–Elmer Kelton  (Dark Thicket)

       “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

                    –Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV) 
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God does become angry.  Much of His wrath was placed upon Jesus at the cross, but what of those that refuse that tremendous gift?  What of His people who turn from Him, those who practice abominable things in His sight?  Can they still be called His people?  George Wood said regarding this portion of Psalm 106, “God wanted His people to be fulfilled.  They chose instead to reject His love.  When you do that, here’s what happens:  You fall away from freedom into bondage and oppression, and ‘waste away in your sin.'”  A person in this state has disinherited himself.

          40 — Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance.
          41 — And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them.
          42 — Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
          43 — Many times He delivered them; but they rebelled in their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
          44 — Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry;
          45 — And for their sake He remembered His covenant, and relented according to the multitude of His mercies.
          46 — He also made them to be pitied by all those who carried them away captive.
          47 — Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise.
          48 — Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!  And let all the people say, “Amen!”  Praise the LORD!  (NKJV)

       The people were bent on “doing their own thing” or “what was right in their own eyes.”  We see that today in how many so-called Christians are interpreting the Word of God in their own way.  Making it mean what they think, practicing things contrary to the teachings of God.  When God’s people rebel it brings serious consequences.  I look at the history of our country and think of the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us.  I think of the many times He has delivered us and brought aid to us.  But now…  Now we’re are turning our backs on His Word and doing what pleases us.  
       However, God will hear the cry of the faithful.  He will rescue His people, His faithful people and have mercy on them.  Verse 47, is a key — “Save us” and then there is thanksgiving and praise.  Derek Kidner wrote, “Penitence is never out of place in praise, nor praise in an act of penitence.”  Remember, nothing can separate us from the love of God–that is His people, His children.  But we must note that sin does separate us from God.  His love is still there and He waits to hear the sound of “Save us”.  
       Nothing can separate us from His love except when we turn our backs on Him and even then He still loves us.  The gift of His Son is still there calling out.  His mercy, His lovingkindness endures forever, so perhaps this is the day that you need to call out–“Save me.”  When we call out we must acknowledge our sin (oh, how this is so much against today’s teaching), there must be confession of sin, and then the asking of forgiveness.  I would encourage you to go back and read through Psalm 106 again.  Note how God is there to redeem and restore not only a nation such as Israel, but each one of our lives as well.

               “And I, poor sinner, cast it away;
               Lived for the toil or pleasure of each day,
               As if no Christ had shed His precious blood,
               As if I owed no homage to my God.”
                         –Henry W. Baker

                    –Zechariah 14:20(ESV)
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               “Hark!  how the bells, sweet silver bells
               All seem to say ‘throw cares away.’
               Christmas is here
               Bringing good cheer
               To young and old, meek and the bold

               Christmas is here, bringing good cheer….”
                         –Peter J. Wilhousky

This is not one of my favorite Christmas carols, but there is a message here.  Bells!  Bells used to be commonplace.  They were used by communities to let the people know the time.  They were used to notify of emergencies–when the bells rang the community rushed to answer the call.  In fact, a symbol of our country is the Liberty Bell.  And right now, let me include here–the ringing of a bell does not mean that an angel has earned their wings.
       I read something the other day by Thomas Merton.  I don’t not agree with all of his theology, nor with all of his perspectives on life, but I do like what he wrote regarding bells.

               “Bells are meant to remind us that God alone is good, that we belong to Him, that we are not living for this world.
               They break in upon our cares in order to remind us that all things pass away and that our preoccupations are not important.
               They speak to us of freedom, which responsibilities and transient cares make us forget.
               They are the voice of our alliance with the God of heaven.
               The bells say:  business does not matter.  Rest in God and rejoice, for this world is only the figure and the promise of a world to come, and only those who are detached from the transient things can possess the substance of eternal promise.
               The bells say:  we have spoken for centuries from the towers of the great churches.  We have spoken to the saints, your fathers, in their land.  We called them, as we call you, to sanctify.”

Hmmm, perhaps instead of just hearing the bells ring, we should take to heart that last phrase.  When we hear the bells ringing we ought to think about our sanctification before the Lord.  Does it ring loud and clear or is there just a dull thud?  
       When I was thinking of the bells and how I might write about them, the first thing that came to my mind was the great poem by John Donne.

               “No man is an island,
               Entire of itself…
               For whom the bells tolls,
               It tolls for thee.”

It tolls, the bells ring, for thee.  Ahh, but what are they saying?  Are they waking you up in the morning?  Perhaps it is the last bell of the night watch telling you that day is over.  Usually when we hear bells ring there is a positive note, but as I said they may bring a warning that there is a dire need.  When the bells toll for you are they ringing out their last warning?  Today is the day of salvation.  
       Do the bells ring, “Peace on Earth”?  Or are they clinging in despair, “There is no peace on Earth.”  Listen carefully for bells call forth beginnings, but also endings.  They can call to order, remember the old pictures of school teachers ringing the bell to get students to class?  They can bring a command or a warning.  Bells can symbolize birth, death, or marriage.  Or it can be a summons.  When my Mom broke her foot we gave her a bell to ring whenever she needed something; let me tell you, I don’t think that bell stopped ringing.  What do you hear?

               “Then rang the bells more loud and deep
               God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
               The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
               With peace on Earth, good will to men.”
                           –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Air Raid, Pearl Harbor.  This is not a drill!”

                    –Radio Message, 0758, Dec 7, 1941

 

       “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

                    –1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NKJV)

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“December 7, 1941 — a day that will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt

       This was a day that would change the course of American history.  From that day forward the next several years blood would be shed to rid the world of fascism.  Our family was fortunate, for all of the fathers, uncles, and cousins that served during that horrible war, only one (that we can tell) died in the war on the beaches of Normandy during the invasion of D-Day.

       The “Greatest Generation” is mostly gone from us now.  Few remain.  This was the generation who had a tremendous work ethic and a dedication to their country.  Service was how the military was referred to for it was indeed service.  The world has turned over many times since that day.  The face of America has changed, and in some ways not for the better.  People have definitely become more self-centered, concerned more with their own wants, desires, and concerns.  

       As mentioned I had one distant cousin killed on the shores of Normandy, but that is only one form of casualty.  A casualty is not only death, but also wounded, and that can include psychological as well as physical, MIA, and POW.  Each person handles the horrors of war differently, each copes or not, in their own way.  Once the Boomers are gone there will be few that remember the attack on Pearl Harbor.  The Greatest Generation experienced it, the Boomers were told of it by their parents or from the many movies that were made.  But now–those that follow, do they care?

       1942 was a year of fear and anxiety.  Would the Japanese invade Hawaii or perhaps make it to California?  Would the forces of the Third Reich finally conquer Great Britain?  Would freedom be lost and tyranny the victors?  NO!  There was a determination that has not been seen in this day and age.  The country united against the menace of fascism in whatever form it took.  

       But now, when we see that the youth of this country tend to favor terrorists like Hamas over Israel.  When there is a care of protesting for personal rights rather than the good of the country.  When media and politics are crooked and evil and there is confusion in many areas of government throughout the country with their own agendas rather than those of the good of the country.

       Should we be surprised?  Leaders of the Postmodern movement said forty years ago that they would not deal with those of my generation for we would soon die out.  Think of the future.  They are smiling.  Where are those who shed blood for the country?  The number is growing smaller and smaller.  Those who take a firm stand for our republic are fewer and fewer and the loud voice of anarchy is rising.

       It is becoming the same in the church.  One day, those who want the undiluted truth to be preached will be gone.  Those who want the truth of the hymns and the doctrines they teach will be gone.  Then the progressives, the “emergent church” will have control.  Paul warns that because of unrighteousness, when the lawless one is revealed, that “for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, NKJV).

       Listen to me!  Stand firm in the faith.  Guard the truth!  As the call went forth the day after Pearl Harbor, so the call is continually going forth to hearken to the Word of the Lord.  Do not be deceived by shyster politicians, slanderous media, and slick preachers.  Do not be one of those who will fall away.  Listen, for soon the trumpet will sound…