Wrong Time to Celebrate
“Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor. 2 Threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people; the new wine will fail them.”
Hosea 9:1-2
The Israelites should not be celebrating when they have been found unfaithful towards God. They worshipped idols at the threshing floor, believing that the idols would feed the people but this would not be the case. The Israelites would have no food or drink and they would be cast out into exile to live under captivity under Egypt and Assyria. They were involved in so much wickedness they thought the prophet was a madman, insane, and a fool when Hosea came to warn the Israelites of the coming punishment for their sin. Israel refused and continued to be disobedient unto the Lord, committing adultery with other idols. Israel’s day of reckoning and punishment is coming.
One of my favorite sports film growing up was the movie Miracle which is about Herb Brooks and how he led the U.S. hockey team to win the Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympics, surprising the world especially when they defeated the best hockey team at the time which was the Soviet Union. The victory agains the Soviets was known as “Miracle on Ice.” Herb Brooks was known for pushing his players to their limits in order to prepare them to be the best hockey team in the winter olympics. The United States played an exhibition game against Norway in Oslo. It was a team they should have easily defeated but they ended the game in a tie 3-3. The players were celebrating that they got a tie!
Brooks was furious and frustrated with the team’s lack of effort and focus. He had the players stay on the ice and made them do a conditioning drill where players had to repeatedly skate from one side of the rink to the other. This drill is often known as “suicides” in sports terminology. Brooks pushed the players relentlessly, even after the stadium manager turned off the lights. He kept repeating the word, “again” until at finally one player Mike Eruzione, shouted his name. Coach Brooks asked who do you play for in which Eruzione replied that he plays for the United States.
The players were initially grateful and celebrating that they had a tie, instead of a win. To the coach, the players seemed have forgotten what was at stake for they were not playing for their club, their own name, but they were playing for a greater purpose which is representing the United States of America. Coach Brooks brought upon the warning to the players even when others questioned his coaching tactics. The players eventually repented and came to an understand whom they played for and thus ended up victorious against all odds during the 1980 Olympics.
When I think about the churches in the United States, I can’t help but to think if we’re in this same mindset lately. We live in a blessed nation of prosperity and there is much to celebrate when it comes to the freedom we get to enjoy. The reality is that even the church has an opportunity to celebrate the great freedom they have to worship God without any oppression or persecution from the government. Yet this prosperity is short-lived for one day the nation will fall into judgment of God for their disobedience. When preachers warn of the impending punishment unless our nation repents, they are mocked and laughed at. How long are we going to ignore the warnings of God’s preachers and how long will our nation celebrate without repentance? We are a nation that was once founded upon the principles of Christianity, especially religious freedom that was given to each of us as an unalienable right from our Creator.
Yet our nation has turned its back on God after He has blessed it for more than 200 years. We as the church must be that beacon and return our nation to the Lord but how? Is it determined by politics, absolutely not. Is it determined by what is trending? No. It is only determined when our nation comes back to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This truth must be brought forth to our neighbors, community, city, school, workplace, family, etc. by the believers in the church.
“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. 24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:23-25
Those that are involved in wickedness will fall into their temptation and desires whereas those seeking the Lord and His righteousness will be delivered from danger. There is great rejoicing when the righteous prosper and great joy when wickedness is destroyed.
Never trust one that gossips, they will break all confidence whereas a trustworthy person will continue to keep a secret. The kind will bring themselves benefits whereas the cruel and wicked will bring ruin to themselves. Those that remain righteous will attain life whereas those pursuing evil will face punishment and death. God is pleased with those that follow ways that are blameless.
Those that give freely of themselves will receive blessings and prosper. They will gain even more whereas one who withholds or curses others will face poverty. If you seek good, you will find favor. If you seek evil and wickedness, you will also find it but with the consequences attached.
