My heart was stricken today as I read in Jeremiah. How could God have done to His people that which He did. The Jews were His beloved people, chosen to represent God to the world. Yet God called the kingdoms of the north to lay Judah waste. What evil had they done to warrant the destruction of their nation? Had they committed terrible sins of debauchery and perversion? After all God had told the world to be astonished, to be horribly afraid at what they had done! (Jer 2:12)
The horrendous evil of Judah was revealed in Jeremiah 2:13. They had committed two evils or raʿ which usually means sin in the sense of destructive hurtfulness. In other words, what Judah had done was destructive and hurtful to themselves and their nation. God says:
13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 (NASB)
The hurtful destructive thing which they had done first was to forsake and turn away from the true source of living water and all which living water signifies-sustenance, prosperity, well being. They turned from trusting Jehovah God for their livelihood and peace of mind.
The second hurtful destructive thing they did was to dig their own cisterns (broken at that) to rely upon for their livelihood. They collected their own water, using their own hands. In other words, they were depending upon themselves for their livelihood and prosperity. They were not depending upon God.
What Does God Consider Evil?
Jeremiah puts a different “spin” on what God considers ‘evil’. God says any walk, any action that is independent of Him is evil. God is the source and the sustainer of our life. We must drink continually from His fountain. We must depend daily upon God. To forsake Him and His provisions for us is evil. To depend upon our own cisterns, our own means for our life and sustenance is likewise evil.
They are each destructive and hurtful.
I believe America is a hurting nation with hurting and sick people because we have walked in the evilness of independence. We no longer depend upon God. We may include Him occasionally in our plans, we may offer Him lip service in our praise and prayers. But when it comes down to living, we depend upon that which we can see, touch, make and do with our own eyes and hands. In fact, we most often depend on the Government which we have created. Especially in these frightful economic times.
However, we must heed the warning of Jeremiah. For he says in verse 19, that our own wickedness will correct us, and we will discover that it is an evil and bitter thing to forsake the Lord our God.
We must rediscover the fear and reverence of Almighty Jehovah God. We must turn away from the cisterns of our own making, and come to His fountain of living waters.
Selling Our Liberty for the Safety of our 401(k)’s
In wondering about the ramifications of our Government buying an interest in private banks, buying up commercial notes, buying delinquent mortgages, all in order to stabilize financial markets, I am wondering if we are starting to see the fruition of “Why Democracies Fail” a quotation attributed by some to Alexander Tytler. On December 28, 1987, a letter in the Wall Street Journal quoted this whole passage, and said it was from a lecture by “a history professor by the name of Sir Alex Fraser Tytler (1714-1778).” (Actually 1747-1813).
In 1787, Alexander Tytler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
‘A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government’.
‘A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury’.
‘From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship’.
‘The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years’.
‘During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through 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 complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependency; From dependency back again into bondage.
Are we going to surrender our freedom for the sake of financial ease and comfort. Has our dependency on our affluent lifestyle led us to bondage to big government once again? Where are the statesmen who possess Courage and Character. Should not the sins of the greedy be punished even if it means economic hardship? Do we surrender our free-market economy for the sake of government control so we may continue to live in comfort?
Where are those who cry out “Give me Liberty or give me death!”
We must realize that the global economic and credit crisis is beyond any “fix” that our government can devise. The words of Jeremiah come to mind:
“For this is the day of the Lord of Hosts, a day of vengeance, that He may avenge Himself on His adversaries” (Jer 46:10).
“In vain you will use many medicines; you shall not be cured. The nations have heard of your shame, and your cry has filled the land; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty; they have both fallen together.” (Jer 46:11-12)
“I shall send him wine workers who will tip him over and empty his vessels and break the bottles” (Jer 48:12)
“Joy and gladness are taken from the plentiful field and from the land of Moab; I have caused wine to fail from the wine presses; No one will tread with joyous shouting-not joyous shouting!” (Jer 48:33)
“Your fierceness has deceived you, the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there” says the Lord. (Jer 49:16)
We must fall on our faces before Almighty God, for the wisdom of our leaders will not be enough to solve the crisis that is facing the United States financial system. We are running out of options. It is time for us to ” Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong”. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Headlines around the globe are talking more and more about a world-wide fear that is setting in due to financial turmoil. It is not just in our beloved United States. Nations around the world are dealing with a world-wide credit crisis. Everyone in the US thought the TARP rescue would at least stabilize markets, but such has not been the result.
The moment of good feeling in the money markets which I referenced on Friday has evaporated. My money market source says that the headline news from Europe has overwhelmed the markets and fear is once again ascendant. In addition to the widely disseminated headlines, there are other stories percolating below the surface which have also contributed to the dire glum mood.
His article is titled “Ascendant Fear”.
Fear is one of the indicators which Jesus used to point toward the last days.
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
Thereis much distress of nations because of climate changes, climactic events and a sea of financial woes that are roaring in waves upon their shores. People are indeed fainting with fear and are distressed at what is coming on the world. God is doing a shaking. God’s Heavenly Throne is at work. He is dealing with the mighty powers of this world.
John Jansen concludes his article with these insightful words:
The conventional wisdom held that the successful passage of the rescue legislation would introduce some stability into the markets. The ink was not dry on the legislation when stocks began to head south again, and in a serious manner. It is beginning to look as though the authorities will need divine intervention to save the day.
My suggestion is that members of the staff at the New York Fed should take some time and trek two blocks south to Our Lady of Victory Church at Pine and William. They should get down on their knees and pray, and then light a candle.
That looks like the only viable solution for now.
God Reigns as EL Elyon
God is the only solution, but our leaders will never admit that. The words of Psalms 2 ring true about the nations of this world:
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psa 2:1-12)
God has already set in motion the world events which will usher in His Son being established as the King of this world. He is laughing even now at our feeble attempts to stabilize the world-wide economic crisis. The Psalmist warns the rulers of earth to serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. They should kiss the Son, lest He be angry. That will be the only fear which will be acceptable to Almighty God, El Elyon, who reigns from on high.
John Jansen surmises that the solution is to pray and light a candle. Instead, we should pay attention to Psalms 2, and approach the Son with fear and trembling. We should bow before Him, Jesus Christ, and Kiss Him!
During this crisis, I am praying that many will turn to Him. However, I know that most will stiffen their necks and try to figure it out according to man’s wisdom. I am afraid that will not work this time. God is setting events in motion which will eventually lead to a world-wide leader with Satanic powers. He will convince the nations that only he has the solution that our economies need.
Our Redemption Draws Nigh
It is time for us to straighten up and lift our heads, for our redemption draws nigh!
If Sarah Palin and John McCain do not win the Presidential race, I think Sarah Palin could make an excellent living doing commercials. Remember the “Where’s the Beef” commercial for Wendy’s? Clara Peller made a great living with her “Where’s the Beef?” I love Sarah Palin’s “Say it ain’t so Joe!”
In fact I want to start using that expression against anyone who makes an outrageous or stupid assertion (like Joe Biden did many times).
Today I am saying “Say it ain’t so Joe” to Be-Asia McKerracher.
Be-Asia McKerracher
Be-Asia is a contributor to the Kansas City Star Faith Walk column. She had a little piece in the 10/3/2008 FYI section of the Star titled: “Righteousness lines my path to athiesm”. Here is an excerpt that raised a “SHOUTOUT” from my mudpreacher heart:
“So how did I become an atheist? I remember sitting in class one morning when a thought popped into my head: I had never read the Bible. How could that be? How could I — born and raised a Christian — never have read the Bible? Sure, I’d heard bits and pieces of it in church all the time, but, like most Americans, that’s where my knowledge ended.
And so the Good Book and I spent some much needed time together. What a shock! The Bible I had heard as a little girl was so different from the Bible I read as a young woman. The Scriptures that once sounded so beautiful, kind and perfect to my ears now seemed mean and sad and — to me, a young woman of 23 — deeply unfair.”
What is “UNFAIR”
Webster defines unfair as “marked by injustice, partiality, or deception. In a related definition it says “not equitable in business dealings”. I went for a 25 mile bike ride this morning, thinking about why she would find the Bible unfair. I wanted to know what God thought about that and he just pointed me to His Son. I got this overwhelming sense that if anyone should cry out “UNFAIR” it should be God and not Be-Asia.
Then I read these verses in Hebrews 2:6-9 (Phillips NT)
But someone has said: ‘What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honour, and set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet’. Notice that the writer puts “all things” under the sovereignty of man: he left nothing outside his control. But we do not yet see “all things” under his control. What we actually see is Jesus, after being made temporarily inferior to the angels (and so subject to pain and death), in order that he should, in God’s grace, taste death for every man, now crowned with glory and honour. It was right and proper that in bringing many sons to glory, God (from whom and by whom everything exists) should make the leader of their salvation a perfect leader through the fact that he suffered. For the one who makes men holy and the men who are made holy share a common humanity. So that he is not ashamed to call them his brothers, for he says: ‘I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to you’.
We were Crowned with Glory & Honor
God gave man (including Be-Asia)everything. We were crowned with glory and honor, stewards of His creation. Yet, as the Bible reveals elsewhere, man rebelled and followed Satan and sin. In order to restore this glory and honor to mankind, Jesus, God’s only Son, tasted death for every man. Through His victory on the cross, Jesus is now crowned with Glory and Honor, and enables mankind to share in His glory and honor as the Captain of our Salvation. Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers.
Jesus Tasted Death for all Mankind
Now to me this does not seem to be “marked by injustice, partiality, or deception”. God wants all of mankind to enjoy that which He created us for-His presence and glory. God established His boundaries for mankind and was open and honest about the consequences of crossing those boundaries. He did not deceive us, nor was He partial or unjust. Jesus Christ tasted death for ALL of mankind, even those who deny God’s existence.
Is it Fair?
Is it fair for Be-Asia to take the gift that God has offered her, the precious gift of God’s own Son, and shake her fist at Him, spit in His face, and deny He ever existed as the Son of God? Is it fair to God, who endured the agony of seeing His Son take on the sins of the world, the sins of Be-Asia, only to hear her and others curse at Him and ignore and even resent His intrusion into their lives? Such a response by Be-Asia and others who deny God’s love and sacrifice smacks of great injustice. They are the ones who are unfair.
Be-Asia concludes her remarks with this proud statement:
These were my accomplishments, my good choices, and I’d made them on my own. After years of struggle, I had decided that being a righteous person did not require a belief in God.
Now comes the response that Be-Asia would probably call unfair. In Romans 2:5-11 (NLT) God is very clear about ‘righteousness’:
But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
Many believe they can live a righteous life apart from God. However, God will reveal His Righteous Judgment someday, and that judgment will be based upon whether we have sought and found the “Glory and Honor and Immortality” that is found only in His Son, Jesus Christ. There is no true righteousness apart from Jesus Christ. Be-Asia and countless others are simply living for themselves. They are living lives of wickedness. They are storing up God’s judgment and wrath for the injustice they have committed against God and His Gift to them-the life of His only Son.
Being fair also involves being equitable in business transactions. God is very “fair” when it comes o business. He simply states that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus His Son. If you continue to live in your sins you will receive an equitable wage-death and eternal separation from a Holy Righteous God. However, if you receive the Gift of Forgiveness through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you will receive the Gift of Salvation and Eternal Life. That is a very fair and equitable business transaction. Where is the unfairness in that?
Jeremiah puts a different “spin” on what God considers ‘evil’. God says any walk, any action that is independent of Him is evil. God is the source and the sustainer of our life. We must drink continually from His fountain. We must depend daily upon God. To forsake Him and His provisions for us is evil. To depend upon our own cisterns, our own means for our life and sustenance is likewise evil.
Loving the Word with the MudPreacher 