Should Christians Have a Voice in the Public Square? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 24:14,

"He [Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon] carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left."

We are told in verse 20 that it was due to the Lord's anger against Judah that he "thrust them from his presence." Just as Judah's sister nation (the northern ten tribes of Israel), the Lord brought his judgment due to their corruption of idolatry.

We are told repeatedly that this king or that king of Judah promoted idolatry (with the exception of a few - eight of twenty) and that it led to the Lord's judgment of the nation.

While the "poorest of the people" were left in the land, all others were either put to death or carried off in captivity by the Babylonians, "officers and fighting men, and all the skilled workers and artisans". We are told ten thousand were taken into exile. In other places we read that even God's prophets suffered in the judgment of both Judah, and at an earlier time, the northern kingdom.

How many were idolators? Was every last man, woman, child that suffered the destruction of Judah an instigator that brought the Lord's judgment? Was there not a single individual that worshiped the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob left in the land? Were there godly people that suffered along with the truly guilty idolators?

If you recall, Elijah thought he was the only godly man left in all Israel. Paul references Elijah's complaint to the Lord in Romans 11:1-6. There Paul points out that the Lord always has a remnant of people - people of faith, people reserved for himself.

Without question there were godly people who suffered along with the wicked when the Lord brought his judgment against Judah.

I recall someone who once told me that since I was a Christian, my voice had no place in the public square in the discussion of abortion. It was wrong of me to "push my religion" on others.

Nothing could be further from the truth! We all have a stake in influencing our nation to godliness!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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