The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Jeremiah 3:6
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
Jeremiah 50:6
Konnie Stevens is a former missionary. He became pastor of a large southern church after spending eight years ministering in Moscow and other Eastern European cities. Things had changed a lot in America, especially in the world of technology; cable, computers, cellular phones -- it can all get a bit confusing.
So when pastor Stevens complained to his new secretary that he didn’t think that his paging device was working, she was gentle in pointing out that he was wearing his garage door opener. That, of course, explained why his pager wasn’t having much success opening the garage door. Pastor Stevens had all the tools. He just needed a little good information on how to use them.
I feel that way this morning. As I write this (Thursday morning, Nov 9th), we are post-election, but pre-understanding what has happened. The re-count in Florida continues, while the candidates and country anguish. (Perhaps you understand more clearly now why I moved here from Florida!)
Independence Sunday is a day for patriotic songs, parades, and remembering. On July 4, 1776, England’s King George III wrote in his diary, "Nothing of importance happened today."
Poor George - wrong as a politician can be! What happened was the birth of the most powerful and benevolent nation the world has seen in a long time. A Soviet immigrant, David Edelman, wrote a letter to a major magazine,
If Americans knew what it is like
to search for a piece of meat and never find it;
how it is not to be able to buy a refrigerator
unless you stay on a waiting list for 10 years;
what it is like to live in constant fear
and to struggle for survival every day;
if they knew all this they would whisper as I do:
’God bless this land and its people.’
It is easy to presume that America will stand forever; 224 years is a long time! Yet history records so-called "invincible" empires that lasted an average of 200 years.
We have survived "black Mondays" (1929, 1990). We have survived wars and tragedies. No doubt our system can find answers to pollution, deficits and crooked politicians, even the Electoral College.
However, our nation faces a "black Monday" that the politicians never mention. And it is more damning than anything you will see on the front pages of the newspapers, or Net News Service. Our predicament is an uncanny parallel with ancient Israel.
This morning’s text laments to apostasy of a nation. Israel’s history is the kind of warning of which America needs to take note.
Israel began as a Theocracy
(The real thing!)
A theocracy is like a democracy, except there is only one vote – God’s! When God called Abraham, He called a nation. From that one family sprang the people of God, Israel. It was a roundabout journey over the generations that lead from Ur in the Persian Gulf, to captivity down in Egypt.
But God would not leave His people in bondage for long. He sent plagues, and Moses led the people out into the wilderness. From the Biblical account we know it was Moses who was the mouthpiece, but it was without question God Who was their leader— a theocracy.
On Mt. Sinai God gave Moses commandments, and promises; if the people would follow, God would lead them, supply their needs, and protect. According to Exodus 24.3, it was acceptable to the people, and a "theocracy" (God-ruled people) was born.
The conquest of Canaan, the promised land, and it’s subsequent occupation and guidance by judges, was adequate proof that God approved. A secular historian (Chodorow) even records this about God’s people: "...the Hebrew race beginnings was characterized by an unique religion and an ability to resist hostile takeovers."
The rule of God over his people was the REAL THING! However, like most of us, the children of Israel could not leave well enough alone.
Israel Became a Monarchy
(a "Plan B" imitation of God’s best)
During the leadership of Samuel as judge (1 Sa 8.5-9), God’s people became restless, and demanded a king. The catalyst was when Samuel was quite old, and appointed his hedonistic sons in his place. Samuel had invested his life in serving God and Israel, but he neglected the instruction and discipline of his kids.
They were selfish, crude and entirely unaware or respectful of God’s holiness. The people didn’t trust God to deal with them, so they demanded that Samuel give them a king, that they might be like other nations.
What a travesty! They had the hand and blessing of God on them - and they preferred something more suitable to worldly society. According to scripture, it was a rejection of God’s plan and authority.
It is said that power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The kings of Israel, monarchs, were no different than other men. The results of a monarchal power vary only slightly.
The Roman emperor, Augustus Octavian (BC 27-AD 14) was a throwback to the Republic of Rome. He re-instituted the republic, but it was only a sham. He controlled the system, and used it for his personal gain.
Nero was a madman with absolute power. Hitler, and Sadaam Hussein are the contemporary counterparts. When God’s people gave-up God’s plan (Theocracy to Monarchy), the downward spiral became reality.
Israel Disintegrated Into Moral Anarchy
(The Apostasy of a People)
Israel’s’ sins were a national disgrace. We pick up the story four hundred years after the first king. With brief periods of ethical, godly kings, most of the time has been spent in doing evil.
2 Kings 17:1-2
1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. 2And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
Evil is when a person or nation forsakes God, and then refuses to heed His warnings. God had sent men like Amos to warn the kings and people alike. This text describes the capture of Samaria, and the deportation that began the exiles and more bondage. Moreover, the text also describes the sins that eventually brought this judgment, forsaking God.
2 Kings 17:14-15
14Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
The moral anarchy into which Israel descended is chronicled in the next verses. Note the shopping list of their sins…
ASTROLOGY
2 Kings 17:16 (KJV)
16And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
With due respect to former "first ladies," you cannot plan your days around your horoscope. It is sin!
ABORTION/INFANTICIDE
2 Kings 17:17a
17And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire…
God sees life as holy. To throw any of it in the trash is sin!
OCCULTISM/DRUG ABUSE
2 Kings 17:17b7…and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
The word for "sorcery" is the same word we use to identify the local pharmacy. Moral anarchy has its’ price. The rebellion of man has always brought the judgment of God. In Ezekiel 10, and 2 Kings 17.18-20 we read how the Lord withdrew His presence and His great hand of protection from His own people in judgment of their great sin.
2 Kings 17.18-20
18Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 19Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
Secular historians record that the Assyrian hordes that ravished Israel not only captured, but also killed and tortured many of their victims. The rebellion of God’s people from His authority brought the drought of spiritual blessing and a wholesale holocaust.
From theocracy to monarchy to anarchy and judgment. We could say Israel traveled the roads of God-rule, self-rule, no-rule and unglued!
And so we look back to see our future. We look back to learn our lessons for living in the here and now....
History Revisited
(or America the Not-So-Beautiful)
In many ways America parallels God’s people of long ago. In some ways it is frightening. In Colonial days our land was oppressed, and then liberated in 1776. Our constitution was constructed, and our Congress formed with a distinctly Godly bent. However, we have all watched the erosion of that Godly influence in our land.
Moral decay and apostasy have hollowed out our hallowed halls of justice, and we are reaping the whirlwind of Ezekiel 9.9 - Bloodshed and injustice await us on every street corner. In 1831 French writer Alexis de Tocqueville visited America. He wrote,
I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests -- and it was not there.
I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning -- and it was not there.
I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution -- and it was not there.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good,
and if America ever ceases to be good,
America will cease to be great!
NOTE THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED:
Political thesis (WHAT THE POLITICIANS SAY):
1. The other party is at fault!
2. I can fix it!
Moral Antithesis (WHAT THEY NEVER TELL YOU):
1. They really don’t know how to fix it.
2. They really don’t think anyone can.
3. They’re absolutely correct!
Biblical Synthesis
(WHAT WE NEED TO DO ABOUT THE LESSON LEARNED:
In 1991 I preached a message to the church I was serving. It was near Independence Day. I said this about our political roots: We were founded as a Democracy, based upon the basic Judeo-Christian model of Holy Scripture; We have been called a Christian nation – Our pledge of allegiance even says we are one nation under God. But we are no longer a Christian nation.
There are some looks you never forget. At the sound of my words, one lady had the look of someone who’d been shot between the eyes. She didn’t move the rest of the service, deep in thought. After the service she came to me and said, Oh, Pastor, are we not a Christian nation any more? What are we? I gently placed my hand on her shoulder and said, Dottie, we are a secular nation. She thought a minute, then asked, When did it happen? Nobody told me.
Friends – it matters little when, why, where and how our worldview changed from humbly bowing before God to the plurality of secularism that bows at the altar of political correctness, polls and secular humanism. It matters little what the final outcome is in the Electoral College. What matters is that America has largely ceased to be good – we have ceased to be aflame with passion for righteousness, and become steeped in the stench of passionate personal desire and selfishness.
Only a return to Jesus can put our city, our nation and world in a position to let God do the fixing!
Our nation must return ONE PERSON AT A TIME, beginning with me!
I cannot control the actions of my own family, much less the course of an entire nation. But I can be faithful.
And if there are enough individual believers who will make that choice, together we can exert the influence of a holy and righteous God towards this nation, that our destiny might not take its place with Sodom and Gomorrha.
Will you begin the return with me now, in a step of dedication? As we turn together to Him, the promise from Jesus is that He will not turn us away. The Father promises - and His promises don’t whither or fade - they’re forever!
