Today’s Bible Reading:
1 Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19
Topic: Apostasy
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 106
Read the following as though the Lord was speaking to the
people of the United States
(which, by the way, He is. God’s Word is not a mere recounting of the past, but
is meant for people of all time. These words spoken to Israel are
speaking to me and you and our country):
3 Blessed are
they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.
13 But they
soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.
21 They forgot
the God who saved them…
33 for they
rebelled against the Spirit of God…
36 They
worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters… 38
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they
sacrificed to the idols… 39 They defiled themselves
by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves...
43 Many times
he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in
their sin. (Ps 106:3, 13, 21, 33,
36-39, 43 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
The history of the world is largely one of conflict, and
usually violent conflict. The histories of Israel
and of our own United States
are no exceptions. Of greater consideration, however, is what the driving force
behind the conflict is. Is the violence driven by greed and lust? Is it driven
by the pursuit or defense of justice and what is right?
For most of our American history the United States will be
found on the side of maintaining justice and acting for what is right, and we
have enjoyed great blessings (v. 3). From the very founding of our republic and
the violent conflict to secure our independence and freedom, our fathers were
aware of “Divine Providence” in our favor, saving and preserving us. Today many
have forgotten and shunned the God who saved us (v. 21). There is open
rebellion against the Spirit of God and what is right in His eyes and according
to His Word (v. 33). While denying even the existence of God, increasing
numbers of our citizenry bow to the idols of self-indulgence, pseudo
intellectualism, egotism and lust. To these gods we sacrifice our children by
the millions—innocent blood shed for our convenience and exultation of our own
present lives over and above the lives of our children—our future; and thus we
have prostituted ourselves (vv. 36-39).
Here lies the warning to the United States : If we continue to be “bent on rebellion” (v. 43) against the
God who has established and preserved our nation, things will not get better.
We instead may find ourselves “wasting away” in our sin (v. 43).
APPLICATION:
Christians in the United States find ourselves in an
ever increasing conflict. How we handle that conflict is vitally important.
Merely avoiding opposition will be as erroneous as allowing it to escalate to
violence in the physical realm. We must remember the truth of Ephesians 6:12 …our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against …the spiritual forces of evil… (NIV). It is against
these evil spiritual forces that our violent opposition must be directed. As
the conflict manifests itself by attacks from our fellow misguided citizens,
our response should only be to love them, strive for their best, and battle the
spiritual forces for their deliverance and freedom.
PRAYER:
Lord, grant me the courage to stand up for what is right and
just according to Your righteousness. As I worship You alone, help me to love
people and make disciples of Jesus.
Through Christ. Amen.
–AP
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