The Prophets wept for Israel

“Woe is me! 
For I am like those who gather summer fruits,
Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; Every man hunts his brother with a net. That they may successfully do evil with both hands— The prince asks for gifts, the judge seeks a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire; So they scheme together.” – Micah 7:1-3

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. ….. A voice was heard on the desolate heights, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; They have forgotten the LORD their God. “Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.

Indeed we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God. Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.” – Jeremiah 2:13, 3:21-23

At the risk of being called too negative, I share this message. I believe the prophets Micah and Jeremiah, though they spoke hundreds of years ago to Israel, are speaking through the Holy Spirit to our generation as well. At a time of harvest, Micah laments that the Lord can find little fruit and he plainly identifies the reason; faithful men are being quieted and wickedness is being exalted. Leaders, who should do righteousness, sell their influence to those who pay the most (or for the sake of votes), judges forsake justice (which is always based on God’s will) ruling instead out of their own rebellion and corruption. There are many examples I could site but I will use just one – Canadian leader Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government forces employers to endorse abortion and LGTB agenda in order to receive governments grants or contracts. Similar actions have taken place in the England and the U.S. as well as those who stand for Biblical truth are being censored and ridiculed.

“215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution” around the world, according to Open Doors, a human rights organization. On its recently released World Watch List 2018, which ranks the world’s 50 worst nations wherein to be Christian, 3,066 Christians were killed, 1,252 abducted, and 1,020 raped or sexually harassed on account of their faith; and 793 churches were attacked or destroyed.  The Islamic world had the lion’s share of this persecution; 38 of the 50 worst nations are Muslim-majority. The report further cites “Islamic oppression” behind the “extreme persecution” that prevails in eight of the 10 worst nations.

It is time for the righteous to take up their weapons and join the battle and remember what James wrote, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” This does not mean that we are perfect but, that the Lord has given His righteousness to us and we follow Him.

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Tim. 4:8

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Cor. 5:21