WHEN GOD GIVES A PEOPLE OVER TO WORTHLESS LAWS
Many have struggled with the meaning of this verse. Some have wondered whether God was saying that He had given some bad laws to His people. Yet, the Bible says that God’s law is “perfect” (Psalms 19:7). Others have suggested that God was referring to the fact, as the apostle Paul did, that since the sin nature made it impossible to keep the law, its net effect was that it led to death (Rom. 7:10). However, the better understanding based on the context is that God “gave them over” to Babylonian law. For their idolatry and rebellion against God had led to God giving them over to exile in Babylon for 70 years. Surely, God meant this as a way of bringing them to repentance. For having to live under the pagan laws of Babylon made them long for a return to the righteous, God-given law of Israel.
For most of our history, American law was based on the foundation of biblical laws, especially the Ten Commandments. However, in recent years our laws have become unanchored from God’s law. Indeed, they seem to be purposely contrary to God’s law. Many of the laws given to us by our Supreme Court since 1963 have actually been “worthless decrees” that do not lead to life.
Is God giving our nation over to worthless laws, so that we might long for His righteousness and repent?
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for our nation and its leaders. We pray for revival in our city, our state and in our nation. We desire Your will in all things, Lord. We pray Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Empower us to share the gospel. Call people far from You to come near. Let us see revival in our land. Let it start with us. In Jesus’ name, amen.