November 14 2023

Today, Tuesday November 14

Repeated Rebellion

Psalm 106:34-46

34 They did not destroy the peoples, Concerning whom the LORD had commanded them,

35 But they mingled with the Gentiles And learned their works;

36 They served their idols, Which became a snare to them.

37 They even sacrificed their sons And their daughters to demons,

38 And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds.

40 Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance.

41 And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Many times He delivered them; But they rebelled in their counsel, And were brought low for their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry;

45 And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.

46 He also made them to be pitied By all those who carried them away captive.

Every month as I’m reading these verses in Psalm 106 that are before us today, I can’t help but think of our beloved America. I believe that these are some of the saddest verses in the Bible and give us the picture of any nation that forgets God, neglects His Word, disobeys His laws, turns their backs on Him and begins to worship the gods of the pagan cultures around them.

This is exactly what has happened in my lifetime in our country. Psalm 9:17 says: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.” We have forgotten God in almost every imaginable way in our country. Even in most of our churches we are preaching a “social gospel”. We hear “make me feel good” messages. Our worship music is all about me and my comfort. God is looked upon as “a friend” and is no longer considered as a holy God Who will hold us accountable for our sins.

We have sown our wild oats and have forgotten the warning in Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Corruption fills every corner of our society. We see violence in our homes, in our schools, in the workplace, and in our cities and on the streets of our nation. “Every imagination of thoughts of our hearts is evil continually”, like in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5). Psalm 12:8 has become true: “The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.” We promote and reward evil and punish good and it is no wonder we have become a nation of zombies and addicts. We are “shedding innocence blood” by aborting our babies, and sacrificing our children, to pursue our idols of money and pleasure. We are now experiencing “hell on earth” with hatred, violence, corruption, and war all around us!

Psalm 106:34-46 describes how this happened to Israel as they repeatedly rebelled against God. God in His grace took His people into Canaan and gave them victory over the nations living there. The twelve tribes claimed their inheritance and settled down to enjoy the land and serve the Lord. They were faithful all during the leadership of Joshua and the elders that he selected and trained, but when the third generation came along, they compromised and began to serve the false gods of their defeated enemies (Judg. 2:7-23). The people knew the terms of the covenant that Moses had given them (Lev. 26; Deut. 28-30), but they disobeyed it. Instead of destroying the godless society of the nations in Canaan as God commanded (Num. 33:50-56; Deut. 7:12-26; 20:16-18), the Israelites gradually compromised with them and then imitated them, including the inhumane practices that defiled the land God gave them (Lev. 18:24-28; Num. 35:30-34; Deut. 21:22-23; Jer. 3:1-10). They had been "married" to Jehovah at Sinai, but now they prostituted themselves to idols and grieved the Lord, inviting His chastening. The Lord brought six nations against Israel and for over one hundred years punished His people right in their own land. When they cried out to Him for mercy, He heard them and raised up judges to deliver them from their enemies; but then the nation lapsed into idolatry again, and the cycle was repeated. In His mercy, the Lord heard their cries and forgave them (Judg. 3:9, 15; 4:3; 6:6-7; 10:10; Lev. 26:40-42), but this could not go on forever.

Today, may the Lord grant us the spirit of repentance so that we might experience His mercy and forgiveness!

God bless!