by Peter Simpson, TCW
AS WE have been considering VE Day and ultimate victory over Nazi Germany this past week, it is important to emphasise that it is the Trinitarian God who governs the nations, and who determines whether they experience peace or war.
In 1940, the nation being invaded and overrun was a distinct possibility and the most likely outcome, but a humbled people prayed. In fact, during World War Two, there were 12 national days of prayer. We can only properly understand our nation’s deliverance in the context of the word of God, the Bible, and its teachings on the providence of God.
In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles, we read of King Asa of Judah. When he came to the throne, he began a period of national reformation, endeavouring to bring the people back to faith in the one true God. During the 16th year of his reign, Judah experienced hostile military incursions from the neighbouring northern kingdom of Israel. Here is a test for King Asa. Will he continue to trust the Lord for help with this sudden danger afflicting the nation?
Asa in fact becomes overwhelmed with anxiety, and this erstwhile faithful king takes his eyes off the sovereignty of God. Instead, in his panic he looks around for mere human solutions to the threat. He resorts to the worldly expedient of financial inducements to gain the help of the King of Syria against Israel. In an especially profane and sinful act, he uses the riches of the Temple dedicated to the Lord to support this political bribery. So, he temporarily buys Syria’s help, but the Syrians were no real friends. The reality was that his diplomatic scheming was a faithless substitute for turning to the Lord, who is now is angry with him, and who sends a prophet to rebuke him.
The prophet’s words included the following: