| “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land…” |
| —Zephaniah 2:2a |
When we very carefully study the way that God has interacted with those He particularly loves, there is no question that God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies have paved the way to American exceptionalism. So very many unusual and critically important events have fallen into place at just the right time throughout our history. We do not believe in coincidences. Rather, we believe that God’s hand rests on those He chooses to serve His purposes. Those who founded the United States of America, and those who have fought and died to preserve our freedoms, are just such individuals.
But sadly, as a nation we are slipping further and further away from the God who has been so very gracious to us. To whom much has been given, much is required. We owe God everything, but today we seldom acknowledge Him as the source of our greatness.
This phenomenon is not new. Time and time again, God’s chosen people, Israel, received a great outpouring of God’s richest blessings. But, all too soon, they would fall into sin and deny God’s faithfulness to them. Please take note of what the Prophet wrote in Zephaniah 2:1-3:
Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you.
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
Let us hear God’s call to repentance today. Instead of continuing to turn our back on God, as a nation made exceptional among all the nations of the world by God’s mercy and grace, let us return to the One who made our nation great. As more and more evil consumes us, let us fall to our knees and ask for forgiveness for our unfaithfulness. It is not yet too late to become revived.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, May 19, 2016
