February 24, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Among all the children she [Jerusalem] bore there was none to guide her; among all the children she reared there was none to take her by the hand.” (Isaiah 51.18)

“Train up a child in the way they should go and they will not wander far from it when they grow old.” (Proverbs 22.6)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

It does us well to read this entire pericope from verses 17-23. The call of accountability is germane to every nation in every age. The rise and fall of nations can be simply traced by the legacy which has been given to their future generations. The failure to maintain the righteous relationship with God or to adopt it, for those who have not yet professed the God of Israel as the one true God and thus maintain it, exposes the exponential danger of doing so with each succeeding generation. I would return us to the verse from 2 Chronicles 7.14 to illustrate this point “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The desire of leadership to place its people in a subservient position deposes the God who ordained their leadership in the first place. And yes, God does ordain that some will be false leadership and thereby expose the failing of such desire on the part of the humans who then are in leadership. We see this in the anointing of Saul to be Israel’s first king. Immediately, God put in motion His plan for a true king of Israel which happened with David of Bethlehem. Saul was the “people’s” choice because their desire was to be like other nations. Saul had the appearance of the rulers of those nations. What we know is that those nations were ruled by gods of war, avarice and ego. We also know that most of the rulers of those nations were military giants and ruthless. Who is the New Testament false leader? None other than Judas of Kerioth. I reminded in the Spirit that God had chosen those who would be Jesus’ disciples. Jesus thanked God for giving Him those who would pass on the gospel into all the world. Judas was one of those who, even in betrayal, helped to portray the message of the gospel. Yes, it is in the personal sacrifice of Jesus that we receive the gift of mercy, grace and eternal life. We believe in Him as Lord and Savior. We put our faith in Him as God’s Son and Messiah. Judas saw Jesus differently. He saw Jesus with a false understanding of the prophetic idea of “messianic community.” Judas did not act in righteousness but in self-righteousness. He was no different than Saul of old.

How did this happen and how does it happen even now? It happens because generation after generation is taught incorrectly the will and desire of God. Believing more in the conceptualization of man to be “as God” instead of “like God” breeds the psychological and spiritual ignorance of self-centeredness. There is no humility. There is no servant attitude. Freedom is entitlement and proclaiming that everyone has the right to be whomever they choose without consequence. In the search for “reality,” generation after generation falls sort of grasping reality as God intended. Further, they reject the reality which they create because it is not fulfilling and leads only to chaos and emptiness. This was the fate of “Jerusalem.” The failure to be righteous and obedient in relationship to God may blind a person, a people, a community and/or a nation to the truth of God’s sovereignty but it does not, will not and cannot eliminate it. God’s will shall be done. The question is who shall join in the blessing which comes in God’s will and who will taste only the bane of His will. He does not will the death of anyone. His desire is to love, save and receive His own. It is the desire of humans to choose death though they will not say that is why they intend or meant. They, too, want “love, salvation from evil and acceptance by others.” The difference is “on whose terms?” Jerusalem sought to “save itself by its own means and terms.” Even the mention of Rahab within this pericope shows both the bane and blessing of her identity. We know that she was a woman of ill-repute but when the Hebrews approached Jericho with a legacy of military success, she did not want her family to suffer. Though she was a prostitute, she would not prostitute her family and turn Joshua and Caleb in as spies. To do so was certain death. Instead, she chose life and received life. But, Jerusalem was fast becoming a “Rahab” who made the wrong choice and defied God’s leaders. She did not heed God’s word nor pass on faithfulness to the succeeding generations. Now there was no wise counsel. Now there was no bargaining chip. She was left to face God and her decisions alone. Are we listening to this lesson of prophecy even today? My heart breaks that such a nation as this and of Israel would seek their own way and dare to identify it as God’s. We can repent, however, and turn away from the evil which has been done and is being done even now. The Church must heed this word and pursue authentic discipleship. It must be the nation of God among all other nations who will lead, guide and direct as it seeks to be led, guided and directed by God with His Holy Spirit.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.