"The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle." (Psalm 78:9)
Several verses in the rest of the Psalm give the reason they, "turned back in the day of battle....They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them....They did not believe...God, and did not trust in His salvation." There was hope for Israel, however, just as there can be hope for the United States of America and any nation, "When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer."
If you read all of Psalm 78, you will see not only how it applies to nations, but how it applies to our lives. There are such phrases as, "He did miracles," then, "They forgot what He had done....He guided them. But they continued to sin against Him....Time after time He restrained His anger....But they put God to the test." Yet, in all our wickedness, the Bible reveals the "long-suffering" of King Jesus. Time and again there is the call to repentance, and the accompanying forgiveness and restoration of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Several verses in the rest of the Psalm give the reason they, "turned back in the day of battle....They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them....They did not believe...God, and did not trust in His salvation." There was hope for Israel, however, just as there can be hope for the United States of America and any nation, "When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer."
If you read all of Psalm 78, you will see not only how it applies to nations, but how it applies to our lives. There are such phrases as, "He did miracles," then, "They forgot what He had done....He guided them. But they continued to sin against Him....Time after time He restrained His anger....But they put God to the test." Yet, in all our wickedness, the Bible reveals the "long-suffering" of King Jesus. Time and again there is the call to repentance, and the accompanying forgiveness and restoration of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 79 says, "Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your Name's sake. Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" Now you can see why I talk of the Bible as the greatest Prayer Book ever. I prayed/pray this for America. Whatever nation you live in, pray this for that nation. I pray this for the Church. The Cross of Jesus reminds us that He does, "deliver us and forgive our sins for [His] Name's sake."
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of Your Name." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
