Mackinac Island, Michigan - August 21, 2014
Asa was a good king in Judah. He was a few generations after Solomon. In 2 Chronicles 14, it says "And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God." (v. 2) Judah had lapsed into various kinds of idolatry and false worship Asa took the initiative to remove those altars, high places and idols. He went on to use his office as king as a 'bully pulpit' and "commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment." (v. 4) The text then goes on to say, "He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace." (v. 6)
While Asa went about his rule strengthening the national defense, inspired writer of Scripture notes, "... the Lord gave him peace." There does seem to be a connection then between the efforts Asa made to reform Judah and the peace which the land experienced (by the Lord's doings).
It is true that Asa ruled Judah in a time when civil and religious laws were one. There was no separation between legislation applying to one's religious life and one's civil life. Today there is a distinction between the rule of government and the rule of the church in the life of its citizens. Having said that, isn't it still true what the writer of Proverbs says? "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace (reproach) to any people." (Proverbs 14:34) Isn't it still true that doing what is right in the eyes of the Sovereign Creator/Redeemer God brings benefit, in the short-term for those who do right? And wouldn't it also be true that when a leader of a nation exercises his or her authority for a righteous end, that there would be short-term benefit for that country?
When one considers the trends of the past several decades of morality in our nation, it is certainly cause for alarm. We have for decades now discarded the unborn for almost any reason - millions upon millions of unborn babies have been killed. And these unborn have been killed by a medical community that was historically understood to 'do no harm' to its patients.
For years we have seen 'no fault' divorces split apart families and those most important human relationships. The California Children of Divorce study has chronicled the long-term impact of divorce upon the children of those breakups. Further, while we are witnessing a decline in divorce in the past few years, however, that decline is not due to greater fidelity in marriage. Actually it is because fewer people are getting married! They are simply living together in a 'common law marriage' relationship. Marriage continues to be an institution in decline. This only furthers the insecurity of children born in these less than optimal relationships.
Oddly, we are now in a quandary about how to even define marriage. "What is marriage" is a question that courts are uncertain about how to answer. Where does one stop in allowing relationships to be called 'marriage'? Recently in Utah an appellate court struck down Utah's law banning polygamy. A recent Californian noted that he wanted to marry his computer - because he 'loved' his computer! Others have wondered if marriage ought to be expanded to more than simply two people - or to include non-people. Where will this uncertainty lead?
Pornography is a plague in our nation. Men and women are now routinely 'clicking' on to sites that flaunt sexual immorality and further undermining the monogamous marriage. Rather than enjoying (or anticipating enjoying) the companionship of one man/one woman marriage, millions are opting for fantasy and illusory relationships. How sad for the future of fulfilling faithful (traditional) marriage!
Crime and violent crime are a daily reality in all of our urban areas. Drug use is being legalized - besides Colorado and Washington, several other states are considering the legalizing the use of marijuana! As of now, states do not know formally how to assess 'the high' of marijuana and one's ability to operate a vehicle safely. Our law enforcement are in 'no man's land' when it comes to determining marijuana use and safety on our highways!
Add to these things the fact that, unlike King Asa, our country is not fortifying itself. Instead, we are cutting our military. Some 550 majors in the U. S. Army are being relieved of their duty - even in the face of very real military threats (ISIS being one of many current enemies). Could it be that we are going to experience - not peace or rest in the land, but further upheavals and strife? Could it be that we are going to continue to experience troubles brought about by not taking righteousness, as God sees it, seriously?
Asa was a good king in Judah. He was a few generations after Solomon. In 2 Chronicles 14, it says "And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God." (v. 2) Judah had lapsed into various kinds of idolatry and false worship Asa took the initiative to remove those altars, high places and idols. He went on to use his office as king as a 'bully pulpit' and "commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment." (v. 4) The text then goes on to say, "He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace." (v. 6)
While Asa went about his rule strengthening the national defense, inspired writer of Scripture notes, "... the Lord gave him peace." There does seem to be a connection then between the efforts Asa made to reform Judah and the peace which the land experienced (by the Lord's doings).
It is true that Asa ruled Judah in a time when civil and religious laws were one. There was no separation between legislation applying to one's religious life and one's civil life. Today there is a distinction between the rule of government and the rule of the church in the life of its citizens. Having said that, isn't it still true what the writer of Proverbs says? "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace (reproach) to any people." (Proverbs 14:34) Isn't it still true that doing what is right in the eyes of the Sovereign Creator/Redeemer God brings benefit, in the short-term for those who do right? And wouldn't it also be true that when a leader of a nation exercises his or her authority for a righteous end, that there would be short-term benefit for that country?
When one considers the trends of the past several decades of morality in our nation, it is certainly cause for alarm. We have for decades now discarded the unborn for almost any reason - millions upon millions of unborn babies have been killed. And these unborn have been killed by a medical community that was historically understood to 'do no harm' to its patients.
For years we have seen 'no fault' divorces split apart families and those most important human relationships. The California Children of Divorce study has chronicled the long-term impact of divorce upon the children of those breakups. Further, while we are witnessing a decline in divorce in the past few years, however, that decline is not due to greater fidelity in marriage. Actually it is because fewer people are getting married! They are simply living together in a 'common law marriage' relationship. Marriage continues to be an institution in decline. This only furthers the insecurity of children born in these less than optimal relationships.
Oddly, we are now in a quandary about how to even define marriage. "What is marriage" is a question that courts are uncertain about how to answer. Where does one stop in allowing relationships to be called 'marriage'? Recently in Utah an appellate court struck down Utah's law banning polygamy. A recent Californian noted that he wanted to marry his computer - because he 'loved' his computer! Others have wondered if marriage ought to be expanded to more than simply two people - or to include non-people. Where will this uncertainty lead?
Pornography is a plague in our nation. Men and women are now routinely 'clicking' on to sites that flaunt sexual immorality and further undermining the monogamous marriage. Rather than enjoying (or anticipating enjoying) the companionship of one man/one woman marriage, millions are opting for fantasy and illusory relationships. How sad for the future of fulfilling faithful (traditional) marriage!
Crime and violent crime are a daily reality in all of our urban areas. Drug use is being legalized - besides Colorado and Washington, several other states are considering the legalizing the use of marijuana! As of now, states do not know formally how to assess 'the high' of marijuana and one's ability to operate a vehicle safely. Our law enforcement are in 'no man's land' when it comes to determining marijuana use and safety on our highways!
Add to these things the fact that, unlike King Asa, our country is not fortifying itself. Instead, we are cutting our military. Some 550 majors in the U. S. Army are being relieved of their duty - even in the face of very real military threats (ISIS being one of many current enemies). Could it be that we are going to experience - not peace or rest in the land, but further upheavals and strife? Could it be that we are going to continue to experience troubles brought about by not taking righteousness, as God sees it, seriously?
