Monday, September 4, 2017

POST DAY OF PRAYER THOUGHTS


[My complaint] 

Come on, God, don't You know what's going on in this country? Don't You hear our prayers? Why do You seem to look the other way when evil is prevailing? We are praying for justice to rule. 

Don't You hear our prayers for judgment on those unlawful nations which threaten to destroy us? They are fierce and hotheaded, blood-thirsty and dangerous. Their leaders are out of their minds, like loose cannons. They don't honor You. Their poison is spreading all over the world. They seize what doesn't belong to them and murder their captives. They laugh at us, mock us. 

Sure, we know our country isn't perfect. But remember, we are Your people, called by Your Name. We have committed some gross sins too—but we are still pretty righteous compared to how bad our enemies are. We are in social ferment and even physical conflict among ourselves, our leaders are corrupt, and we have lost our way. Natural calamities are coming upon us. Because You are just and holy I know we're really not going to get away with our transgressions, but—please, God, we really want to be great again....



[God replies] 
 You may not like My answer. Write this down because you may not believe it. I want everyone to know very clearly. Of course I don't endorse evil and I reward the good. And I don't overlook those who are righteous, who are just and live by faith and who honor Me. But My way is not to rain justice down from heaven. I am going to judge your evil oppressors in My time frame and in My own way. 

If it is My will to use other nations, heinous as they are, to punish your nation, that is My prerogative. *Your enemy may even rule over you for a time, but I will judge them and all those super powers around you too and they will fall into ruin. Don't question My methods or My timing. Be patient and trust Me. I hold history in my hands.



Was the above scenario written in 2017 
about the United States?

No! Almost verbatim (paraphrased) the above was written by the prophet Habakkuk in about 612-589 B.C. in the Old Testament Book bearing his name. God had just shown the prophet that evil Babylon was poised to overrun Judah as God's judgment on His people Judah. The subject of this prophecy is the destruction of Judea and Jerusalem for the sins of the people, and the consolation of the faithful under national calamities.



The governments of the world are on the shoulders of the “Child born to us, the Son given to us” the One Whose Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) He has not abandoned His people who aspire to be righteous, but His hand is in all the affairs of men and nations throughout history until it culminates in the Return of the Prince of Peace, Jesus, at the conclusion of Planet Earth's history. It may be applaudable for us to desire that our nation be great again, faithful to its godly heritage, but the more commendable prayer is that our God be magnified and HE becomes great again in the hearts of our nation's people.



* Reminder from history:

Today, we have the advantage of seeing centuries of this cycle in retrospect. We know, like the Hebrew prophets, that God used Assyria to judge Israel, Babylon to judge Assyria (and Judah), and later, Persia to judge Babylon. We also know from later history that the Macedonians brought down Persia, and in turn, Rome over the Macedonians and on through the centuries. If you search more recent history, you’ll see the same process at work in our global political context as the prophets did.



(I take responsibility for the above personal, non-political, non-partisan thoughts the day after the President's Proclamation of a National Day of Prayer.)
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" said Jesus.


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