In America --

As I prepared this week to finish Nehemiah 9 I found this silly illustration, I decided not to use it on Sunday but thought it was worth sharing none the less. You may have seen it or heard parts of it before as it's not new but it is unlikely you have seen the commentary included at the end so read and enjoy!  

Yakof Smirnof, a Ukrainian comic from the 80’s & 90’s was famous for his word play associated with American and Russian culture… For instance - he was amazed by the products available in our stores. He saw powdered milk – just add water. He saw powdered eggs – just add water. He saw baby powder – wow, what a country.  -- some of his other attributed colloquialism's are: 

• In America, we park on the driveway and drive on the parkway.
• In America, we put Braille dots on the keyboards at drive up ATMs and have handicapped parking at the front door of the skating rink.
• In America, our feet smell and our noses run.
• In America, when we transport something by car we call it a shipment and when we transport something in a ship we call it cargo.
• In America, we park $20,000 cars on the street so that we can store $200 worth of junk in our garages.
• In America, the #2 pencil is the most popular, but it is still #2.
• In America, we chop trees down so that we can chop them up.
• In America, we have interstate highways in Hawaii.
• In America, when everyone is driving slow, we call it rush hour….

This weekend in churches across our great country people are going to be crying out in prayer that God would bring healing to the brokenness and justice to the sinfulness across the country. 

Many will turn to 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

However, if we truly desire the healing that we claim to come upon our nation, we need to be repentant instead of blaming other people…

This is addressed to the believers, not the pagan leaders. 

I’m reminded of a story - about a man who goes to a doctor and says “You have to help me, I hurt everywhere. If I touch my arm, it hurts, if I touch my leg it hurts, if I touch my head it hurts, and if I touch my chest it hurts.” The doctor does some tests and comes back with the answer. “You have a broken finger.” 

Friends don’t blame the oval office, supreme court, or congress, the blame lies with us as Christians.

This scripture tells us to “humble ourselves” admit we need help, “and pray” ask God for forgiveness of our sins, “turn from our wicked ways” don’t cheat on your taxes, don’t patronize improper movies, quit worshiping other things. “I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

It’s up to us as believers. The ball is in our court.

Look at what Ezra prayed in the book of Nehemiah 9:32-38

So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today. You are righteous concerning all that has come on us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly. 

Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey Your law or listen to Your commands and warnings You gave them. When they were in their kingdom, with Your abundant goodness that You gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land You set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.

Here we are today, slaves in the land You gave our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we are—slaves in it!

Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us, because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please.

We are in great distress.

In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.

Friends, we do not come to this moment in our own strength. We do not come sufficient in ourselves. We do not come because of the beauty of covenant community. We come mainly—like Ezra—because God is a great, mighty, awesome, covenant-keeping, loving God, who will help us, and who will show his love for us through the covenant.

Will you truly humble yourself today and seek God’s face in prayer? Repenting of your hidden wrongs and asking him to first heal your heart and then heal your land? Much as the people in that day we too are in great distress in this world today – maybe we need to look at where we’ve come from a little harder and remember God’s mercies anew… 

Have a great weekend hope to see you Sunday!