Ancient Israel, the United States, and the Key to a Nation’s Survival

By: American Decency Staff

Written by Chris Johnson In all of history, there have been only two nations founded on the truth of the Word of God. It is worthwhile for the second to look to the first to understand how to survive. The book of Ezekiel is the account of that prophet of the fall of Jerusalem to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Ezekiel's prophecies warning the city of their impending doom because of their wickedness. As Ezekiel 20:21 explains, the Israelites did not follow God's laws and they did not honor the Sabbath day. But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. They also profaned God's temple by worshipping idols within its walls. (Ezekiel 8 ) These were the reasons God cited through Ezekiel for His destruction of the capitol city of His chosen people – so clearly these commands are extremely important to Him. If we are to compare the United States then, with all its history of being founded on the Word of God, to Israel, God's chosen people of the Old Testament, we have to ask if we are guilty of the same thing. I think the answer is obviously a resounding, "yes!" We clearly don't honor God's laws. We won't even allow them to be shown on public property! We don't even talk about honoring the Sabbath, but God makes it clear that this is a big deal. It wasn't all that long ago that a majority of stores were closed on Sunday, now it's just another day to make another dollar. To many Christians, church is an inconvenience, and they attend out of guilt and as rarely as their conscience allows. And to non Christians, Sunday is just another Saturday. As a culture, we are a far cry from "remembering God's Sabbath day and keeping it Holy," or set apart. Yet this is one of the main reasons that God allowed his chosen people to undergo the horrible siege of the Babylonians, which led to atrocities like cannibalism even of one's own children. And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again. Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds. (Ezekiel 5:9-10a) What about idolatry, or even idolatry in the church? That also is very true of the Church today. Some will say money is the biggest idol for Americans. Others will say sex or pleasure. I think that those are only symptoms of the disease.  The real American idol is self. As R.C. Sproul (I believe) has said, we have remade God in our own image. If God's Word says something that we don't like, or is uncomfortable, or too hard to defend against the world, we just say that that part was only a suggestion. Or it's just poetry. Or that applied to their ancient culture, but not to ours. For instance, emergent church guru Rob Bell recently wrote a book claiming that there is no Hell. God warns in Ezekiel 22:25 about the religious leaders who mislead Israel. The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.  Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. So the religious leaders are leading them to death because they aren't telling the people the difference between right and wrong. The politicians are fighting over the people like wolves fighting over prey for their own gain. The prophets are saying everything is fine and speaking for God when God is not speaking to them. And the people are dishonest. Look around. Watch TV for awhile. Sound familiar? God also cites Israel's "lewdness" as a reason for its destruction. He then gives Ezekiel a message which brings hope to my heart that God is willing to – he wants to – heal our land. "On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you.  I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 24:13) When God sends his judgment, it is relentless. But he is willing to cleanse us if we repent. In our society today, there are millions addicted to pornography. There are millions who have been raised and indoctrinated to believe that their own happiness is all they have to live for in this life. That may mean living off the state when you are perfectly capable of working or it may mean raping women that you're attracted to. Whatever makes you happy. That is why Christianity is the answer to a sick society. We need His cleansing. And we need to not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the most hard-hitting message we can  take from Ezekiel comes from another reason that God gives for his destruction of Israel. There was no one to build up the spiritual walls that were being torn down around God's people. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 22:30-31) May I be that man to build up the wall and stand in the gap. May you be that man or woman. That is what George Washington meant when he said, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensible supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness…" Our first president got it. It is not only our Christian duty, but our patriotic duty to stand firm on the Word of God. ======================================================= Your support is important to our ability to make a difference. Donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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