Samaria, Jerusalem and the USA

Friday   9-4-15 (Home in Modesto)

Scripture reading:  Eze. 20-24       Rev. 9

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

S.  Ezek 23:39  On the very day that they murdered their children in front of their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship!  NLT

Vs 45  ...adulteresses and murderers. They will sentence them to all the punishment they deserve.  NLT

 

O.  Ezekiel chapters 22 through 24 comprise a scathing description of the evils of two cities, Samaria and Jerusalem.  Sexual sins of all kinds and murders of their babies were apparently among their prominent evils.  And after murdering their babies they went straight to church, to conceal the evil thing they had done.

 

A.  Does anybody see a comparison between Samaria and Jerusalem and our nation?  We all prefer to focus on the positive.  I want my devotional times to be times of uplifting.  The Gospel means “Good News.”  Yet, if we dare to lift our eyes to see the condition of our nation we are faced with some terrifying bad news.  An estimate now has set the number of abortions of our offspring to 57,762,169 since Roe vs Wade in 1973.  We may lose count, but we can be sure that God is keeping accurate count. 

Why are most of these babies murdered before they can cry out to express their pain?  It is because, like the Israelites, people want to have access to a life of free sex without the accepting the responsibility of loving and caring for their babies, the normal God-given result.  If God repudiated and brought terrifying judgment on Israel for these same sins... can we go to church and sing uplifting choruses and expect God to overlook this nation’s evil conduct?

 

P.  Lord God, I do not want Your terrifying divine judgment to fall on our land.  I would much prefer to see repentance and a return to You.  I would rather see this nation brought to its knees before You, than to have it be struck by Your just judgment.  You have always been quick to respond to a contrite heart.  I cry out for 57 million tiny babies who never could cry out.  I cry out for my nation.  I cannot stop this evil machine and all the other evils that accompany it, but I can and will ask for Your mercy to be extended.  Perhaps You can still raise up a man or a woman... a leader to turn the tide.  It would take a miracle, true.  But You are the God of miracles.  Amen.

 

Ralph