American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 19
ARC Prayer Meeting
One of the major tools in our Biblical tool box for the Thomas Nation and the American Reformation Church is the OSA Bible Reading schedule. So many times God has used it to answer our prayers, provide guidance, instruction, and make application in our time of need.
This past week, it came through again as I was contemplating what my next brief teaching on prayer should be to inspire our church and others to pray. In the Old Testament, we just finished the book of Judges, Ruth, and are currently in the book of 1 Samuel.
The sordid history outlined in the book of judges is revealed by two phrases. The first is “Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.” From the beginning of the book to over half of the book of Judges, this was the prominent saying describing the roller coaster ride and cyclical experience of the children of Israel. They would become idolatrous, come under oppression, and then realize they did evil in the sight of the Lord. God would respond to their cries, raise up champions, judges, and deliverers to drive out the oppressors and restore peace to the land.
There was another phrase, however, that came in the latter part of Judges. It came when Israel lost the ability to discern when they committed evil. There was always hope if they did come to that awareness. What was the second saying during that brutal, violent, and perverse time recorded in the latter part of the book of Judges? “There was no king in the land and Israel did what was right in their own eyes.”
Sadly, there was a King in the land, Almighty God. There was an objective truth. There was a standard to live out by faith. There were commandments to obey and God’s Word to guide. Yet, just like Adam and Eve before them, they became a law and god unto themselves and did what was right in their own eyes. At that point in Israel’s history some of the most horrendous acts took place. It was one of the most deplorable times in Israel’s past.
America has followed this same pattern in our history and we are experiencing the same bitter fruit.
In Judges 10:13, 14, however, we come across this passage, “Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.”
God had repeatedly delivered Israel from her enemies. They continued to provoke Him by going a whoring after other gods. It came to the place where God was fed up and told them if you desire these other false gods see if they will hear your cries and deliver you from your troubles.
What happened next? God’s anger is but for a moment, but His mercy endures forever. God’s Word revealed, “And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel” (Judges 10:16b). The Lord’s compassions fail not. Great is His faithfulness. His mercies are new every morning. The Lord intervened once again, when God’s people cried out, repented, prayed, and interceded for His help.
