No King in Israel

It seems there is so much to say these days and yet it is difficult to find the best way to say it.  We can believe, if we wish, that we are living in extraordinary times, that the chaos we are experiencing is something that the world has never seen.  But, in reality, that's not true.  Unlike the Israelites, we don't live in a theocracy.  Our nation was, however, founded on basic Judeo-Christian principles.  And, these principles have been slowly eroded as the teachings of secular ideology have advanced.  We now find ourselves with no King in Israel.

This phrase appears four times in the book of Judges (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).  In both the first and last instances, we are also told "everyone did what was right in his own eyes".  There were times when Israel repented and turned to God.  When sin reigned, however, they were plagued by their enemies and thrown into moral and spiritual chaos.  Was the problem solved once God finally allowed an earthly king?  Israel did have vast periods of peace and prosperity . . . as long as they followed God.  But, they were ultimately lead away into captivity - more than once - because they rejected the only true to King that matters.  Earthly leadership failed to be the spiritual guiding force for the people because it was never intended to be!

What a difficult revelation, especially as an American.  Our government, our substance as a nation, a people, is predicated on the belief that God has given us "unalienable rights".  And, we find our identities in our history and the documents that helped found our nation.  These documents aren't there to simply protect us as Christians, but all those who wish to live in a society protected from tribal or mob rule, who wish to exercise individual expression not collectivist culture.  But, is our Christian identity too entangled with our American identity?  Don't mistake me.  I believe in the ideals asserted in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  I think they are worth fighting for.  Yet, millions of Christians exist without these privileges day in and day out.  So what happens when our history is erased?  What happens when dissent is silenced and truth is exchanged for a lie?  Can we survive without our American identity?  

I must admit that I'm angry about what I see happening in our country.  And, I'm scared for the future my children may have to endure.  They already face ungodly spiritual influences, but soon they may face physical dangers that we, as a nation, have largely been insulated from.  I cannot offer any hard and fast solutions.  Though in this time of turmoil, let me leave you with a few thoughts:

• God allowed His people to suffer persecution when they sinned.  Repentance lead to reconciliation and protection.  Pray for a revival in our nation, that people return to the King.
• The first century church grew during a time of great persecution.  James tells us in James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials."  And, Peter reminds us that, ". . . it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (I Peter 3:17).  I would suggest reading the entire passage of I Peter 3:8-17.
• Remember the words of the Lord to the nation of Judah during their captivity:  "Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. . .  For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29: 5-7, 10-11).  Far from home, slaves to another nation; God tells His people to go on living.  And, He promises hope - the hope of eternal salvation and a home with Him in heaven.
• I'm proud to be an American.  But, my identity in Christ must come first.  As we stand for the righteous ideals of liberty and equality, let us remember to always look to the cross then we can  look to the flag.

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Sing

"We must never rest until everything inside us worships God." 
- A. W. Tozer

Worship has several aspects, prayer for example, which we looked at previously.  But, my favorite part has always been singing.  It comes naturally to me.  I grew up singing - in worship, in the car with my dad, in the shower, while I played.  I sang to my children when they were babies.  Singing, like prayer, is like breathing out.  It has always and will always be an important and necessary part of our relationship with God.

Among the many examples of singing in the Old Testament we find that "Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: 'I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously'. . ." (Exodus 15:1-18).  The Psalms, which number 150, were written to be sung.  Psalms 146:1-2 reads: 

"Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

While I live I will praise the Lord;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being."

In the New Testament, we see our Savior engaging in the act of singing.  After instituting the Lord's Supper, Mark tells us, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (14:26).  Paul tells the Christians in Colosse and Ephesus to speak to each other in "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

And, singing won't cease once we leave this earth.  All Christians await the day in Heaven where we will "[sing] a new song, saying:

You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,"

(Revelation 5:9)

Worship - in this case singing - "will get you through the [lemons] in your life because it shifts your focus from the problem to the problem solver.”  Even deep in a Philippian jail, Paul and Silas found a reason to sing (Acts 16).  "In dire circumstances we might think it was unnatural for Paul and Silas to be singing, but it was actually the most natural thing for them to do, just as natural as praying." (Why Do We Sing? - sermon by Ray White).  It’s difficult to be overwhelmed with our trials when we’re focusing on the author of all goodness.  

In light of all that God has blessed us with and His promise of an eternal home in Heaven with Him, let us consider the hymn written by American Baptist minister Robert Wadsworth Lowry and ask ourselves "How Can I Keep From Singing?":

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation;

Thro' all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul--

How can I keep from singing?

While tho' my joys and comforts die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

While tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it;

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am his--

How can I keep from singing?

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Pray

One might ask, “Which is more important, breathing in or breathing out?”. Of course, they are both equally necessary for the continuation of life. In terms of our spiritual life, studying scripture may be viewed as breathing in while prayer and worship represent breathing out. Both aspects are necessary for a complete and fulfilling relationship with our God and our Savior. To abandon either leaves us weak and vulnerable. Previously, we looked at the benefits of scriptural study - our spiritual inhale. Now we turn to the examination of one aspect of our spiritual exhale.

I’ve heard it said, “When life brings you to your knees you are in the perfect position to pray.” In fact, it is our ability to kneel before God that gives us the comfort and strength we need to stand before the world in times of struggle. Right now our nation, indeed the whole world, is struggling. We must acknowledge the risks of the COVID_19 pandemic. Yet, there is also the reality that economies can't stay shut down forever. So many are finding it difficult to provide for themselves and their families. And, there are a plethora of opinions as to the right course of actions. One of the best things we can do right now is pray for our leaders, both secular and spiritual.

James tells us, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (5;16). And, Peter reminds us “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers” (I Peter 3:12). In prayer, we run to God. We seek Him out. As He tells Jeremiah, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29: 12-13). Through prayer we seek an intimate relationship with God. We acknowledge that He is our Creator; we lay our fears and worries at His feet and trust that He will guide us in all things. We know that God is on our side and that the victory is His. But, He's not interested in a one-sided relationship. Take the time to enter into that "sweet hour of prayer".

Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By Thy return, sweet hour of prayer

Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for Thy return
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face
And gladly take my station there
And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer

Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
And wait for Thee
Sweet hour of prayer

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Jackson

Sweet Hour of Prayer lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC