America The Beautiful

From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil. (Isaiah 1:6, NRSV)

I read Isaiah Chapter 1 this morning, and yes, I do know that it was written to the nation of Israel during a certain time frame in the past. However,  if that is the only nation it can apply to and that was the only time period in which it was relevant, then why can it still speak to us today? It is because the Bible is not a history book, it is God's revelation of Himself and His purpose to humanity. I was quite taken this morning with how applicable it is to today's time period, to the nations, to humanity, to America, to the Church, and to individuals.

My words this morning are addressed to all these groups, no matter which group I seem to be addressing.

How can a nation survive or prosper, when it severs its ties with its roots? When it says "I will no longer be identified with that which gave me identity and purpose."

How can a nation survive when it makes convenents with its enemies?

How can a nation survive when it does not recognize its soundness has been compromised?

How can a nation survive when it is full of bruises and sores and bleeding wounds?

How can a nation survive when it acts as if it is not wounded and yet  has wounds that have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil?

How can a nation survive when it chooses to walk in delusion rather than revelation?

How can a nation survive that wants to disarm its people and arm its enemies?

How can a nation survive which justifies the genocide of its unborn and approves of its application, our nations wombs into tombs.

How can a nation survive which calls upon God's name for protection while its very actions decry His presence?

How can a nation survive which quotes God's word to justify its own actions and purposes while minimizing God's purposes?

America the Beautiful, it was not the landscape that made you beautiful...it was the very presence of God. May God grant us mercy and repentance. May He pour the oil of His Holy Spirit upon us that our proud hardened hearts be softened, may he bind up and heal our bleeding wounds and wombs, may he drain the poison and infection out of our thinking and actions, may He heal our bruises, may He shed his grace upon us...