Idea: The problems of society, economics, politics, have a spiritual causation, including God's providential hand of judgment. Solution must also come from God's hand, otherwise it is like putting a band aide on a heart attack.
Intro: Isaiah's prophecy against Egypt describes a gradual decline as life seemingly comes apart right in front of their eyes. Isaiah identifies this decline as coming from God's hand of judgment against Egypt. All of the problems threatening Egyptian society stemmed from the Lord's judgment, whether those problems be societal, economic, or political. Similarly, solution must also come from God's hand, as the one who "rides on heaven."
1. Societal collapse - Egypt's wisdom cannot find the source of increasing decline that eventually leads to tyranny.
2. Economic collapse - The Nile, the source of life, dries up.
3. Political collapse - The proposed responses of leaders comes to nothing.
The point is that unrest isn't some bare, random happening. God is at work and men are in rebellion. That means that the spiritual state of a nation gives rise to various related illnesses. They don't just happen. They don't just happen because men are men. They happen because men are wicked. All too often, the American study problems completely ignores this fundamental spiritual aspect. We know something is broken and should be fixed, but we miss the diagnosis. We treat the external manifestations, using social sciences, economic stimulus packages, and new political leaders, while ignoring the heart issues.
Pray for revival, not just for the election, but for whole scale spiritual revival that revives our nation in the fear of the Lord. |
