500 futile bronze shields

Friday 7-15-2016   Home in Modesto

Scripture Reading:  Isaiah 22-24     Hebrews 12

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Isa 22:8  He removed the protection of Judah.  You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; NKJV

O.  The prophet is warning the people of Jerusalem that since they had rejected God, he would lift His protection from them.  Decades earlier King Solomon had built the House of the Forest in which he had installed 500 shields of pure gold.  It was like their armory.  That armory was later plundered and King Rehoboam replaced the golden shields with bronze ones.  And here in Isaiah’s prophecy, now that God had lifted His hand of care, the people would run for their futile bronze shields for protection.

A.  As I was reading Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Jerusalem this morning these words seemed to leap off the page.  “He removed the protection of Judah.”  I am very fortunate to live in a land whose leadership, since its inception has sought for God’s protection.  Through two terrifying world wars we never saw the fury of those battles on our mainland.  As a boy I played on the heavily armed beaches of Oregon while US blimps searched the waters for Japanese submarines.  If Japan could, it would soon be bombing the city of Portland where my father and Frances’ widowed mother, were working in the ship-yards building great war vessels. 

Ah!  But in those days, our political leadership, along with our Christians were crying out to God for His protection.  We escaped by a miracle from heaven.

Today God has been mocked and banned by many of our political leaders.  He has been ejected and prohibited entrance into our schools.  Our freedoms are being challenged.  Only the Christians are still praying for God’s protection from the surrounding forces seeking our destruction.  Oh yes, we called on God after September 11, 2001... but only because we witnessed disaster. 

P.  You know, Lord, that from the earliest days of the English colonies on America’s soil, for well over 200 years this land’s leaders called upon You for their protection... and every Christian joined them.  I plead with You, do not lift Your hand of protection from us now.  Have mercy on us even though our leaders may mock You and have literally kicked You out of their legislative houses.  For the sake of the many who still do seek Your shelter, Your covering in this age of global conflict, please do not “remove Your protection” from this nation.  For the moment You do... we will discover that we are doomed if we depend upon our puny armor of “bronze shields”.  Amen.

Ralph

God Bless America

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, 
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, 
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. " 

God Bless America, 
Land that I love. 
Stand beside her, and guide her 
Thru the night with a light from above. 
From the mountains, to the prairies, 
To the oceans, white with foam 
God bless America, My home sweet home