Implacable

Subscribe now In Greek times they used a word:aspondoswhich was a compound word meaning 'without' and 'a drink-offering, or libation'. It could also mean 'a truce, a treaty or a covenant'. In the ancient world, aspondewas the libation poured out when parties sealed a treaty or truce. Nowadays we sign a document but in those days they poured wine out to the gods as a sacred witness to the agreement. soaspondosmeans 'one without a truce-pouring'. Someone who will not enter into, honor or accept a treaty. In the Bible we read this word as 'Implacable' and it describes a person who is'unappeasable, not capable of being pacified.' This word is not just being stubborn.Aspondosdescribes a person who is unreconcilable(refuses any settlement or peace), Unappeasable(no amount of concession satisfies them), and A covenant breaker in spirit(not merely someone who breaks a truce but someone who refuses the very possibility of one). In Romans chapter 1 we see a cascade of cause and effect. It opens with how humanity exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Rom.1:25), and the result is areprobate mindmeaning a mind that isnot approved; one that is given over to do things unfitting. The listing of vices here in this chapter are both the social and moral fallout: First, the vertical severing - Romans 1:30 - 'Haters of God' and then the horizontal severing - 'Without natural affection,' 'Implacable,' 'unmerciful'. The wordImplacableis the hinge. Once the love of God and natural affection are gone, the person becomesincapable of reconciliation- not just unwilling, but structurally unable, because the very basis for peace (covenant, love and mercy) has been evacuated. Implacable does not meanangry. It means:sealed shut against peace. In the New Testament the word for reconciliation is built on the same family of ideas. God doesn't merely stop a war, instead He makes a covenant, pours out the offering (His Son) and becomes the Party who initiates the truce with those who wereaspondostoward Him. This is perfectly illustrated in Romans 5:10 'For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life'. In Romans 1:31 the description of what God does for the enemy is reversed- these people are instead:'Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection,implacable, unmerciful…' Share In Romans 1 God gives evil workers up 3 times - Romans 1:24, 26 and 28. It happens in stages - first they are given up to uncleanness, then to vile affections and then to a reprobate mind. Its a slow descent where the person, 'having exchanged the truth of God into a lie', is 'given up' to the consequences of that exchange. The exchanging of truth to a lie happens before the delusion of the individual.Implacabilityand the inability to be reasoned with is a mind that has been given over and cannot receive correction. A person who isaspondoswill besealed against covenant, against peace, against truth and will do things that look insane to the people who love them, and will blame the people who love them for the consequences.In a relationship an implacable person is not just upset and eventually cools down. No, its that the very mechanism by which reconciliation happens - thesponde, the 'truce-pouring', the willingness to sit at a table and make peace - has been removed. Eventually people of this type will harden and callously become particular curators of who and what they associate with in their lives. I recently wrote an article called 'Fallen Angel' where I spoke of the fall of Lucifer (satan) Biblically. Isaiah 14 gives the 5 points of where satan lifted up his heart: 'I will ascend into heaven… I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will sit upon the mount… I will ascend above the heights… I will be like the Most High'. Five times he asserts himself against his Creator. God's response is not to argue but instead He lets it fall. And Romans 1 again is shown: '…He gives them up'. Not because God is cruel but because the 'I WILL' has made itself the only valid reality. Truth itself becomes the enemy. God in judgment permits satan to have exactly what he demanded: a universe with himself at the center. His fall was not about powerlessness. If there was any injury that satan suffered it was wounded pride. This is what we nowadays call narcissistic rage. It is the rage of a being who has been told he isnotthe center and cannot accept it. At its core he could not accept being a creature among other creatures - it is the refusal to accept the reality of God as the Creator and others as equals. It is the elevation ofselfas the only valid reality. I was so struck this week in looking at the word Implacable. The truth of its meaning surrounds us. From the leaders of countries to our communities and right next to us in our families. It describes those who, having abandoned God, are characterized by a refusal to make peace or show mercy. To have true meaning and a healthy relationship there must be reciprocity. When problems arise there is a need to come together to work through the issues. With Implacability on one side mutual submission is not possible. Praying and pleading or Loving and Forgiving someone repeatedly also does not work. You may forgive and pray for this person within yourself but you cannot fulfill both sides of a relationship alone. YOU CANNOT FIX PRIDE WITH EMPATHY - Pride at its root is the refusal to be one among many - its entire structure is built on being the exception. Equality is the thing pride must refuse, because accepting it would dissolve the self it has built. It is not a communication problem -so better communication won't touch it. Its not a misunderstanding -so facts won't move it. Its astructural refusal of equality, and the only person who can change a structure is the person who built it. 'And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over…' (Rom1:28) 'But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.' (Hebrews 5:14) Wendy's Substack (@wejolyn) is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thanks friends, for reading my Substack articles. Wendy (Wejolyn) CNC, FDN, NBCCT and ADAPT Functional Health Coach