October 11, 2012

The Rise and Fall of the United States: A Biblical Perspective

“Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust” (Isaiah 40:15).

U.S. FlagThe United States is a relatively young country. It had its beginning when thirteen colonies declared their independence and defeated the mighty British army. From its beginning, its citizens have enjoyed liberty. This liberty led to prosperity, which led to the United States becoming the most powerful nation in the world.

However, the United States is still just “a speck of dust on the scales” of Almighty God. Lately this country has seemed to be in decline – morally, economically, and in terms of personal liberty. Will this decline result in the inevitable fall of the United States? No one knows. But it does have people asking questions:

  • Does the United States hold a special place in God’s plan?
  • Has God blessed the United States because of its founding upon Biblical principles? (Not that it is a “Christian nation” – there is no such thing.)
  • Is the United States in danger of divine punishment for the growing tolerance and practice of sins like abortion and homosexuality?

In this article, we are going to examine certain passages of Scripture that will help give us some perspective as we consider the rise and eventual fall of the United States.
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September 8, 2012

"It Is Coming and It Shall Be Done" (9/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 38-39.

In revealing His message to Ezekiel about Gog, the Lord made a statement about the certainty of those things He said He would do.

“‘Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,’ declares the Lord God. ‘That is the day of which I have spoken’” (Ezekiel 39:8).

Gog was going to be defeated by the will of God and according to the revelation of God. “You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken‘ declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 39:5).
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September 4, 2012

Judgment Against the Nations (9/4)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 24-27.

After prophesying about judgment against God’s people for their sins, Ezekiel reveals the coming divine judgment against the surrounding nations. In Ezekiel 25, the prophet mentions four nations: Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. In each instance, he explains why judgment was coming.

“And say to the sons of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the sons of the east for a possession…”‘” (Ezekiel 25:3-4).
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August 28, 2012

"The Lord Does Not See Us" (8/28)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 5-8.

When the people of God sinned with their idols, they justified their actions like many try to justify their sins today – they convinced themselves that God would not notice or pay attention to their sin.

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land”‘” (Ezekiel 8:12).

Because God did not do what they thought He should do, they concluded that He had forsaken the land and would not see their acts of idolatry. People today have many ideas about what they think God ought to be doing. When He does not do those things, they reject God. They then act as they please, believing that God will not see their evil deeds. Yet the vision revealed to Ezekiel makes it clear that God does see. Other passages make this point as well:
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August 23, 2012

“You Only Live Once”

Man jumping

This phrase is commonly used as a call to do those things we often put off but might later regret leaving undone. It usually involves taking risks, acting unconventionally or impulsively, or fulfilling one’s desires. The activities involved could be good or bad – or might not fit into either category. It is all about using time while we have it so that we do not later regret wasting it.

The statement itself is true. The Hebrew writer expressed it this way: “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Understanding the fact that we only live once, there are some Biblical admonitions to be made.
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August 23, 2012

"The Lord Has Opened His Armory" (8/23)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Jeremiah 49-50.

“‘How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut off and broken! How Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations! I set a snare for you and you were also caught, O Babylon, while you  yourself were not aware; you have been found and also seized because you have engaged in conflict against the Lord.’

“The Lord has opened His armory and has brought forth the weapons of His indignation, for it is a work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Come to her from the farthest border; open up her barns, pile her up like heaps and utterly destroy her, let nothing be left to her. Put all her young bulls to the sword; let them go down to the slaughter! Woe be upon them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment” (Jeremiah 50:23-27).

There are several important lessons we can learn from the prophecy against Babylon:
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August 22, 2012

"Cursed Be the One Who Does the Lord’s Work Negligently" (8/22)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Jeremiah 46-48.

“Cursed be the one who does the Lord’s work negligently, and cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood” (Jeremiah 48:10).

Much of the book of Jeremiah focuses on the sins of the people of Judah and their coming judgment at the hands of the Babylonians. Yet Jeremiah indicated that God was going to use the great Babylonian army to punish more than just the inhabitants of Judah. The Babylonians would devastate other nations as well. As these prophecies indicate, this was also the work of God. The verse above can be found in the prophecy against Moab.

Those doing the Lord’s work in this context were the Babylonian soldiers. God was sending them to punish the Moabites. In executing this punishment, the soldiers were not to be negligent of their task, or else God would curse them.
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