Wednesday 23 August 2017

What Angers God?

Scripture: 2 Kings 23 v 27:  "And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there."
2 Kings 23 v 5: "And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven."

In this chapter King Josiah had just come to the throne of Israel and he was a righteous man who found a book of God, the Torah, hidden in the house of the Lord and he and all Israel stood to commit themselves to the Covenant with Him.

There had been a string of idolatrous kings and priests before his reign began who had caused God to turn His face away in anger.  They had worshipped Baal, the evil Babylonian God, to whom babies were sacrificed in his fire.  They worshipped the stars and believed in idolatry.

The new king had to cleanse the whole of Israel of these evil practices and burn all objects associated with them for God to look with favour upon them again. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever! He never changes and His judgment is always righteous after great provocation.

If He can turn away from and remove beloved Israel from His sight plus all their blessings and favour, we need to be sure we are not doing any of those things or we will have the same result.

Verse 24 gives the reasons for God's anger: Mediums (working with familiar spirits - they mimic your dead parents or children and deceive you - its where Ancestor Worship originated. Wizards, witches, idolatry, statues, and all abominations: orgies, sexual perversions, rape, murder, lies; were seen in the land.

When a nation is in decline these are the fruit in evidence. God is angry at sin everyday. He sent His Son Jesus to remove sin from us so He can forgive us. All who turn to Him from their secret sins will be washed in the Blood of Jesus.

How many nations are struggling with violent gangs, drug dealers and addicts, terrorism, gangs of paedophiles, rapists?  Even peaceful Norway has noted a sharp rise in violent crimes, especially rapes, since opening their borders to migrants.  I saw a poll today that showed 92 percent of voters in Germany would back a party that expelled all migrants.

Poland declined to open its gates to migrants and there has been no escalation in crimes.  The British Brexit vote was partly to control their borders.   President Donald Trump's first task in office was to clamp down on people entering the USA from 6 Muslim countries that harbour terrorists.  These nations have a strong Christian heritage and are following the precepts of our God to stop this evil invasion.

We do not have a God who tolerates sin, murder, evil.  He judges those nations who flout common decency.  He judges the nation's that hate Israel and continually attack her.  Syria is a good example of a nation being judged by God for thousands of years of persecution of Israel.  God is angry with Syria and all those who turn their back on Israel, including South Africa.

Our government is in turmoil.  Our untouchable president is a constant embarrassment to the nation.  Daily scandals of corruption in high places, looting billions from state coffers continue without accountability.  He says the ruling party will stay in power until Jesus comes!  The same week he was encouraging people to worship their ancestors.  He who touches Israel touches the apply of God's eye.  Do not kindle His wrath for it can be devastating.

All false religion angers Him.  He has declared that He will have no other gods before Him.  Let us not put mortal humans on pedestals and worship them.  It brings destruction to our lives and a loss of fellowship with our God.  

Now we know what angers God, let us examine our own hearts and be sure we have not slipped back into worldly, carnal ways that will get us into trouble.

Prayer: Father God,  You saved us but please reveal any secret sins that could cause You to remove us from Your sight. Cleanse us with the Blood of Jesus and bring us back into fellowship with You.  We will destroy our idols that anger You, and every object connected to them.  Restore us to Your love and favour.  In Jesus' name. Amen.