God Judges His People

Throughout the Old Testament, God lavishes gifts upon His people. His people accept the gifts, then turn away from Him: Adam and Eve; Jacob; the Israelites: The Israelites, in escaping from Egypt and traveling to the Promised Land, saw God’s provision and miracles, and their belief in Him lasted all of about five minutes before they whined and complained about the next issue. Finally, after numerous prophets, God pronounced His judgement on His people, and they were carried away to Babylon.

Notice that God’s judgement in the Bible is only against His people. We do not read of His judgement against heathen nations, except in the Final Judgement, or as punishment for persecuting His people (i.e., Amos Chs 1 & 2). God uses heathen nations to bring judgement on His people, but God saves His judgement on Earth for His people, to bring them back to Him.

In Joshua 24.15 Joshua directs God’s people to “choose you this day whom ye will serve. We really need to do this every single day (moment).

Again and again, God’s people are enticed by the cultures around them, and adopt those customs which appeal to them. Before they know it, they are living entirely in a heathen culture, following evil practices, and have forgotten their God.

Sound like America?

There is some discussion as to whether our country was a chosen nation of God. We established our nation according to Christian principles, but we did not include God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit in our nation’s documents. Even in our founding days, we were a split nation, embracing other-than-God cultures, striving to please and include all people.

There is much talk these days about God surely bringing judgement upon America. But God has called His people to come out of a heathen culture and give our lives fully unto God, and God alone. In that we have departed from our single focus, He will bring judgement on His people to bring us back to Him, not necessarily upon America as a nation.

God does not bring judgement upon one nation or another; He judges HIS OWN PEOPLE. That takes the onus off the unbelievers in America and places it where God intends: The responsibility for obedience is on the shoulders of His people.

Just as Israel in the days they were brought to Babylon, and there were many Israelites devoted to God who were carried away because this was a judgement against God’s people as a whole; so may God bring judgement against His people in America. When God either punishes the heathen, or brings judgement upon His people, there will be much suffering across the board. Perhaps this has already begun (drought, flooding, plague, sickness).

Where are you, as a Christian? Do you follow God with your whole heart? Or, are you a convenient Christian, keeping those things close to your heart that you cherish, but which are not fully obedient to God? Do you read God’s Word daily? Do you hide His Word in your heart, so that you might not sin against Him?

David was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13.14; Acts 13.22). He is an excellent example of a heart wholly given to God. Did David sin? Did he give in to some of the ways of the culture around him? Of course. But David repented. He always returned to the God he loved.

From Henry M. Morris, PH.D. Sunday, June 6, 2021  https://www.icr.org/article/12798/June+6+-+The+Whole+Heart

This phrase, “the whole heart,” occurs a number of times in the Bible, especially in the psalm of the Word, Psalm 119. Note the testimony of the psalmist in this great psalm.

1. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (v. 2).
2. “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments” (v. 10).
3. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (v. 34).
4. “I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word” (v. 58).
5. “The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart” (v. 69).
6. “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes” (v. 145).

Thus, we should “keep his testimonies” (v. 2), “keep thy law” (v. 34), “keep thy precepts” (v. 69), and “keep thy statutes” (v. 145) with our whole heart, for the good and sufficient reason that He is our Lord and has given us His eternal Word, magnified above all His name. HMM

May we always give our hearts wholly to God. May we read His Word (which is Truth), and walk in obedience. May we ever repent and turn back to His ways.

God is calling us. May we be as Samuel (1 Samuel 3.10) and respond, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.” God has spoken through His Word. Let us heed Him. Do not let your heart be divided between two masters. Let go of your sin, turn to God and repent. Even those “secret sins” – they are not so secret. (Read Secret Sin Not So Secret).   Die to yourself (John 12.23 – 26).

And, an important reminder: Pray for Christians around the world to be faithful and true to Elohim. Read God’s Word and pray it back to Him. God’s Word will not return to him void (Isaiah 55.11).

For more reading, go to “Likeminded” https://www.icr.org/article/12799/June+7+Likeminded