So are we as a country…under God’s ‘judgment’? Many today would suggest that, or at least heading in that direction. And if we are, what does God’s ‘judgment’ even look like?

Is it possible that God has ‘allowed’ the ‘enemy to come in like a flood’, as Isaiah 59:19 describes it? And who is our ‘enemy’? Is it the flood of illegal immigrants who have snuck into our country? Or maybe its the growing tide of Muslims who practice Islam and are to many, ‘overstepping their bounds’ by building mosques and getting involved with local and national politics. Both groups seem to many... to pose a threat to our ‘way of life’ here in America, and many are raising up their voices of concern in opposition to them being here.

So today, let me give you the benefit of the doubt and go along with this idea that both groups of people whom we have looked at the past few days…are indeed an ‘enemy’ (or at least a threat) to this country and our way of life as we know it. Were you aware that we have countless examples recorded in our Old Testaments that make it quite clear…when God brings His ‘judgments’ on a nation (which most often it was His own people)…guess who He usually uses to do this? The neighboring enemies of His people. Let me cite Habakkuk 1 and Joel 2 as a couple of quick examples.

In the OT, there were plenty of ‘enemies’ to go around, and God made frequent use of them to punish Israel for their continued disobedience and disregard for His law. Surely you have heard of the Philistines and the Chaldeans and the Amorites to name a few. And look how God used king Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and the temple, before taking God’s people into captivity for 70 years; and God even told them upfront what He was about to this.

While I continue to make the case that God has never changed (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8), that doesn’t mean our understanding of His ‘ways’ might not take on a new perspective (Rom. 1:18). For example, who is our ‘enemy’ today, according to 1 Pet. 5:8? Are we not told that our enemy is ‘the devil, who goes about like a roaring lion seeking to devour’? Does he not hold the whole world under his sway or influence, if they are not following Jesus? (1 John 5:19; Acts 26:18)

Isn’t it made clear that we ‘wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness’? (Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:3-5)

So now, the question could be asked - can and do… these ‘spiritual forces of darkness’ ‘work through’, and even ‘use’… various groups of people? To which I would say- absolutely. But this is where it gets interesting, because the ‘enemy’ can do nothing without God’s permission or knowledge. So when the ‘enemy’ shows up at our door, which Jesus suggested would happen (Matt. 12:43-45; 24:42-44)…it’s time to start asking questions. Why are they here and why has God allowed them to come in; and even more importantly…how am I as a Christian to respond? This is important given the fact that as we have already established, God ‘uses our enemies’ to ‘punish’ or to ‘chasten’…and to carry out His judgments. (Hab. 1:12; 1 Cor. 5:5; 11:30-32)

Let me pause here for a moment to clarify two things about this idea of God’s ‘judgements’.

First of all, we tend to use the term in the future tense when we read of ‘coming judgements’ in the Book of Revelation; or in the past tense as we read through the OT. But truth be told, the whole world is already ‘under judgment’ because of sin; and death and condemnation are already on the earth and upon everyone in it, at least on those who are not yet ‘in the ark’. (Rom. 5:12; John 3:17-18,36; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John 5:19). What do you think Jesus came to 'save' us from? (Rom. 5:9)

Now, scripture does seem to indicate that there can be periods or incidents of judgement that will and do come, in addition to the judgement that is already here. I know we can get tangled up with words like ‘punishment’ and ‘judgement’ and ‘discipline’, but make no mistake about it…God’s judgements have not disappeared from the earth. (John 5:14; Eph. 5:6; 1 Cor. 11:30-32). Care to explain what happened to Ananias and his wife in Acts 5, or King Herod in Acts 12:20-23?

The other point that needs to be made when it comes to God pouring out His judgement has to do with whom the first recipients of it usually are. You might take a look at 1 Peter 4:17: “For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”  

And once again…God does indeed use the enemy to carry His judgements out (Ps. 78:49-50), just as He did in Jeremiah’s day when He brought Babylon in to take them captive. But after that 70 years of captivity was up, He then pronounced judgement on Babylon (Jer. 50-51), promising to use “His armory, and bringing out the weapons of His indignation” (Jer. 50:25). Care to guess who/what they were?

We also see a similar scenario play out in Revelation, how God unleashes the powers of darkness to pour out His wrath on the earth (Rev. 9)…but in the end…He then gathers up Satan and all his angels and they are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-10).

I closed out yesterday’s message referencing 2 Chron. 7:14, a familiar passage to many. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but when God talks about ‘His people’…He’s not talking about Americans. That verse often gets tossed out and quoted as if it is being directed to our country…and that ‘if America would humble itself…etc. But God’s speaking directly to His people, whether they are in America or the Congo or Australia. We…are the ones needing to repent in order to have our ‘land’(hearts) healed.

And I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if/when God’s judgments are about to fall, the most effective means in which one might ‘turn His anger away’…is through repentance; NOT by ‘voting accordingly’ (Joel 2:12-14). Also, do you remember Nineveh? .

If you care to read ahead for tomorrow’s lesson, you might go over chapter 5 in the Book of Isaiah; I’ll meet you back here tomorrow, Lord willing.