| Subject: Judgment on Nations |
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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 21:34:26 08/19/09 Wed
Jeremiah 18:7-10 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
This passage is as good a place to start as any. From the passage we can see that God judges nations and the judgment is according to their works and attitude toward Him (obey not my voice, vs. 10).
Literally hundreds of nations have come and gone since man was driven from the garden and the reason for the demise of those nations has been their attitude toward the laws of God and God Himself.
Along with attitude and works is also thrown into the mix the treatment of God's people. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 "---Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This was first proven to be true with the battle with the kings in Genesis 13. The kings of Shinar, Ellasar, Elam and the "king of nations" came against the 5 cities of the plain. One of which Lot and his family lived in. Had the four kings not messed with Abram's nephew and his family Abram would not have pursued and through God destroyed the armies of the 4 kings with probably the 4 kings. Judgment fell because of actions against someone God had blessed.
Assyria, Babyon, Persia etc. were all judged by how they treated the chosen people. Even when God placed His people in captivity the captor was judged by how he treated God's people and the things of God. (Dan. 1st 5 chapters)
The first mention of nations in the Bible is found in Genesis 10. Here you will see that it was God who actually set up the boundaries of the first nations. In the Book of Acts we read: Acts 17:24-31 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
The first nations then were set according to their families and each family was reckoned to descend from either Shem, Ham or Japheth. Acts tells us the divisions were for the purpose of finding God. (The divisions possibly were made at the tower of Babel with the confusion of tongues but that is just speculation on my part.) The passage in acts deals with nations of people and we are told that God tolerated ignorance for a while but now commands these nations of people to repent. Why? Verse 31: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness--- and of course the world is made up of nations of people. Every person on this earth is the subject of a government of a nation or kingdom and the terms can be used interchangeably.
The judgment and subsequent punishment of God on a nation can be in various ways. If you look at Egypt in the days of Moses you will see famine, pestilence, powerful storms and miraculous occurences and death brought against Egypt. Egypt was destroyed without an invading army but it was destroyed by the hand of God. All because Pharaoh would not listen and obey God. Essentially the Roman Empire was not destroyed by armies but by the cancerous decay of immorality and licentiousness on the part of the rulers and people.
The Book of Romans gives God's perspective on the downward spiral of both nations and individuals:
Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (turning from God with knowledge of who God is and what God demands: this is the first step downward) 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (turning to other gods of their own making: an idol can be anything put before God) 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:(God will now turn His back on that country or individual) 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;(God turns them over to a reprobate mind and they are then incapable of right choices) 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (the final state of lawlessness and immorality which brings the destruction)
Notice the references to homosexuality and lesbianism in the downward spiral. God's judgment will always fall on those given over to this abomination. America is in grave danger here.
Many nations have fallen by invading armies that God has purposely sent to destroy that nation. Israel itself falls under this category with the invasion of Shalmaneser king of Assyria. He conquered the 10 northern tribes of Israel and carried them off to Assyria. A few years later the two remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin went into captivity to the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. For seventy years the remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin were in captivity to, first Babylon, and then Media/Persia. There judgment came because they rebelled against God and His law and would not walk righteously as the 10 northern tribes. The demise can be traced to Solomon and his introduction of heathen temples to idol gods in order to satisfy the desires of his idol worshipping wives.
1 Kings 11:1-14 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. 14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
The Bible tells us that to whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48) this is true with nations and individuals. Israel had been given much and had returned little. Her judgment fell and the die was cast but it would be several more years until her judgment would be complete and executed.
Ezekiel 14:13-20 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: 14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. 15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: 16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. 17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: 18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. 19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: 20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
The story of Daniel, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego illustrate perfectly the protection God places on the righteous even when He is bringing grievous judgment on the land. Joseph was elevated to 2nd ruler in Egypt because of his righteousness and he was able to be the salvation of his family when God sent a great drought over the land of promise. Even Lot was delivered from Sodom because of the righteousness of Abraham and his interceding for his nephew and family By this we understand that if God does bring sore judgment on a land how the people fare will depend on their righteousness before God.
This is the hope we have today and it is through the knowledge that God's judgments are always fair and righteous that we take comfort even though we see the clouds of judgment gathering over America today. Again in Ezekiel we have this concerning the judgments of God. Ezekiel 14:21-23 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments (see Rev. 6:1-8) upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? 22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. 23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
We can see from this brief glimpse at just a few passages in the Bible that God does judge nations and it's always for a reason. God will not tolerate nations that have known Him and then turned from Him. To verify this all one has to do is look at the European nations that once thrived when the Word of God took hold in those nations. Look at the British Empire which once boasted that the sun never set on it because of it's world wide scope. Where is that empire today? You can trace the fall to their turning their back on God and turning their back on God's people when they had the mandate over Palestine. When they tried to stop the Exodus into Palestine of the Jews after promising that land they sealed their fate. Today you would be hard pressed to find a Bible believing Christian in that God forsaken country. (unless it was a missionary tying to win souls for Jesus)
Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
I believe we are at a crossroads in America today. There are still many devout, God fearing and God loving Christians in the nation today. We can make a difference but we must sincerely and righteously follow God. God gave us the formula in 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name (Christians are called by the name of Christ), 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. That is the formula and it all hinges on the little word "if". Am I willing to do my part and are you willing to do your part? That is the question. If the nation does fall will you and I be considered a Noah, Job or Daniel or will we fall with the rest. It is something to think about. God works miracles and is willing to turn this nation around but it all depends on us.
The greatest danger to this nation is not monetary nor is it military. The greatest danger we face is a turning away from God and his ways. We can tolerate abominations or we can speak against them. We can tolerate those who reject Christ or we can try to win them to Christ.
The ball is in our court!
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