They forgat God

 1Sa_12:9  And when they forgat the LORD their God,

Jdg_8:34  And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God,

Jdg_3:7  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God,

2Ki_17:9  And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

Are you noticing a trend here? When I did a study on Judges in Sunday School you know what we noticed most? It was during peace, lack of persecution, lack of trouble that caused the Children of Israel to sin.  

They never forgot God in times of affliction, they never ran to idols when being enslaved, persecuted and tortured.

Another interesting fact: the timeline from Egypt to Babylon really wasn't that long.

From the time of the exodus from Egypt to the building of the Temple, 2 Milestones in Jewish history is 480 years. America has been in existence now for 242 years half the time between the Temple and the Exodus. Amazing.

Also the Temple to Babylon Captivity is 380 years.

The exodus to Babylonian rule was 860 years.

These numbers are not that far apart. 

 the time it takes to fall away from God is one generation. 

One generation forsaking the Lord can ruin a nation, totally and completely. One generation not teaching the next will ruin a nation.

So often we laugh at Israel for the constant walking away from God.

Yet are we not in the same boat? Just 50 years ago church was a national thing, and now today church, God, Jesus, and a life lived HOLY for Him is derided.

What was shunned, unthinkable, abhorred and in the shadows 50 years ago is now celebrated, promoted, cherished, and openly practiced and praised in these United States.

Even now the things of God are followed loosely, scarcely in this nation. False prophets, false religions, and the watered down Word of God is affecting this nation as it did the children of Israel. Do you remember what Christ accused the Pharisees of?

Mar 7:6  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 

Mar 7:9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

Just as we studied last week Jehu was given a job by God, a job he was more than happy to do. Yet he was not after the will of God, it just so happened that the job God gave him was in line with what he wanted to do.

That is what is going on in the USA today, we are taking what we want out of God's Word, forsaking the Actual God of the Word.

I realize many people think me too harsh, too narrow minded, yet is it harsh to speak the Truth of God? Or is harsh another Word for convicting words?

Those same people also think it is harsh to say Jesus is the only way to Heaven, they think it harsh to speak of Hell and judgment. Well I would rather be thought of as harsh than as a false prophet watering down the Word of God, letting folks go to Hell on a conveyor belt.

There comes a time in this world where God stops caring and turns His back on Nations. Here is a very specific place where God did this to His chosen, in case folks do not believe me.

Jdg 10:13  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 

Jdg 10:14  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. 

God just said here is a quarter call your false gods and let them deliver you. Oh yes He does get fed up.

But there is good news.

Jdg 10:15  And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 

Jdg 10:16  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 

The PEOPLE of Israel got busy living right, serving god and proving they were going to be faithful. Just as today when we operate by faith so too did they here. They believed if they got right, stayed right God would deliver.

God is an awesome God, it is the people of God that allow the sin and idolatry to take over. Therefore it is the people of God that has to fix it. God will deliver, but not an ungrateful, unrighteous people.

Remember it says if my people. Not if the pastor, or if the evangelist, or if the politician, it says if my People. That is me and you.