America’s Gone Crazy
America’s Gone Crazy! What Should We Do?
Interestingly, the Bible addresses just this sort of question. Hidden within the written history of Israel’s kings lies this text. “…the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chron. 12:32). A bit of a niche passage for some, this text is actually quite relevant to our political turmoil today.
A little background…
The house of Saul was entering its final hours as the rule of David was about to shine forth, established, over the entire nation. To use a modern vernacular, this scenario represented quite a dramatic ideological shift as one political party crashed down and another rose to take its place.
However, this verse is actually one in a list of such verses that record the number of fighting men from each of Israel’s 12 tribes that rallied to David in Hebron to affirm and assure a smooth transition of power. The flexing of military muscle served as a preemptive warning to those who might otherwise try and intervene. But this transition of power had been in the works for over 7 years. Israel experienced great division and even warfare between her dueling political factions during this time.
What stands out is the particular grace of God that was resting on the men from Issachar’s tribe. Given to them was a unique manifestation of the Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of wisdom and understanding. They possessed a unique perspective of the many concurring social and political dynamics in their nation. They functioned in part under a prophetic anointing which allowed them to perceive what God was doing. It was this anointing that qualified them to know how their nation should respond going forward in this most dramatic season.
Proverbs 4:7 exhorts us to get understanding. Pressing in, in cooperation with the Spirit, yields understanding. God provides the means and the ability, and we provide the “yes” of diligence and hard work. Beyond the realm (no- beyond the reach) of opinion, un-tempered zeal, and human reasoning and logic, lies the world of spiritual discernment. This discernment goes hand in hand with a genuine desire to know and receive God’s truth.
“And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”
Many claim to both hear and want to hear from God prophetically, but the word of the Lord and the wisdom to apply it lie in the lap of those who prostrate themselves in the place of prayer. “For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word? (Jer. 23:18). Another translation asks, “Who has paid attention to His word enough to hear it?” The wisdom to navigate these troublesome times lies in the secret realm of devotion to the Lord. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”. (Matt.6:6) The open reward of secret prayer involves the wellspring of wisdom being poured from the mouth of those who take the time to lean in to hear what the Spirit is saying.
Is there a greater exhortation to the church in America in this hour? “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” (Rev.2:29, 3:6,13,22)
