Opus 2013-215: Coals of Fire

As I was reading through Proverbs 28 in preparation for my other blog, which is a daily devotional approach, I came across this verse.

(Proverbs 28:2 KJV)  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

I happened to look over and see the comments from a Bible scholar named Adam Clarke.  He was a contemporary of our Founding Fathers so he would have been living and writing during the time of our revolution and the French Revolution.  Since it was June 28 and my thoughts were also on the upcoming 4th of July I thought his comments were apropos

“Nations, as nations, cannot be judged in a future world; therefore, God judges them here. And where the people are very wicked, and the constitution very bad, the succession of princes is frequent - they are generally taken off by an untimely death. Where the people know that the constitution is in their favor, they seldom disturb the prince, as they consider him the guardian of their privileges.”

What grabbed my attention was the statement that nations are judged in this world.  In light of the recent Supreme Court decisions on the moral issues of homosexual marriage I saw an immediate application to this world and our lives.  Nations that mock God’s moral law can look forward to a withdrawal of God’s blessing and protection.  We are moving from retail mocking to wholesale mocking.

(Galatians 6:7 KJV)  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

While I believe that natural disasters and terrorism are just facts of life, we will never know how many times such things would have been deflected if God felt we were to be blessed.  Economic disaster is waiting in the wings.  What makes the stock market crash?  Emotional and psychological reactions to news, not wise analysis of economics.  What makes someone with wealth decide to not start a new business?  Often it is just confidence in the future. 

Is it the hand of God? 

Happy beer, hot dog and fireworks day.  While we stoke up the briquets our moral decisions light the coals of another fire.  As our freedoms are eroded and morality is undermined I will morn for the memory of Independence Day and rejoice in the freedom I have in Christ.

homo unius libri