Things seems really bad in America, but we should keep things in perspective. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” (Psalm 118:9-17) 

Israel is our example of their rebellious nature and God’s merciful redemption and salvation. On several occasions the cities of Israel were surrounded and held under siege by more powerful enemy armies. When things looked hopeless, God brought victory and delivered Israel, often through His own Sovereign work, occasionally through Israel’s army. Some examples are when the King of Aram surrounded Elisha (2 Kings 6:11-23); When the King of Israel was under siege (2 Kings 6:24-7:10); when Elisha confronted Ahab and the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40); when Ahab was attacked by the King of Aram (1 Kings 20:13-21), and there were many more incidents with Moses, David and others. God is our deliverer and hope, irrespective of how great this world full of foes appears.

I wanted to remind and encourage us to put hope in God’s mercy and power, but the Holy Spirit offered a more important aspect to this message. ” ‘Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.’ They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.” ( 2 Kings 17:38-41)

We must examine ourselves to ascertain whether we are serving any idols, whom the world follows wholeheartedly. Today, these are not symbolized by cast images or statues, but they are the same demonic forces of sexual pleasure/eroticism, avarice/greed/envy, fame/power/influence, selfishness/egotism/pride, intellectualism/humanism, and many other things that promise satisfaction, pleasure or lusts in exchange for our servitude. Lord Yeshua, (Jesus’ Hebrew name) expose our duplicity and deliver us from idolatry of any form, restore our pure devotion to you alone. (See Ps. 116)