drive Nebuchadnezzar from men, where he would dwell with the beasts of the field until he came to recognition of who was truly in charge. (Daniel 4:24-27). After receiving a warning from God, twelve months passed and it seems Nebuchadnezzar forgot about the warning he received by way of dream and the interpretation. As he walked through the palace, Nebuchadnezzar stated: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?...The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.” (Daniel 4:30, 33). It was not until Nebuchadnezzar received his senses that he came to really realize that God was the most high and “those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37). Did Belshazzar learn from his father’s experience or did he end up with a problem with pride? We are first introduced to Belshazzar, not at the beginning of his reign (Daniel 7:1) but at the end of it (Daniel 5:30). Why? Nebuchadnezzar had a serious problem with pride and needed to realize God was in control. Belshazzar did not learn from the mistakes of his father. When we are first introduced to Belshazzar, he is drunk and having a great feast with one thousand in order to celebrate the “gods” of the Babylonians (Daniel 5:1-4). During this feast, he used many of the vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem in order to drink at this great feast, an obvious slap to the face of God. The pride shown is quite evident. Quickly, this action turned pride into fear. “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.“ (Daniel 5:5-6). Later, Daniel interpreted the writing for Belshazzar speaking of all that occurred to Nebuchadnezzar because of his pride (Daniel 5:17-23). “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians…In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” (Daniel 5:22-28, 30). He was doomed to repeat it.

What about us? Speaking of the Old Testament Paul wrote: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4). While he was specifically talking about the Old Testament scripture, one can still notice the many examples we are given in the New Testament as well. Mankind can and should learn from the various examples that are given in the lives of others and the consequences each faced for his or her decision. A preacher once stated that he learned enough “from the whippings his brother received.” He saw the example of his brother’s actions and knew whether or not he should do them himself. We all have the Bible to show us many actions and the consequences. May we ever learn from them and refuse to follow the example of those who committed evil lest we are doomed to repeat it.