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Here’s how God describes a wicked nation:
Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! She obeyed no voice, she accepted no discipline. She did not trust in the Lord, she did not approach her God. Her leaders within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves at evening; they have no bones to gnaw in the morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the Law. (Zephaniah 3:1-4)
These are people who were once so passionate for God and are hurtling toward His judgment on their sinful lifestyle—
- thumbing their noses at their own civil laws
- calling their own justice system into question
- governed by leaders who are focused on flexing their power for themselves
- afflicted by judges ruling by the desires of those who give them “bones to gnaw”
- subject to preachers who twist and distort Scripture to suit their own desires
These things can come from nothing but pride that says, “We know best. We don’t need some out-of-date, behind-the-times god telling us what to do!”
These prideful people are hellbent on pursuing their sinful lifestyle—rejecting God’s warning of impending and certain judgment—because they have fooled themselves into believing there is no God!
Our history books are filled with stories of other proud nations that thought this same way, but God both announced and carried out His righteous judgment on them. And still, we foolishly believe we are better than them, that we can avoid the inscrutable eyes of God.
God is looking for one righteous man or woman who will hold to His righteous standard, and who will stand in the gap to intercede for rebellious, hellbent people (Ezekiel 22:30).
Will you be that one?
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Craig T. Owens 