"For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof." This verse is Hosea 8:14 from the KJV. Charles Spurgeon led off with it on a sermon on Psalm 50. Most of the newer translations use the word 'palaces' instead of temples....but the meaning is the same. Israel was looking to its government to save them in times of trouble.
This is not new to what we ourselves do in America....for it had been a long time since we looked to God as our fortress and our deliverer. It was March 30, 1863 when President Lincoln signed the document put before him designating April 30 to be a....Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer. You can easily find this document to read....and I hope that you do....or you can go to my post from March 15, 2020 titled....National Day Of Prayer and Humiliation. We could not construct a document like this today. The Civil War was going badly for the Union....Fredericksburg had been a disaster....and even with this day of prayer....Chancellorsville was just ahead.....to be followed by Gettysburg
Psalm 50 should be read by us in America today....and taken seriously.....for it describes us....particularly this new abrasive and arrogant Republican Party....where its members may stand at the front of either chamber....and use pious godly words.....but in their heart they are relying on their own potential powers to right this ship.
This ship will not be righted....not to permit us to go back anyway....for God had warned us for a half century at least....warnings that we ignored. Jonah may have spoken to us at one time....but those warnings did not phase us....so God spoke to us through Nahum....with no warning....only a pronouncement to prepare for what is ahead.
This is a Psalm of only 23 verses. God gathers everyone around to hear what He is going to say. He is not going to condemn our prayers or our church worship....but rather the lack of sincerity in those prayers and church worship.
"Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." verses 14-15
He will be there for us if we turn back to Him....but He then addresses those in our government who reference His name all the time.....
"What right have you to declare my statutes,
Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Seeing you hate instruction
And cast My words behind you." verses 16-17
It was only this past September when one of our new Republican politician heroes quoted Ephesians....using the words for his own purpose....this at a Christian college....where he told the students to...."put on the full armor of God.....against the left's schemes." God condemned arrogance such as this in the Psalm...."What right have you to declare my statutes...."
We quote the Bible all the time....and the women wear delicate crosses on their neckline....as we then commence to tear and devour anyone in our way to political power....and throw honesty and integrity away in order to strengthen this power that we really need! This is what Donald Trump had done to us....this is what we have become....
"When you saw a thief, you consented with him.,
And have been a partaker with adulterers.
You gave your mouth to evil,
And your tongue frames deceit;
You sit and speak against your brother..." 18-20
Psalm 50 concludes with this....
"Now consider this, you who forget God,
Lest I tear you in pieces,
And there be none to deliver;
Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
And to him who orders his conduct aright
I will show the salvation of God" v 22-23
Political power is not the answer.....but the quest for it has us in bondage....as we are in captivity to these men who call down God all the time....but they themselves do not rely on Him....if they even truly believe. Precious time is wasted sitting at their feet....being stirred up to hate.....seeking revenge....and all in the name of God. The next two years are planned out for us....drinking from broken cisterns....but Jeremiah 7:4 shouts out to us...."Do not trust in these deceptive words; 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD'."
