We have observed before that God created Israel as a monarchy, promising that the house of David would always have a son on the throne to govern and protect God’s children. The Bible has shown that process to be a rocky road.
We have also considered parallels between Israel’s monarchy and America’s democratic rule of law. In the creation of both systems of government, we know that God played a key role, leading the founders to the right answers.
For Israel, the voice of God was heard primarily through its prophets, who made it clear what God’s top priorities are, which sins are the most abhorrent to God, and what form God’s warnings and judgments would ultimately take. This makes us wonder what the right American leader can do to know God’s priorities and what is most abhorrent to God today.
In 2 Kings 11, the prophet Jehoiada protects the life of the seven year-old Joash, the last direct descendant of David, and to make him king. As protector of the boy king, Jehoiada makes covenant with the Lord and the king and all the people that they the Lord’s people. Yes, they need reminding! God’s priorities are so clear that the people go and destroy the house of Baal, the ultimate false god that the God of Israel abhors.
As a result, Joash (also referred to as “Jehoash”) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of his life (12:2a). Why? Because he was advised continuously by the sage Jehoiada (12:2b). Unfortunately, the high places of idol worship were not taken away (the very highest priority of God since occupation of the Promised Land) and the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings outside the house of God.
We see this over and over in these chapters: the kings and the people try to obey God, but their leaders fail to remove the one thing that is most hated by God. Therefore, although Israel is blessed in many ways, it is also under the higher priority of judgment by God for its national sin of maintaining the high places.
That judgment takes the form of constant God-approved oppression by the King of Syria.
Yet:
“… the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.” [1]
American “exceptionalism” has always leaned toward the sense that God has specially blessed America in modern times similar to how he blessed Israel in ancient times.
But this raises a very hard question or two. Are there national sins like Israel’s that we in America continue to commit? While God does not want to destroy America, are we careening straight into his warnings and judgments?
If so, what might those sins be and how can we make a covenant with God, reminding ourselves that we are his people? I can think of at least three: removing prayer from our schools; murdering our unwanted babies en masse; and gross sexual deviation. What would you name?
If we do not want to become like Israel, exiled from its homeland, we must select a leader who will find a Jehoiada and listen to the voice of God, not only to avoid the most abhorrent sins, but to restore us in God’s eyes, as David did after Bathsheba, in full repentance.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 13:23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
We have also considered parallels between Israel’s monarchy and America’s democratic rule of law. In the creation of both systems of government, we know that God played a key role, leading the founders to the right answers.
For Israel, the voice of God was heard primarily through its prophets, who made it clear what God’s top priorities are, which sins are the most abhorrent to God, and what form God’s warnings and judgments would ultimately take. This makes us wonder what the right American leader can do to know God’s priorities and what is most abhorrent to God today.
In 2 Kings 11, the prophet Jehoiada protects the life of the seven year-old Joash, the last direct descendant of David, and to make him king. As protector of the boy king, Jehoiada makes covenant with the Lord and the king and all the people that they the Lord’s people. Yes, they need reminding! God’s priorities are so clear that the people go and destroy the house of Baal, the ultimate false god that the God of Israel abhors.
As a result, Joash (also referred to as “Jehoash”) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of his life (12:2a). Why? Because he was advised continuously by the sage Jehoiada (12:2b). Unfortunately, the high places of idol worship were not taken away (the very highest priority of God since occupation of the Promised Land) and the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings outside the house of God.
We see this over and over in these chapters: the kings and the people try to obey God, but their leaders fail to remove the one thing that is most hated by God. Therefore, although Israel is blessed in many ways, it is also under the higher priority of judgment by God for its national sin of maintaining the high places.
That judgment takes the form of constant God-approved oppression by the King of Syria.
Yet:
“… the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.” [1]
American “exceptionalism” has always leaned toward the sense that God has specially blessed America in modern times similar to how he blessed Israel in ancient times.
But this raises a very hard question or two. Are there national sins like Israel’s that we in America continue to commit? While God does not want to destroy America, are we careening straight into his warnings and judgments?
If so, what might those sins be and how can we make a covenant with God, reminding ourselves that we are his people? I can think of at least three: removing prayer from our schools; murdering our unwanted babies en masse; and gross sexual deviation. What would you name?
If we do not want to become like Israel, exiled from its homeland, we must select a leader who will find a Jehoiada and listen to the voice of God, not only to avoid the most abhorrent sins, but to restore us in God’s eyes, as David did after Bathsheba, in full repentance.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ki 13:23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
RSS Feed