Scripture: And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and with you are the gold calves which Jeroboam made for you as gods. Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods. 2 Chronicles 13:8-9
Observation: The divided kingdom has been at war, but mostly they have been skirmishing about boarder cities. This is the decisive battle between them, with 400,000 men with Judah, and 800,000 men with Israel. Abijah of Judah denounces the state of Israel ... they have abandon the Lord, created golden idols, cast out all priests and teachers, and gone down a path just like any other polytheist nation. Israel no longer fears Yahweh.
And despite better tactics and far superior numbers, Israel is going to lose badly, with true civil-war-type numbers dead (500,000), and Jeroboam mortally wounded. This won't correct the path of Israel - they are now permanently on this evil path never to recover - but it does define the time and place the Lord clearly marked Israel as a nation fighting against him.
Application: There are times I watch the news, and I don't see any way "back" for our country. We are just as divided as Judah and Israel, just not geographically. The sides are dug in and even radicalized. We stand and shout accusations at each other, but we yell on social media instead of yelling from a mountaintop.
This isn't about who is right or wrong in any conflict. It is about following the Lord. If we truly did that, all other issues would fall into a logical order. Instead, we build our golden idols, rely on our craft and plots and strength, and exercise our rights to our own beliefs.
This time looks very much like the decisive moment when the God is taking action. This is time of civil unrest, global pandemic, economic destruction, and divisive elections. The best we can do - all we can do - is follow the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, Yahweh, who sees us and cares for us and leads us and protects us, as a nation we have wandered far away from you. Our society and our lives fail to reflect your love, your laws, and your greatness. Please forgive us. We are in a dark time, and it is certainly of our own making, but please do not forsake us, and please do not raise your mighty hand against us. We seek your mercy. Help us to return to you, as a people and as a nation, for it is only by your will that we can do so. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment