Almost everyone agrees that it’s a challenging time in America. But there is little agreement about who is at fault and what to do about it. Is it the police, the Democrats, the Republicans, systemic racism, our form of government, the rich, or the poor? Perhaps, the answer is “yes” to some or all of them to one degree or another. But the real answer lies somewhere else. What is it and what can we do about it?
Today’s Readings:
Psalm 69.29-36
Proverbs 17.27-28
John 13.21-38
The Trouble with America
1 Kings 17 & 18:
The Trouble with Israel
Israel faced many challenging times, as well. During this time in 1 Kings, like today in America, there was evil and injustice everywhere.
Solomon had died and the nation had been divided into a Northern and Southern Kingdom. With a few exceptions, this started a procession of kings in both kingdoms who would lead the people deeper and deeper into idolatry. The result would be God’s repeated judgment and, eventually, their captivity.
Today’s reading focuses on the northern part of the divided kingdom where Ahab, their most infamous king, had taken power.
… Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him … he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal … Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him (1 Ki. 16.30-33).
Wow, what an indictment! Some of those other guys were pretty wicked, but God says Ahab was the worst! And he and his wicked wife were not afraid to use their power to hurt, even murder, innocent people (1 Ki. 21.1-16).
In chapter 17 God announced His judgment through the Prophet Elijah.
And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1 Kings 17.1).
James 5.17 tells us that when Elijah prayed under God’s direction, it didn’t rain for three and a half years. But rather than looking to themselves and their own wickedness, Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, blamed Elijah.
When Elijah showed up, Ahab called him the “troubler of Israel.” Elijah answered in 18.18:
I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
The Trouble with America
It made me think about what is going on today in our nation. Everyone wants to say, “The trouble with America is this policy or that one. Everyone points the finger at someone or something else. The Democrats point to the Republicans; the Republicans to the Democrats; the poor to the rich, this group to that one, and on it goes.
Are there evil, racist people? Yes, and it’s not limited to any one race or group of people. When those people break the law, they need to be dealt with accordingly. But I believe they are a small minority compared to the good, decent, black, brown, white, and every other stripe of men and women in our nation.
Are there policies that need to be changed or improved? Always. But the answer is not to throw out our form of government. Part of the answer may be to vote out of office career politicians who month after month and year after year refuse to find real solutions.
But these things fall short of the real problem.
First, let me say, these problems are not new. And they are not just American problems. If you read the Bible, you can see that they have gone on since the fall.
So, what or who is to blame? What is the real trouble with America?
The Problem of the Heart
The problem is, actually, much deeper. The problem is the problem of evil. It’s a problem of the heart. It’s at its root a spiritual problem. And the farther we get from God and His principles, the worse these things will get. Look again at what God said through Elijah in 1 Kings 18.18:
I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
The Answer for the Trouble with America
The answer is genuine heart change, one heart at a time. It’s for Christian men and women to stand up for truth and display forgiveness and grace.
We are to be salt and light. So, we must first ask God to search our own hearts, ask for His forgiveness if we have sinned in our words, attitudes, and actions, and seek His help to maintain His standard in our own lives.
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (2 Tim. 1.13-14).
We must pray for His strength to help us love all people, extend grace, give hope, defend those who have been wronged in godly ways, and stand up for righteousness.
We must pray for our nation, our leaders, and those around us, even those who hate us or with whom we disagree. Not doing so is sinful.
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (1 Tim. 2.1-2).
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way (1 Sam. 12.23).
Share the Gospel
And we must share the gospel.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began (2 Tim. 1.8-9).
Racism, violence, disrespect for police officers and others in authority, it’s all sinful. And we must call it what it is.
But the answer is the same as it was in Ahab’s time. It’s turning to God in humble obedience and extending grace through forgiveness and reconciliation. The only thing that will bring real change is Jesus Christ and His gospel.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 69.29-36:
Magnify Him with Thanksgiving
Verses 29-30:
But I am poor and sorrowful; let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Part of turning back to God involves being thankful for the many blessings we do have, beginning with our relationship with Him. In spite of all that is going on, we in America and most of the Western world have much for which to be thankful.
Proverbs 17.27-28:
Even a Fool When He Shuts His Lips …
I love these two verses:
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
A wise man will speak the truth in a straightforward way and leave the rest to God. Rarely will arguing bring an opponent around to your way of thinking. And even a fool will look wiser if he keeps quiet.
John 13.21-38:
They Will Know Us by Our Love
Another great portion of Scripture (I guess you have figured out I love it all!!). Verse 35 says:
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Love is not merely some feeling we conjure up. It is who we are and how we treat others. 1 John 4.30:
If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Don’t say you love God and then be unloving to your spouse, your children, or your neighbor.
Just as God loved us when we least deserved it (Rom. 5.8), our lives should be characterized by sacrificial love for others.
That love should extend to those we consider the “troublers” of America and “troublers” in our lives. While we cannot agree with people or actions that contradict God’s Word, we are still to treat others with kindness and respect.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about the importance of godly friends, the cost of doing what’s right, the cost of laziness, and living based on the hope that is within us.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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