The above is a portion of a quote by French writer and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville, from his book "Democracy in America" (De La Democratique en Amerique), published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840, after he visited America for nine months to perform a study for the French government. This is the full thought:
“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”
De Tocqueville went on to write that the democracy existing in America was very unique, unlike the democracy found in Europe. He thought this was because American democracy was birthed from Puritan seeds of faith and scriptural truth, which were integrated into our earliest government. As the full quote above states, he found that America's continued greatness was still very much connected to the uncompromising Spiritual truth coming forth from pulpits at the time of his study.
Scripture established this connection between the preaching of righteousness and the condition of the land even before de Tocqueville revealed it. Scripture warns that the lack of goodness, or righteousness coming from the "pulpit", the priesthood, will cause loss of righteousness and create great woes throughout the land. The LORD gave His word to Ezekiel saying:
"The conspiracy of her prophets...is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things...Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean;...Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain...The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy..." Ezekiel 22:25-29 (excerpt)
Ezekiel notes above that the profane, unclean, unholy condition of the land began with the corruption of the prophets, then the priests, then the princes (government), and then, finally, the people. It started with the spiritual gatekeepers of the land, and continued to progress from there.
The LORD sadly continues in v. 30:
"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."
The Prophet Isaiah also describes the woes of God's judgments that would come upon the land:
"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope;
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,...Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!...Therefore, the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people..." Isa. 5:18-25 (excerpt)
What is the attitude of those involved in this cycle of unrighteousness? It is an attitude of mockery and scoffing towards the LORD, and His judgment:
"Woe to those...that say, "Let Him (God) make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it." (v. 19).
The Psalms and Proverbs also mourn the effect of unrighteousness upon the land:
"Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men." Ps. 11:3, 12:1-4, Prov. 29:18
These are the same spiritual conditions found in our own nation today.
However, the LORD has not left us in this desolate condition. He teaches us a remedy. The remedy will not be found in a political candidate, but in a remnant:
"How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem...Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out...surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways, and their doings...And they will comfort you when you see their ways and their doings..." Ez. 14:21-23 (excerpt)
Unrighteousness, uncleanness, and the failure to teach the people the difference between the holy and unholy marked the prophets and priests of Ez. 22, and the effects of these things trickled down to the governing princes, and eventually to the people as a whole, corrupting the whole land. Now, however, in the verses above, we see the opposite happening. The Zadok priesthood, that remnant, is coming forth to bring the righteousness of the blood (of Jesus), the righteousness represented by their linen garments (Ps. 132:9, Rev. 19:8), the righteousness from faithfully teaching the people the difference between the holy and the unholy. Here we see the effect of that righteous Zadok priesthood upon the land.
As corruption trickled down from a corrupt priesthood to all the people of the land, righteousness now trickles down from a righteous priesthood. This is a priesthood that stands in the gap. This is a priesthood that humbles itself, prays, seeks God's face, and turns from its wicked ways, embracing not their own righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Christ, and teaching that righteousness to others. They not only teach it, but they live it. That righteousness trickles down, like the oil of anointing poured upon Aaron's ("Light Bringer") head in Psalm 133. It continues to trickle down his beard, and down his garments. That righteousness is like the dew ("covering") over Mt. Hermon ("dedicated for destruction, extermination") that continued downward. The righteousness of this priesthood is like the righteousness of our High Priest, Jesus, that trickled down from His pierced head to His pierced feet and beyond. In the same manner, this Zadok priesthood's righteousness trickles down to cover a nation.
Does this Zadok priesthood still stand in an America that has turned its back on its Puritan beginnings, whose people are no longer taught the difference between the holy and the unholy? Will this priesthood rise up and cause the pulpits of America to once again be "aflame with righteousness" as de Tocqueville described, a flame that transforms a nation?
These are the priests spoken of by the LORD to the Prophet Joel:
"Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD..." Joel 2:17
Recommended Reading: "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/815?msg=welcome_stranger
George Washington's Third Vision of America
http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Prophecy/Washington.html
"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope;
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,...Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!...Therefore, the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people..." Isa. 5:18-25 (excerpt)
What is the attitude of those involved in this cycle of unrighteousness? It is an attitude of mockery and scoffing towards the LORD, and His judgment:
"Woe to those...that say, "Let Him (God) make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it." (v. 19).
The Psalms and Proverbs also mourn the effect of unrighteousness upon the land:
"Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men." Ps. 11:3, 12:1-4, Prov. 29:18
These are the same spiritual conditions found in our own nation today.
However, the LORD has not left us in this desolate condition. He teaches us a remedy. The remedy will not be found in a political candidate, but in a remnant:
"How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem...Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out...surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways, and their doings...And they will comfort you when you see their ways and their doings..." Ez. 14:21-23 (excerpt)
and
"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood...they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge...whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall put on linen garments...And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Ez. 44:15-17, 23 (excerpt)Unrighteousness, uncleanness, and the failure to teach the people the difference between the holy and unholy marked the prophets and priests of Ez. 22, and the effects of these things trickled down to the governing princes, and eventually to the people as a whole, corrupting the whole land. Now, however, in the verses above, we see the opposite happening. The Zadok priesthood, that remnant, is coming forth to bring the righteousness of the blood (of Jesus), the righteousness represented by their linen garments (Ps. 132:9, Rev. 19:8), the righteousness from faithfully teaching the people the difference between the holy and the unholy. Here we see the effect of that righteous Zadok priesthood upon the land.
As corruption trickled down from a corrupt priesthood to all the people of the land, righteousness now trickles down from a righteous priesthood. This is a priesthood that stands in the gap. This is a priesthood that humbles itself, prays, seeks God's face, and turns from its wicked ways, embracing not their own righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Christ, and teaching that righteousness to others. They not only teach it, but they live it. That righteousness trickles down, like the oil of anointing poured upon Aaron's ("Light Bringer") head in Psalm 133. It continues to trickle down his beard, and down his garments. That righteousness is like the dew ("covering") over Mt. Hermon ("dedicated for destruction, extermination") that continued downward. The righteousness of this priesthood is like the righteousness of our High Priest, Jesus, that trickled down from His pierced head to His pierced feet and beyond. In the same manner, this Zadok priesthood's righteousness trickles down to cover a nation.
Does this Zadok priesthood still stand in an America that has turned its back on its Puritan beginnings, whose people are no longer taught the difference between the holy and the unholy? Will this priesthood rise up and cause the pulpits of America to once again be "aflame with righteousness" as de Tocqueville described, a flame that transforms a nation?
These are the priests spoken of by the LORD to the Prophet Joel:
"Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD..." Joel 2:17
Recommended Reading: "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/815?msg=welcome_stranger
George Washington's Third Vision of America
http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Prophecy/Washington.html
Thank you Disciple...truth that we pray will transform lives...
ReplyDeleteRev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.