"...God keep our land..."
As the Olympic torch made it's way through the streets of Vancouver just hours before the opening ceremony of the winter games, huge crowds of Canadians spontaneously burst into song. The song of choice, "O Canada."
Certainly, I have nothing against the song - I am a Canadian. I have sung "O Canada" several times in my life, and expect to sing it several more, if the Lord continues to provide me with life and breath. However, I am curious at my fellow countrymen who sing our anthem with national pride, but fail to give glory to God, whom they petition to "keep our land, glorious and free."
This isn't just a Canadian problem. Our neighbours to the south call upon the Lord, asking that "God bless America." Yet, for the most part, the citizens of the United States do not serve the Lord in such a way that they should expect anything from Him.
Don't think we're talking about a problem which is only North American. On the other side of the Atlantic, the British have been asking for hundreds of years that "God bless the Queen" (or King, as the case may be). I have not been to England, but I suspect that they are much the same as most Canadians & Americans, asking in vain, and doing nothing at all to glorify the Creator of all nations.
I mention these nations by name, simply because their anthems outright mention God. But friend, this is a worldwide problem; folks will call upon God, expect from the Lord, but do little or nothing in return for Him.
Malachi spoke about Judah's failure to respect the Lord. Their sacrifices were contemptible; they did not glorify but rather despised God. Through the prophet Malachi, God spoke to them,
...now entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, will He accept you favorably? (Malachi 1:9)
“...folks will call upon God, expect from the Lord, but do little or nothing in return for Him.”
Again, the LORD had the prophet ask His countrymen,
Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the window of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:8-10)
What a wonderful and patient God Judah served. They'd turned from Him, and yet He called them back. They gave pitiful offerings, but He wanted to give them amazing blessings. But, to receive these wonderful blessings, it was necessary for them to return to the Lord; to heed His word; to serve Him faithfully.
Friend, the same God who wanted Judah to repent today wants everyone to repent. The apostle Paul tells us plainly that God
...now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained... (Acts 17:30-31)
The apostle Peter would pen by inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
...we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. (1 Peter 4:3)
Do not vainly ask God to keep your land, bless your country or bless the Queen. If we would truly experience the blessings of God, then let us truly heed His word, obey His commandments, proclaim His praises, and glorify His name. He wants to bless all, beyond our wildest imagination. Paul stated that God is
...able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think... (Ephesians 3:20)
Manifold blessings await, "...every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places..." (Ephesians 1:3), and in the end, heaven as our home.
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
When was king Jabin killed? Was he killed by Joshua (Joshua 11:1, 10-11) or was it 120 years after Joshua's death (Judges 1:1; 3:11, 30; 4:2, 24)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Judges 11:10 clearly says Joshua "took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword" Verse 1 identified "Jabin king of Hazor," and so from these texts, we must conclude that Jabin, king of Hazor was killed in the days of Joshua.
Using Judges 1:1; 3:11, 30, the questioner revealed that at least 120 years passed since Joshua's death. And then, we read in Judges 4:2, 24:
...the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor ... and the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
Joshua killed Jabin and destroyed Hazor (Joshua 11:10-11). Sometime in the next 120 years, Hazor was rebuilt, and another man named Jabin began to reign.
It is not uncommon in a monarchy for the same name to be worn by more than one king. Why think it strange that this was the case with the Jabin who came over a century after Joshua?
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible