Judges 2:20-22 “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.”
Speaking about faithfulness, Noah Webster wrote the following:
“The history of the Israelites is full of instruction. God chose that nation to be the depositaries of his laws; delivered them from bondage in Egypt; performed many miracles for their preservation and protection; sent one prophet after another to warn the nation against forsaking God; gave them able and wise kings to conquer the land of Canaan and established the state; but many of the kings apostatized to idolatry; the people became corrupt; and at last, God executed judgment upon the nation by the captivity of the king and most of the people, and putting an end to the state. Such or similar has been the fate of all corrupt nations; and such will be our fate, if we neglect the worship and service of God. God’s moral government requires that men and nations, renouncing his authority, should meet with exemplary punishment.”
The history of God’s people is full of instruction. They prospered when they were faithful because the Lord was with them. Yet, when they became corrupt and fell into idolatry their nation faltered and failed. As Webster stated, “such or similar has been the fate of all corrupt nations.” He feared that such would be our fate if we ever drifted from the Lord’s preeminence in our land.
Our nation must return to an understanding of God’s preeminence; we must do so as individuals as well. We must desire His miracles for our preservation and protection as we have enjoyed in the past. PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS NATION WOULD LEARN FROM THE INSTRUCTION OF GOD’S WORD AND THE HISTORY OF GOD’S PEOPLE. The lessons can make the difference between preservation and protection or exemplary punishment.
