Reading: Psalm 78:56-64
But they put God to the test
and rebelled against the Most High;
they did not keep his statutes.
Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless,
as unreliable as a faulty bow.
They angered him with their high places;
they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
When God heard them, he was furious;
he rejected Israel completely.
He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent he had set up among humans.
He sent the ark of his might into captivity,
his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
He gave his people over to the sword;
he was furious with his inheritance.
Fire consumed their young men,
and their young women had no wedding songs;
their priests were put to the sword,
and their widows could not weep (NIV).*
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Reflection
Sin has consequences. We can pretend it isn’t so, but we’re fooling ourselves. Unchecked sin on a personal level can have devastating consequences—consequences that lead to heartache and an early grave. I think we all know individuals who became trapped in sin and wandered down a self-destructive path.
Today’s reading from Psalm 78 reminds us a whole nation can abandon God and become mired in the consequences of sin. The nation of Israel did just that. The psalmist tells us they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.
When Israel abandoned God, He in turn abandoned them. We read, “He rejected Israel completely. He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans. He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy. He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance.”
Has God changed? If the LORD abandoned His people in ancient times, will He treat our nation—any nation that turns away from Him differently today? There are consequences for sin and that truth applies to nations too. When collectively we abandon the ways of God and the precepts He has established from the foundations of the world, we can expect dire days ahead. That’s what happened to ancient Israel, and it can happen to us today as well.
Response: LORD God, collectively as a nation, we have wandered away from you. LORD in your mercy lead us back to the center of your holy will. Give us repentant hearts that seek your face. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you concerned about the spiritual state of your nation? What are you doing about it?
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA
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Please pray for the people of Ukraine!
Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer has won the 2021 Best Book of the Year Award and for those who love God’s word, it’s an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. For a closer look at Volumes II and III click here.
I love the Psalms 
Scotland and the entire UK are on the fast track down to Hell. The Word of God is no longer the law of the land, as it used to be many years ago when Scotland was called “The Land of The Book.” I do my part by sharing the Good News of our risen Saviour where I can with those I meet, yet these opportunities are getting fewer and more precarious in these wicked times. I pray often for my family, friends and my country in the knowledge that God hears me.
I can identify with what you are a saying, Alan. A complete disregard for God’s word is evident in Canadian society as well. It calls for prayer and letting our light shine despite opposition in these dark times.
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My country is no longer the “good old USA”, it is becoming a spiritual wilderness with fewer and fewer oases. I pray more each day and join with other intercessors to pray for this nation as well as other nations. God has judged us and found us lacking but in His mercy, He is giving us a few days to repent. I do so daily and I pray that all of our countries will do so quickly.
A great awakening is needed. Holy Spirit move upon the nations once again!