Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
(Psalm 2:8-11 NIV)
One morning recently I read all 14 chapters of the biblical book of Hosea. Hosea is not a very encouraging book. Its basic message of gloom and doom is a warning to God’s people in Israel that their nation will be destroyed because of their sin against God. The messages for the people are harsh and unrelenting, with few glimpses of God’s mercy. It’s a hard book to read in many ways, especially if you believe that our nation and many other nations of today have turned to sin instead of God.
Then again, it’s an opportunity to pray:
God,
Today we intercede for this nation and the nations of the world. May we be people and nations that do not approach you only with words or honor you only with lip service, but be people whose hearts are close to you. May our reverence for you not be rote words handed down from our forefathers in the faith, but be deeply understood and meaningful to today’s people. We pray you will once again do marvelous and amazing things with your people, wonderful and astonishing things. We pray the wisdom of earthly “wise” men will perish, but your Wisdom will reign supreme. We pray your judgement – not ours – would be poured out on those who try to hide evil plans, whose corrupt deeds are done in dark places, and those who believe their deceitful and perversity will never be uncovered. Turn these things upside down! We know that you are the Potter who made us and formed us; we are the works of your hands. Open the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind so they will hear your Voice. Increase our belief and joy in you, Lord, so that we rejoice in what you are doing. Cut off all those who are intent upon doing evil – from the scoffer to the tyrant, from those who falsely condemn others, to those who defraud with meaninglessness. May those whose minds are in error come to know your Truth. May those whose words spread idealogical poison, criticism, and downright untruth be turned toward your godly instruction. May your children, stand in awe and reverent fear of you. May they sanctify your name. May we, your people, who are called by your Name come to you in humility, seek your face, and pray for this land. May we as a nation turn from our wicked ways so you will forgive and heal our land. We ask all of this in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV)
Then the Lord said,
“Because this nation approaches [Me only] with their words
And honors Me [only] with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me is a tradition that is learned by rote [without any regard for its meaning],
Therefore, listen carefully, I will again do marvelous and amazing things with this people, wonderful and astonishing things;
And the wisdom of their wise men will perish,
And the understanding of their discerning men will be hidden.”
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who [try to] deeply hide their plans from the Lord,
Whose deeds are done in a dark place,
And who say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”
You turn things upside down [with your perversity]!
Shall the potter be considered equal with the clay,
That the thing that is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”;
Or the thing that is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
Blessing after Discipline
Is it not yet a very little while
Until Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field,
And the fertile field regarded as a forest?
On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book,
And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see [the words of the book].
The afflicted also will increase their joy in the Lord,
And the needy of mankind will rejoice and celebrate in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will come to an end and the scorner will be finished,
Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off—
Those who cause a person to be condemned with a [false] word,
And lay a trap for him who upholds justice at the [city] gate,
And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments.
Therefore, the Lord, who redeemed Abraham [from paganism] says this, concerning the house of Jacob (Israel):
“Jacob will not be ashamed, nor will his face turn pale [with disappointment because of his children’s degenerate behavior];
For when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst,
They will sanctify My Name;
They will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
And will stand in awe and reverent fear of the God of Israel.
“Those who err in mind will know the truth,
And those who criticize and murmur discontentedly will accept instruction. (Isaiah 29:13-24 AMP)