Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
This passage of scripture came on the heels of a detailed explanation of a terrible dream the king of Babylon had experienced. After searching for answers in vain from his own magicians and soothsayers, he turned to Daniel, the prophet of the living God, who then explained to him that terrible judgments were determined against him, if he did not change his ways, and follow after righteousness, as best he knew how. God does not require us to do that which we may have no knowledge of, but the fundamental truths that are within our reach, of which we have a clear understanding, He holds us responsible for. This sacred and solemn truth is borne out in the passage of scripture which tells us that in the times of ignorance, God winks, but now that a knowledge of basic truths have been established, He requires that we obey. Let's read:
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained".....
This sacred truth applies evenly across the board to individuals as well as nations, and when there seems to be no letting up to our troubles and anxieties as a nation, it's at such a time that we should take an introspect look at our ways and our doings, to see if peradventure, we may have contributed in a spiritual sense to the senseless mayhem that is snuffing out the existence of many innocent people. And although this is an "Inconvenient truth" that is stated in the Bible, yet the time has now fully come for us to take stock of ourselves, by earnest and thorough searching of heart, and accompanying repentance, wherever and whenever it is applicable.
Laws and institutions which undermine the Divine authority of God, and which place sin on a pedestal, while righteousness is dragged in the streets, certainly open the floodgates of woe, and give the devil leeway to tempt, annoy, harass, and cause multiple disturbances, for which there will be no human solution, as long as we persist in pursuing a wrong course of action. This statement of fact can be read in the experience of king David, when he dared to number the children of Israel, contrary to God's revealed will, and which was an act designed to show human prowess and might, instead of the nation's humble dependence on the omnipotent arm of God. Let's read:
1st Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 7 And God was displeased with this thing 9 And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee 12 Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
Now, it is true that as a nation we are no longer under a theocracy, however the very same principles and laws of cause and effect still do apply. And while God may not directly visit us with terrible judgments, yet the fact is that His restraining hand is removed in some measure, from the forces of evil which wish to do us great harm, and the results of satan's work can be seen in the tragedies and casualties of terrorism in its various forms. But God does not leave us without the information we need to make a turnaround, for He is still in the business of saving as many as would be saved, whilst probation still lingers.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which illustrates what needs to be done on an individual and national level, and as we seek for answers to tragedies like those in California, let us be certain not to reason such incidents away on merely humanistic grounds, because the Bible teaches us that we are in a very real war with spiritual agencies, and therefore it is of critical importance that we follow closely the format for change given in the closing verses. Let's read:
2nd Chronicles 7:12 And the Lord appeared and said" 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!