IN GOD WE TRUST?

For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.  (Isaiah 31:7)

Militant atheist, Michael Newdow, is frequently in the headlines for his persistent efforts to have, “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust,” from our currency.  Thus far, the courts have refused to do so—but, in a future day who knows?  Judging by past actions of judges, the threat is a real one.

Yet something even more insidious is occurring.  The assault on America’s house has withstood the woodpeckers like Newdow, but there have been termites slowly, silently eating away at the structure, which will lead to eventual collapse.  Every segment of society is affected, not just government.  Even the church is not immune.

What is that threat?  That we continue to mouth the words, but with no meaning—trust we profess with our lips, while our heart is devoid of commitment to them.  We may continue to say we believe in God, yet ourselves be practical atheists—living as though God does not exist.  Of course, man is inherently religious; we will worship something.  Thus, we make idols and bow to them.  It is not required that we literally set a statue in a shrine and bow to it.  Anyone or anything that is the object of our trust—other than Almighty God—has become an idol.

In the thirty-first chapter of Isaiah, we find Israel confronted with their idolatry.  Jerusalem was facing assault by the Assyrians (see chapters 36-37 for the historical narrative).  The Assyrians had already conquered the Northern Kingdom, razed its capital, Samaria, and taken their brethren captive.  Now, the Southern Kingdom of Judah had seen city after city ground under the assault of a ruthless empire, intent on world domination, with Jerusalem in its crosshairs.

God warns the people to trust in Him.  The natural tendency would be to seek an alliance with another nation to come to their aid.  Egypt would be the logical choice.  Looking south rather than looking up would only seal their doom (Isa.31:1-3).  God would be their deliverer, if they would make Him the object of dependence.  Otherwise, He would be their destroyer—both Egyptians and Jews would perish in God’s judgment for rejecting Him.

The Lord promises that He rescue them, if they will rely on Him (Isa.31:4-9).  That is what transpired.  Good King Hezekiah heeded the prophet and God wrought a miraculous deliverance. 

God is immutable—He never changes.  The hope of the church is not innovative methods, but God.  The salvation of America is not in legislation, armament, technology, or elections, but in God.  Let me start by casting away any idol I rely on, and seek the Lord with all my heart.  May that repentant spirit grip the nation so it is true—“In God We Trust.”  That is our only hope!

FREEDOM FROM FEAR

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.  (Psalm 34:4)

Fear and faith are forever foes; they cannot coexist.  God’s children are to live by faith, directed by God.  Many, however, are living in fear, driven by dread.  David was at one of the most critical junctures of his young life.  King Saul was hot on his heels.  David panicked and behaved in a manner unworthy of a child of God.  Rather than trusting the Lord, he sought refuge in the world.  He went to a pagan king for help.  When the Philistines recognized it was their old nemesis David, they began to threaten David.  The Bible tells us David acted like a lunatic, drooling and scratching at the door like a dog—so they drove him away with scorn.  The young soldier learned a hard lesson.  His deliverance was not found in adopting worldly wisdom, but in hearing and heeding God.

We do this BY WHAT WE SPEAK.  We are to speak words of PRAISE  (v.1-3; 11-13).  Words are powerful—to help or to hurt.  It seems a strange time to be praising God.  If David allowed his mood and circumstances to dictate his speech, his mouth would be filled with negativism.  He had just made a fool of himself; peril hunted him like hounds tracking their prey.  Despite this, he chose by an act of the will, to bless the Lord.  In so doing, he would build the faith of those around him.  His men needed confidence—underpinned or undermined by what he said.  Everyday, by what we say we are fortifying faith or fueling fear.  The old need to teach the young the power of the tongue to help bring unleash the vitality of faith or the venom of fear by what we say.

Freedom from fear comes BY WHAT WE SEEK.  We are to seek the proper PRIORITY (v.4-10; 14).  Are we worried about our family?  Are we concerned about the economy?  Are we fearful of all the evil things that haunt our future?  Jesus addressed that.  He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  (Matt.6:33)  David made seeking God his priority.  If we fear God, we need fear nothing else.  David’s face was transformed from a shameful expression of irrational fear to a radiant one reflecting the glory of God.  It radiates from the countenance of one who has spent time with the Lord.  If we will but get a taste of whom God truly is, our senses will be overwhelmed so that we would never return back to eating the hog slop of the world.  We need to loathe that which God despises and love that which God delights in.

Then, we are delivered from fear BY WHAT WE SECURE.  We will secure PRESERVATION (v.15-22).   There is the God who remembers us (v.15-16).  Quite a contrast isn’t it—those that God’s face is set against and His holy fire burns to nothing, and those God remembers—His eyes and ears open to them?  There is also the God who rescues us (v.17-18).  Maybe, like David, we have failed God—but you can have a broken heart of repentance and experience His rescue.  There is the God who redeems us (v.19-22). We are not exempt from trouble, but can endure the trouble.  Verse 20 promises preservation and resurrection.  This quote is messianic (see John 19:33-36).  If the last enemy—old Death—has been overcome (and he has in Christ’s work on that bloody cross and empty tomb), then what have I to dread, what have I to fear—I’m leaning on the everlasting arms!