In liu of the recent election’s outcome, I felt the need to put something in writing to relay how I feel on where our country stands. Mind you, I’m not surprised by the outcome, nor am I upset. Regardless of the outcome, I’ve felt an overwhleming compulsion to pray for the leaders of our country.
In Isaiah 9 Scripture talks about the punishment of Israel, and I can’t help but to see a parallel to our current circumstance.
1Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
It struck me that we, just as Israel did, have seen the hedge being removed, not as judgment, but in warning. God allowed things to happen to Israel in an attempt to warn of the judgment to come, not to be the fulfillment of judgment. In verse 10, rather than put their faith in the Lord, they instead respond with “The bricks are fallen down, but WE will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but WE will change them into cedars” everything about that verse speaks of their dependance upon themselves, and not the Lord. It’s no surprise that the next verse begins with ‘Therefore the Lord shall set up the advesaries….”
I see in America the many warnings we’ve been given, those oppurtunities to regain our focus upon that which is most important. On Him! We stand upon our platforms and speak of the unwavering will of our American pride, our fortitude, our peserverence, the indomitable spirit! We hear riveting speeches of how Americans strive in the face of adversity, and how, when come together, we can meet any challenge. We defiantly stand and say, the bricks may have fallen, but we will rebuild….
All the while God looks down, saddened that in our hearts, our pride will not allow us to see that it’s by His strength that we stand. What He wants is not renewed hope in our ability to perservere through tribulations, He simply longs for a nation to learn to rely on Him.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 His word says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
I watched the election with a sweet peace as these things rumbled in my mind. I fear for our country, but not because of the man who’s in office, or the men/women in our congress, but rather because we are a nation determined by our refusal to acknowledge God, and seek His face. We have traded Divine Providence for American Fortitude.
Our country will never be regained by the election process, we will never experience the greatness of America until we humble ourselves in prayer to the one who established our nation.
Most great nations have followed the following sequence:
‘From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.’ ~Alexander Fraser Tytler
I hope this doesn’t discourage you, but rather encourage you to pray for Revival to come.