DECLINE

Spiritual Decline

 

Are there parallels between Israel’s spiritual decline and ours? Israel was:

Unappreciative — “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Thy wonders; They did not remember Thine abundant kindnesses, but rebelled by the sea… “

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;  Psalms 105:5

Independent — They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:  Psalms 106:13

Secular — “They exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass… They mingled with the nations, and learned their practices… And served their idols, which became a snare to them.“

Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.  Psalms 106:20

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.  Psalms 106:35-36

Discontent — “They despised the pleasant land… [They] grumbled in their tents… “

Void of Faith — “They did not believe in His Word… They did not listen to the voice of the LORD.”

 

Resistant to the Holy Spirit — “They were rebellious against His Spirit… “

Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Psalms 106:33

Willing to sacrifice her children — “They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan… “

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,  And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.  Psalms 106:37-38

We identify with William Bennett’s comment, “We have a real problem in this country when it comes to values. We have become the kind of societies that civilized countries used to send missionaries to.“

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.  Prov 14:34

When God rescues a nation, He always uses an individual:

 

QUESTION: What do you think God would have us to do on a personal level to make a difference in the Nation? Are you up to the challenge?