Excellent Advice from Moses’ Farewell Address

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them…Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath, there is no other. You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 39-40. NKJV)

Moses was old and near death. He had been forbidden to enter the Promised Land (see Deut. 4:21-22). He brought the people together and gave his farewell address, filled with the good advice of a wise and faithful leader. He is both prophetic and pastoral in his parting words, being able to see beyond the time when they settle into the new land to a time when they will be scattered again and exiled from the Promised Land. In his impassioned speech before them, he is both loving pastor and unmistakable prophet. But the major gist of his message reverberates even to us today; Seek the Lord with all your heart and soul; turn to Him; in distress He will help you; obey Him, for He will not forsake you; there is no other God besides Him; He will remember His covenant with you. Moses called for faithfulness. He stood firmly on all that the Lord had taught Him and wanted to impart to the people the necessity to be true to God and serve him faithfully.

Today is Veterans’ Day. Many of us will gather in our communities to hear patriotic speeches, salutes of appreciation for the valor and service the military men and women of America have given to America. We will think lofty thoughts and feel a stir of deep emotion that we still know a measure of freedom. Moses’ farewell address somehow seems appropriate for this special day in America’s history. Unfortunately, leaders and authority figures have not always given God allegiance nor sought Him with heart, mind, soul and strength. We have become squeamish about our national motto, “In God we trust,” for fear that to mention it will offend some. On this special day, may we resolve anew to seek the Lord with heart and soul, to pray that America may turn from its self-sufficiency and know that our hope lies only in trusting God. If enough of us are sincere in seeking and following God, maybe our nation will not be ashamed to own up to and live by our motto: “In God we trust.”

God gave us the conditions of our turning back to Him in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wise Proverbs for Our Country

“When a country is lawless, it has one ruler after another; but when it is led by a man with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong. Rulers who mistreat the poor are like a hard rain that destroys crops. Evil people do not understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand it completely. When good people triumph, there is great happiness, but when the wicked get control, everybody hides. A ruler without wisdom will be cruel, but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time. When the wicked get control, everybody hides, but when they die, good people do well.” (Proverbs 28: 2-3, 5, 12, 16, 28, NCV).

Proverbs 28 states much wisdom about human relationships, and one prominent subject is in the area of citizenship. The right executive is important to any country’s well-being. We look, in our case, to the president to exercise the principles of the executive office following the Constitution which has been the document of rule and practice for well over two centuries. As we read the cryptic statements in the verses cited, we realize how important it is to have a godly leader in the executive office, one who understands justice and seeks to practice it. He is aware that the poor sometimes need special help. He does not receive bribes (“dishonest money”). He leads with “understanding and knowledge.”

When the Constitutional Convention met in 1787 to form our nation’s Constitution, James Madison proposed three branches of government. He had an insight for his proposal from Isaiah 33:22: “For the Lord is our Judge; the Lord is our Lawgiver; the Lord is our King; He will save us.” Herein this patriot saw clearly defined the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government. And the three, based on God’s direction from Isaiah, were written into the Constitution of the United States. In retrospect, we can see that these forefathers by their action were acknowledging God’s way in the preparation of the document that has guided our country well.

In America, more so than in many other countries of the world, we frequently express our opinions about our chief executive officer. We are prone to criticize and blame the president when the country falters, falls into deep economic decline (as now), or follows a course of action that leads to more taxes and fewer services. We forget that we are free to exercise our citizenship rights to vote, to contact representatives, even to write a letter to the president (or governor, or local executive) to express concerns. We sometimes had rather criticize than to exercise rights and responsibilities of our freedoms. And so often we forget to pray for our elected leaders. We have a responsibility to seek God’s guidance for them. Now when our rights to recognize God as Sovereign Ruler are being contested on every hand, we capitulate to the minority instead of standing up for what we know to be right, honorable and according to God’s will. When was the last time you prayed earnestly for the president and other elected leaders by name? We have an admonition, conditions to be met, and a promise in II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NKJV) This call to prayer is very urgent and applicable in our day as it was when the Temple of Solomon was dedicated. Will we spend as much time praying for our country and our leaders as we do criticizing them?

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, August 1, 2010

Wisdom and Righteousness in Citizenship Matters

“He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death. Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known. Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:31-34, NKJV) [Read Proverbs 14]

Proverbs 14 has 35 wisdom statements that deal with the subject of righteousness and judgment in many areas of human behavior. Verses 31-34 deal with applying wisdom and living righteously in community. An often-quoted verse is Proverbs 14:34. I repeat it here using the Amplified Bible: “Uprightness and right standing with God [moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation] elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” This verse corroborates the declaration in Psalm 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance” [KJV]. In combination with II Chronicles 7:14, these verses all teach us how citizens in a nation or a government entity (community, county, city, state, nation) should conduct themselves to be righteous and pleasing in God’s sight: “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (KJV). When it seems that America’s moral fiber is breaking apart and we grow farther away from the principles on which our nation was founded, we should feel ashamed of the sins that are bringing reproach on our land. Righteous living begins in the heart of individual citizens, one by one. We may still have time to turn and seek God’s face so that the promise of Proverbs 14:34 can become a reality: “Righteousness exalts a nation.”

Wisdom and righteousness are to be applied in caring for the poor among us. The less fortunate may have become so through their own slothfulness, or their poverty may be due to circumstances over which they had little or no control. We are to show love and compassion for them, and build into our citizenship and social services programs ways of caring for them in a manner that will help them to help themselves. This takes thoughtful and deliberate policies that are fair and compassionate. In whatever area of life we seek to find answers, whether private or public, this proverb will bear following: “Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of him that has understanding” (Prov. 14:33a). Citizenship is not political maneuvering. It is accepting the blessings of God derived from living in a free society. If we take God out of our nation and fail to heed His teachings, how can He continue to bless us? “Pay Day Some Day” is a given. Wisdom is available to those who desire to get back on track with God.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, July 12, 2010

On America’s Birthday—God’s Message

“There are six things the Lord hates. There are seven things he cannot stand: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil, a witness who lies, and someone who starts arguments among families.” (Proverbs 6:16-19, NCV). “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34, KJV). “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 33:12, 18, KJV).

Happy Birthday, America, on our 234th! After much deliberation and great sacrifice on the part of our founding fathers, the Declaration of Independence was signed and implemented to birth a new nation: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” the pledge of allegiance to our flag so clearly states. In the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, these words were boldly delineated:

“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”

And to close that inimitable document, these words were emboldened:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

For modern day objectors who want mention of God deleted from our public documents and transactions, they should read again the writings of our forebears who recognized God’s hand in America’s destiny and in the affairs of men as they sought “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” at great sacrifice and with life blood. To pledge ‘lives, fortunes and sacred honor” turned out to be very true for the signers of the Declaration 234 years ago.

Now return to the lesson in Proverbs: Seven things, we read, God hates: the proud or haughty look (Could this be a look that denies the Providence of God in the affairs of men?); a lying tongue (Could this refer to promises of politicians to get elected, who have no intention of upholding the right and righting wrongs?); hands that kill innocent people (Are we talking about murder and mayhem in a society gone berserk, and unnecessary bloodshed in wars of aggression?); a mind that thinks up evil plans (How about ‘pork barrel’ spending and special interest legislation, together with a plethora of other unnecessary and selfish laws?); feet that are quick to do evil (Consider this any moves to get bills through government channels that do not benefit our country in general); a witness who lies (Our courts are filled with lying, subterfuge, and release of persons who should be convicted for crimes); and someone who starts arguments among families (With America’s divorce rate escalating to unprecedented levels, how sacred are family relationships in present-day society?). We forget that the Word teaches that God hates all these perversions of truth, inequities and the deviations from “unalienable rights” of individuals and citizens within a nation.

Birthdays are a good time to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going. America’s birthday is a good time for us to think about and act on God’s plan for our country. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” declared the sage in Proverbs 13:34. Turn, turn; we still have a window of opportunity, but time may be running out. People are trying to deny God’s place in the affairs of our nation, but regardless of the atheists’ and agnostics’ stance, this Truth still stands: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). Turn, turn back to God, He invites, firmly and pleadingly: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14). Grant, O God, that America will return to Your way, and may the turning begin in the heart of each who reads these words, beginning with me. Amen.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, July 4, 2010

Conditions for Revival (Spiritual Renewal)

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”—II Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

Knowing that America has and is turning away from God and seeking its own way, I was thinking of this verse from 2nd Chronicles this morning. Surely enough, when I turned in my Bible to the passage, it was underlined, with notations beside it, indicating that my husband Grover had earnestly preached more than one sermon using this text, as well as other pastors who have been my spiritual teachers in the past. I read the whole 7th chapter of 2 Chronicles. In context, it was the occasion of the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem that King Solomon (son of King David) had built during his reign. Solomon ruled for 40 years around 1,000 BC. Some scholars set the dedication of the Temple at 1004 BC, but we cannot be sure of that exact date. A great celebration, one week long, saw the people worshipping God, rejoicing, and making sacrifices. The verse quoted above contains the direct words of God as to how renewal and revival can come to God’s people. It does not take the dedication of a magnificent house of worship but inward changes in God’s followers to bring revival. May we heed and hear God’s word for renewal today.

If—that’s conditional. We must make the determination to do what God asks us to do, and follow Him. He stands ready to bless us, but we must meet His requirements. Here are those requirements:
1. Humility. No “better-than-thou” attitudes. Become meek, lowly, Leadable.
2, Pray. Petition God. Implore, supplicate, ask, intercede, beseech, request.
3. Seek God’s face. Yearn for God, search for Him, hunger for Him. God alone!
4. Turn from wicked ways. Repent. “Volte-face”—about face. Abandon sin.

The conditions are ours to do, to meet. The promise, when we’ve sincerely accomplished the four steps above, follows: God promises: “I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin (that’s corporately, as a nation: in community, as our church; and individually, I, myself!) I will heal their land! Do we want God’s promise fulfilled for our nation, our faith community, ourselves individually?

I do! I will be sincerely praying that these conditions for our revival (spiritual renewal) be met!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, January 29, 2010