O Land! Land! Land!

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 22

Scripture Focus: O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord! (Jeremiah 22.29)

Devotional Thought: In the summer and fall of 2020, with the uncertainty of COVID and the division of our nation, I identified with Jeremiah when he cried, "O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!"  If only America would listen!

When Jeremiah cried that, things were bad for the nation of Judah and for their leaders...

·       They ignored God's warnings, saying "We will not listen to the Lord."

·       The powers they trusted in were crushed, and their economy was in shambles.

·       The nation was being fundamentally transformed, never to return to its former power and glory.

·       Their current leaders were broken and unwanted, while the wisdom of former leaders was ignored.

"O, land, land, land!"

Sadly, the land did not hear the word of the Lord.

What about America today?  When the economy was booming, a virus was looming.  When unity was best, we experienced unrest.  When a foundation was needed, the past was not heeded.  When the election drew nigh, anger grew high. 

We need God!  Let us cry out on behalf of our nation and leaders today: "O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!"

Prayer: Lord, it has been said that those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.  Help us learn from the Bible and from history and to thereby avoid calamity.  In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 118.5-9

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.