September, 2017
Greetings,
"So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying the Lord beheld, and He repented Him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. and the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite."
I Chronicles 21:14 - 15
In verse 1, Satan came against David and caused him to number the people. But over in II Samuel it reveals that Israel was still practicing sin against the Lord. And this is the reason that God allowed for Satan to tempt David to number the people. God's marvelous ways are much beyond us. "For My ways are not your ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." God was going to mark off the temple ground for Solomon to build after David's death. And through the midst of Israel's sin, David's sin, 70,000 deaths, God glorified His ways. Even in the midst of the destruction of the people, we read these powerful Words from God, 'Stay thy hand'.
1. Our nation is under severe judgement.
I don't hear anybody talking about this. I'm not even sure if the church understands or believes in remedial judgments. But we read here in I Chronicles 21:14, 'So the Lord sent pestilence. . .and the angel destroyed 70,000'.
Why?
Because Israel had angered the Lord ( I Samuel 24:1). It is not specified what that sin was. But due to the repeated transgressions of Israel, it may have been there continued worship of idols, high places and refusal to obey the Lord in all their ways. But needless to say, God doesn't just get angry for no reason at all. He is provoked by man's response to His anger; and it is a just anger. and then follows His judgement and wrath. This can be light to heavy upon the land and the people. But let us not ever forget that our choices have consequences; our responses have a response awaiting from God. They are either blessings or cursings; favor or wrath. and the remedial judgments are always brought on by a disobedient, wayward, sinful people. 'The wages of sin is death'.
And so as these sins had provoked the Lord, so it was met with God allowing for Satan to come and tempt David to number the people, thus bringing on His wrath against them. God is the same as yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is immutable, He changes not. And as He did to His Own children, will He not do it to our nation? the church? and we as individauls? Most assuredly He has and He will. Sin sets all this into motion of remedial judgments.
What are these judgements?
They come in numerous facets of God's wrath. But there are many throughout the Bible that teaches us God's consistency in some of them.
--natural disasters;
--pestilence/disease;
--war;
--famine/drought;
--poverty/collapse of economy;
--removal of wisdom/common sense;
--horrible leaders;
These are a few of the things that God may employ against a sinful people. but He is not limited not limited to these alone. For there are numerous ways in which the absence of God for protection and deliverance, will allow Satan and hell its worst work on our lives and people.
II. The Response of the people must be to address the sin that causes the Remedial Judgement.
Remedial judgements on a nation come because we have disobeyed the Word of God and the ways of God. You cannot as an individual, family, church or nation break God's ways and not expect to pay a price. 'The wages of sin is death'. and by God's grace and mercy, He disciplines us to correct us. However, when the people continue in their sin and deepen their wickedness against Him, the judgements increase. The knowledge of the ways of God's consistency throughout the Scripture and throughout history is needed. but if the leadership and people are in ignorance on why this is happening, and what they should do in response. Satan and hell will have their way and sins turn into abominations and God 'gives them over to a reprobate mind'. Thus accelerating the destruction of a people/person who have violated the ways of God in His order of His creation.
And the church is judged as much, or even more so, for they had the Word of God and they remained in ignorance. They negelcted the Word, they did not give ear to His servants, they hardened the heart and neck against doing that which was required to atone for the sins. and God, Who entrusted His people, with sharing and declaring His ways of what is right and wrong, holds them accountability. 'You knew better, but you did not do better' saith the Lord. This is demonstrated in Ezekiel 33 and 3 where God declares the work of the watchmen to sound the warning.
III. Opportunity for restoration and/or revival from a proper response
During these times of tragedy, disaster, death and destruction leadership in our nation has called for 'days of prayer'. when such moments of devastation has happened, social media and church leaders use the words 'Pray for _____'. These are moments that should compel leaders and all people of our great need for God's help in times of need. This is dealing with the aftermath by praying for help. Spiritual leaders should be the ones that recognize 'why' these things are happening.
And the spiritual leaders should answer the question to 'why these remedial judgments are happening to us'. Found within the word of God, God is very clear on why He causes and allows such things to happen to a people/person. And after that remedial judgment occurs, God awaits their response to correct what has provoked Him to anger and wrath. Prayer leaders and intercessors understanding these things plead on behalf of God to 'stay His hand' in mercy. Understanding that God is righteous in His judgement, yet 'in wrath we seek mercy'.
Started: September 5, 2017
Continued: 9/6;
Finished;
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