Saturday
7-4-15 (Home in Modesto)
Scripture
reading: 2 Kings 15-16 Hosea 1 Heb 1
S. 2 Kings 15:9-11 Zechariah did what was evil in the LORD's sight, as his
ancestors had done. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam
son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired
against Zechariah, assassinated him in public, and became the next king. NLT
O. The people of Israel became a
divided nation when the 10 tribes split off in rebellion to King Rehoboam and
formed their own nation under Jeroboam. These 10 tribes retained the name
“Israel” as their nation. And the other two are referred to as “Judah”
from this point on. The self appointed King Jeroboam did not want his
people running down to their temple in Jerusalem to worship, so he started his
own religion, worshipping a golden calf. Doubtless there were many
thousands of people who had all their lives been worshipping the true, living
God, Jehovah. Now they were told that this golden calf was their god and
their children were taught to worship it.
All the
subsequent leaders of the nation of the 10 tribes of Israel rejected the Lord
their God. Despite a remnant of thousands true believers within their
borders, God was declared officially persona-non-grata in their
territory. It took years to happen, but as they attempted to rule without
God, anarchy finally took over. King Zechariah reigned for only 6 months
and Shallum assassinated him and became king, then only a month later Menahem
assassinated Shallum and became king, then his son Pekahiah only served 2 years
and his army commander Pekah assassinated Pekahiah and became king, then Hoshea
killed Pekah and became king… and the story goes on. Mayhem!
Anarchy! Murders rampant! Pregnant women cruelly ripped open.
Israel had become a nation that had lost its compass.
A. Hello, America! Hello, Hello! Is anybody out there? Our time
has come to do the 2nd Chronicles 7:14 thing.* If we Christians,
even if we have become a minority, will fall on our faces in humility and
repentance for our nation there might still be hope. If we do not… I
shudder for our future.
P. Lord God! Today is July
4th. It is a day we celebrate our freedom from the tyranny of
the King of England. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. It
should be a day of great rejoicing as always in the past, yet the decisions of
our Supreme Court have clouded the celebration for us who love You and Your
ways. Our “kings,” who have usurped the throne, have displayed with certainty
that You are no longer welcome in this country. Thousands of liberals
celebrate their victory today. It is all over the news and on TV.
We won! Down with God! Down with His people and His decrees!
Up with atheism! So today I am going to celebrate on my face before You,
humbly crying out for You to allow something… whatever necessary to bring our
leadership back to the God of our Fathers… the only living and true God.
You have saved us in the past. Save us once again, Lord! Amen.
Ralph
*2 Chron
7:14 “If my people who are called by my
name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their
land.” NLT
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