Why do the nations say, “where is their God?”

Good day to each of you reading this column on Psalm 115.

Before I begin, I wish to thank each and every Veteran who served this USA in the armed services and who protected our country in both previous wars and the time that we had in peace.

These men and women have done service beyond what is expected and have said and paid the price that freedom is not free.

Biblically and as shown in the Old Testament that the male population of Israel from twenty years old and upward were numbered for war as said in Numbers 1:2,3. It is with interest that women are not mentioned to be placed for military service.

We, in the USA, look to our forefathers who wrote the constitution and patterned the Israel system of the right of every man to keep and bear arms per Article II. Every able-bodied man capable of bearing arms and called upon by the nation for military duties to defend his country, life, liberty and freedom was able and ready to serve in the ranks of the army. 

The Old Testament provided the following exemptions to serve: Look at Deuteronomy 20:5-8 (NIV)The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it. Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it. Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.”

When reading the above verses, those men who have built a new house and dedicated the house are exempt for he may die in battle and someone else would enjoy the newly built house.

Next, if the man plants a vineyard and has not enjoyed the fruits of his labor then he is exempt for he may die in battle and someone else would enjoy the fruits of his labor. Note that Leviticus 19:23-24 says that we are not eat the fruit of the vineyard for the first three years.

As a dual witness Deuteronomy 20:7 & Deuteronomy 24:5 says that if a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty  laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.

Last, those who took the coward route would be excused from military service. 

Fellow Christian, would we not be better off following what God hath said to the Israelites for Jesus says in Luke 11:21-22 (NIV) “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

Would America’s enemies think long and hard if the USA obeyed God’s laws thus making us “a strong man armed”? Would they think twice when considering evil against the USA and its allies?

We are told in Psalm 115 to give the glory to God as a nation and not to be boastful nor the aggressor for we are to be God’s battleax against those nations that have come against the USA. It is so interesting to note in Exodus 23:32 that Israel was forbidden to make any type of covenant with nations around them or with their gods.

The USA should have covenants with our sister Canada as well as England, New Zealand, Australia and other English-speaking countries but to be weary of those mentioned in the Bible that are against God. 

Please read your Bible and you will see those today that are against God and would love to see our countries decimated. 

Presently our enemies are saying where is their God when they see the news and the many problems that we are facing in our country. These are the same enemies who follow after false religions and gods who are spoken of in verses 4-9. 

Here in America, we are blessed with so many tangible objects such as a home, clothing, possessions rather than intangible realities such as spiritual growth, salvation, giving to the poor and needy and spending time with our loved ones.

This is the same principle as those reading Deuteronomy 28 where we as a people can receive the blessings or the curses when we choose to follow God or ourselves. When we choose to obtain tangible objects of this world and do not provide our time and talents to be used to promote the kingdom of God then are as foolish and empty as those idols who sit on the furniture and collect dust for, they are lifeless and without meaning.

As the Lord hath said in verses 9-15 that he will be our hope and shield if we will obey his commands, put our trust in him and fear him. For the Lord will remember us and will give us the blessings both great and small.

It is such a wonderful thought that the Lord remembers us for the good and the bad times and never will he forsake us nor leave us especially when we are feeling isolated, alone or abandoned.

As a Christian, it is so wonderful to know that God sees us, understands all that we go thru daily and is in constant thought with us for all need to do is to reach out to him. We should be in prayer to God for his encouragement and that He will help us in times of trouble.

As we close, let us, the living, praise God from where all blessings flow for one day we will be like the dead and not able to praise the Lord for we will go down to silence.

Let us extol or praise God enthusiastically and highly each day for now and forevermore and reflect on all that he has done since we were born.

Let us go to God with the fear of the Lord and pray in his presence and to praise him for each day and all his blessings. Or you can be like the dead who, when they were alive did not extol the Lord and have gone down in silence.

The choice is yours O’ Christian and make a joyful noise unto the Lord or to be silent for you never know when death will fall upon you.

May God bless you in your endeavors and may you always Praise God from whom all blessing flow!