A good friend of mine recently sent me this Scripture and pointed out how it is a prayer for our own nation (and yours too if you don’t live in the U.S.). We know that ultimately it speaks of that Day when Christ comes and His real Jerusalem (His church) will be perfectly purified. Notice how Isaiah describes so well what has happened in our nation.
Isa 1:21-31 How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers. (22) Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water. (23) Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
(24) Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries And avenge Myself on My foes. (25) “I will also turn My hand against you, And will smelt away your dross as with lye And will remove all your alloy.
(26) “Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city.” (27) Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness. (28) But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the LORD will come to an end.
(29) Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen. (30) For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away Or as a garden that has no water. (31) The strong man will become tinder, His work also a spark. Thus they shall both burn together And there will be none to quench them.
We long for the Day when Christ comes and restores righteousness fully and finally. When transgressors and sinners will be crushed and be no more. All evil will be destroyed, never to be seen again among us.
As the Bible ends – Amen, Come Lord Jesus.
Amen!! Christians frequently quote the scripture in 2 Chronicles 14: “ “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.”
And they have a call to prayer – which is good. But what they fail to talk about or address is the part where the Lord says “and turn from their wicked ways.” The visible church is not turning from their wicked ways because they excuse domestic abusers and fail to protect the women and children in these situations. They cover up sexual predators in church staff and transfer the offender to another church. Ezekiel 8:6 comes to mind: “And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”” The Spirit and the Bride say “Come!”