Snakes and Leaders
On Sunday, 17th March, I prayed to the Lord that He might guide me to open my Bible to reveal a message pertinent to our current national (UK) predicament. I closed my eyes and opened my Bible at 2 Chronicles, chapter 29. This seemed relevant as our supposed Brexit day is the 29th March 2(01)9. This chapter was headed simply as “Hezekiah”, and commenced with the fact that this good king of Israel (grandson of Zechariah) was 25 years old when he began his rule and that he ruled for a period of 29 years, and that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. His reign followed on from that of his father Ahaz who had been a wicked sovereign who had worshipped other gods.
The preceding chapter, number 28, recalls that Ahaz, when things were going wrong, requested help from the kings of Assyria, an ancient foe of Israel, to solve the problems which he had created. “And Tilgarth-pilneser, king of Assyria, came unto him and distressed him, but strengthened him not and helped him not. Then King Ahaz sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him. Ahaz said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me”. But, the chapter continues, they were the ruin of him and all Israel”. And when Ahaz died, although he was buried in Jerusalem, he was not brought into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel.
Here we have the recurring pattern of those, both high and low, who do not know who their friends are. They suck up to their enemies and insult and betray those who would provide sound and genuine advice and assistance. I expect every reader can think of someone who fits this description, for it is a common mental and philosophical malady. And in our national situation, Theresa May surely qualifies, for she has certainly neglected those who would have helped her and given trust to those who have brought her to almost total disaster, to such an extent that only our Lord God Almighty can rescue us from shame and ignominy. But as we have seen with King Hezeklah, the Lord can raise up those to accomplish His will and save His people, Israel.
And if such be the case, all the world will know that we belong to the Lord and that He will save us, despite our grievous sins. If only for the sake of the few who trust and obey. It may well be the case (again) that never have so many owed so much to so few.
In Deuteronomy, chapter 7:7-11, our Lord states that we are a holy people and a special people; that He has chosen us because He loves us; that He has redeemed us because He is a faithful God who keeps His Covenant with them that love Him and keep His Commandments for a THOUSAND GENERATIONS; that he will repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them. This is a promise to the nation but also to the individual, should the nation itself be in default. And later in Isaiah, chapter 54:5-15, “For thy Maker is thine husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called”. No sentiment here for a partial divinity or a moth-eaten evolutionary theory.
Verse 7 continues, “For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee”, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. And again, in verse10, “For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed”, saith the Lord that have mercy on thee. Verse15 continues, “Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fail for thy sake; no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement, thou shalt condemn”.
No doubt there then. Our Lord promises to extract us from the actions of our foolish and venal leaders who are puffed up in vanity, and who are happy to dance to the devil’s tune. We shall as the Good Book says, “be saved out of it”. We are all in our way, Soldiers of the Cross, marching with our Lord to that final victory over sin, delusion and decay. And toward the establishment of THE Kingdom. And we can believe the voice of the massed ranks of the angelic host who proclaim with Divine authority: “So now be still; we are not few.” We do not fail.”. Amen
Writer’s Update: Readers will note that we have not as yet left the EU as intended on March 29th. However, the legal validity of passing over this date is being challenged because of invalid shortcuts that were taken to “fix” a new date – April 12th, 2019.
The EU council meets on Wednesday April 10th to determine whether we will be granted yet another extension. If refused, we will be cast out (like Jonah) on Friday April 12th. Without a deal! Whatever happens, it is most assuredly in the Lord’s Hands.
