Thoughts that are rumbling around in my brain this morning. Just wanted to share them with you.
II Chronicles 20:9
Should evil come upon us, the sword or judgment, or pestilence, or famine we will stand before this house and before Thee (for Thy name is in this house) and cry to Thee in our distress, and Thou wilt hear and deliver us.
Such was the times of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah.
Three armies were on the march toward Judah. Their mission? To wipe out the population and take down Jehoshaphat.
When told of this news, Scripture says that Jehoshaphat was "afraid". To which I would reply.."Duh!"
But upon recognition of the fear, the Bible says that he turned his attention to seek the LORD, and that he proclaimed a fast throughout the all Judah.
What a concept.
A time of trouble for a people and a government, and the leaders decide that there needs to be a national time of seeking God and of fasting. What would happen if Congress or our President declared a day of fasting and prayer to seek God's face concerning a coming invasion? In this day and time, God would not be welcomed into any of our governmental affairs.
But this doesn't mean we, as the people of God, should not do likewise just because our leaders have rejected God. Now I'm not talking about renting some great hall and publicizing an event. I'm talking about the people of God doing what should come natural. Boldly taking our petitions and prayers into the throne room of heaven and laying them at the feet of Christ.
Do we even care about our nation? or has our prayer life turned into personal shopping lists for God to fill? I think there is a remnant who does care, who does pray and who turns their prayers toward heaven on behalf of this nation. God created and ordained the existence of the United States of America. While the majority of people who claim to be Americans do not endorse or want God at the center of our life or our government, I do not read anywhere in Scripture that prayers are only answered by God when the majority is involved.
Nehemiah--- one man, a captive in a foreign land, cries out to God because the national walls around Jerusalem have been burned and broken down. God answers and sends Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.
Ezra -- One man, a captive in a foreign land, cries out to God because of the destruction of Temple. God answers and sends Ezra back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.
Samuel -- One man, becomes the Liaison between the people and God. Samuel, at the behest of God, finds and identifies the next king of Israel...not once, but twice.Eventually anointing David who goes on to set the standard for rulers in Israel.
Three men who sought God on behalf of their nation.
Do we truly believe that God has abandoned America?
Do we truly believe that the events of this world are outside the scope and rule of God's plans?
I make no pretense about our nation.
We are a sinful, sick people who have abandoned God to pursue emptiness. We have become that which we have pursued...empty.
If ever there was a time that we needed God to intervene in our affairs, it is now.
I want to close with the verse from II Chronicles that is a prayer that King Jehoshaphat prayed...
"O Our God! Will Thou not judge them? (The invading armies) For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do but our eyes are on Thee."
Might need to consider such prayers as we look at the coming days.
God on you.....
mb
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