Ezekiel 33:10-11
“Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” vs. 11
Ezekiel had a word from the Lord for the house of Israel, a declaration of tough love that would require turning away from their evil ways. Modern self-styled prophets use verses like these as a basis for their dire predictions for our country’s future if we don’t turn and repent. The difficulty is that it’s hard to pinpoint what counts as wickedness…it’s just not an objective exercise. Some point to lapses in individual morality and they have in mind the decline of sexual standards and the fragmentation of the family, many times coupled with the growing acceptance of the LGBT community. Other so called prophets frame the issue politically and say our decline in greatness can only be stopped by asserting our military and economic dominance. It seems obvious that too often such prophecies are merely a reflection of personal opinion and not a true word from the Lord. So how do we know when the Lord does have a word for us? Here those prophets of old can give us a clue. Never do they say we need to make things easier for the rich! Always they are advocates for justice, particularly for societal outcasts and for those who are poor. If we’re interested, our scriptures do provide a blueprint for God-pleasing national behaviors…it’s really not that much of a mystery.
Thought for the Day: In what areas do I think this country needs to repent?
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