2 Chronicles 7:14 (HCSB) and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
In the wake of the senseless and tragic murders of nine innocent people in Charleston, SC this week you will probably hear and see this scripture countless times. In fact I posted it on my Facebook page today. But in thinking about that act of mass murder I also remembered many other instances of mass killings in this country going back nearly as far as the founding of this nation. There have been more than 200 since 2006. A USA Today article some time ago says a mass killing takes place about every two weeks in this country.
No this post is not a rant about gun control although those of you who know me know my position on gun control. It’s not a rant about race relations in this country although those of you who know me know my position on race relations. It’s not a post to defend my political or social or moral ideologies, although those of you who know me know my positions on these things. It is not a post to defend my religious beliefs or to convince you to accept them. I’m not going to ask if you are saved or want to be saved in this post. I will ask it in others but not this one. This post is a plea to all of us white, black, red, yellow, Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, independent, Christian, non-Christian, atheist, straight, gay, to take a look at ourselves and this nation, and start making those changes within ourselves, changes that end these horrific acts. That may sound like an impossible task, and it may be, but it’s worth a try.
Some say that things really got bad in this country when prayer was taken out of the schools. Others say it was when it became easier to get abortions. Others say it was when we stopped punishing parents for discipline that government thought was too harsh. Some say that when the Democrats led government they were too liberal and that’ when it started getting bad. It really doesn’t matter when it started does it? It’s now time to start putting an end to it.
I know that at the root of these kinds of things is the fact that there is evil in this world as a result of Adam’s sin. I also know that evil will continue until the return of Jesus to this world. However while we wait there are some things we can do to make that wait more bearable and one is to turn our attention to the One who does have the answers. That One is our heavenly Father who has given us promises and survival tools in His Word, the Bible. I know that I said that I will not defend my moral ideology, or my religious belief in this post but when I’m looking for a answer to the most difficult problems I don’t know any better place to go than to the source of all the answers and for me that’s the bible.
In the wake of the senseless and tragic murders of nine innocent people in Charleston, SC this week you will probably hear and see this scripture countless times. In fact I posted it on my Facebook page today. But in thinking about that act of mass murder I also remembered many other instances of mass killings in this country going back nearly as far as the founding of this nation. There have been more than 200 since 2006. A USA Today article some time ago says a mass killing takes place about every two weeks in this country.
No this post is not a rant about gun control although those of you who know me know my position on gun control. It’s not a rant about race relations in this country although those of you who know me know my position on race relations. It’s not a post to defend my political or social or moral ideologies, although those of you who know me know my positions on these things. It is not a post to defend my religious beliefs or to convince you to accept them. I’m not going to ask if you are saved or want to be saved in this post. I will ask it in others but not this one. This post is a plea to all of us white, black, red, yellow, Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, independent, Christian, non-Christian, atheist, straight, gay, to take a look at ourselves and this nation, and start making those changes within ourselves, changes that end these horrific acts. That may sound like an impossible task, and it may be, but it’s worth a try.
Some say that things really got bad in this country when prayer was taken out of the schools. Others say it was when it became easier to get abortions. Others say it was when we stopped punishing parents for discipline that government thought was too harsh. Some say that when the Democrats led government they were too liberal and that’ when it started getting bad. It really doesn’t matter when it started does it? It’s now time to start putting an end to it.
I know that at the root of these kinds of things is the fact that there is evil in this world as a result of Adam’s sin. I also know that evil will continue until the return of Jesus to this world. However while we wait there are some things we can do to make that wait more bearable and one is to turn our attention to the One who does have the answers. That One is our heavenly Father who has given us promises and survival tools in His Word, the Bible. I know that I said that I will not defend my moral ideology, or my religious belief in this post but when I’m looking for a answer to the most difficult problems I don’t know any better place to go than to the source of all the answers and for me that’s the bible.
Here is just some of what I found in the scriptures when I ask about what God says about nations, and I substitute the United States for nations, and government, and leaders.
Psalm 33:12 (NLT) What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
Isaiah 60:12 (NLT) For the nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed.
Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Romans 13:1 (NLT) Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
Psalm 22:28 (NLT For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.
Proverbs 21:1 (NLT) The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.
Proverbs 11:14 (NLT) Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. is safety.
Matthew 12:25 (NLT) Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart
Leviticus 26:6 (NLT) “I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land
Psalm 66:7 (NLT) For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance.
Deuteronomy 4:7 (NLT) For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?
If we as a nation will just read, meditate, and apply just some of these things what a change will come over this county.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (HCSB) and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
If those of us who are God’s people will right now humble ourselves, bow our heads, or fall on our knees, or fall on our faces, or stand; whatever you do and in whatever posture you do it in, pray and seek God’s face. Then turn from those things that we know are against the will of God, I believe that we will begin to see God’s healing of the land take place.
I will end this post with Daniel’s prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem and make it my prayer for this nation..
Daniel 9:4-19 (NLT)4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.6 We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.7 “Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.
8 O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.10 We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets.11 All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. “So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.12 You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem.13 Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.14 Therefore, the LORD has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The LORD our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.15 “O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.16 In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.17 “O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.18 “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.19 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”
Psalm 33:12 (NLT) What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
Isaiah 60:12 (NLT) For the nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed.
Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Romans 13:1 (NLT) Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
Psalm 22:28 (NLT For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.
Proverbs 21:1 (NLT) The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.
Proverbs 11:14 (NLT) Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. is safety.
Matthew 12:25 (NLT) Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart
Leviticus 26:6 (NLT) “I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land
Psalm 66:7 (NLT) For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance.
Deuteronomy 4:7 (NLT) For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?
If we as a nation will just read, meditate, and apply just some of these things what a change will come over this county.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (HCSB) and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
If those of us who are God’s people will right now humble ourselves, bow our heads, or fall on our knees, or fall on our faces, or stand; whatever you do and in whatever posture you do it in, pray and seek God’s face. Then turn from those things that we know are against the will of God, I believe that we will begin to see God’s healing of the land take place.
I will end this post with Daniel’s prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem and make it my prayer for this nation..
Daniel 9:4-19 (NLT)4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.6 We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.7 “Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.
8 O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.10 We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets.11 All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. “So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.12 You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem.13 Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.14 Therefore, the LORD has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The LORD our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.15 “O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.16 In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.17 “O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.18 “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.19 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”
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