A Divided Kingdom – Finding Hope in National Judgement

Back in 2013, I posted “A New Civil War is being Engineered.” Back then I observed because United States has departed from God, the nation was in the process of dividing, and an eventual civil war appeared likely. As I write this in early 2023, there is an accelerating division in all aspects of national life – social, political, economic, relational, and spiritual.

This pattern of division following a national departure from God is not new. Let’s dive into what this may mean, and, amazingly, in this we’ll find hope!

Why and How does God Typically Judge Nations?

First, it’s important to understand the loving character of God. When God judges individuals and entire nations he does not relish punishment, but widespread, nationalized sin causes untold suffering and God will mercifully put an end to sin by allowing judgement upon a nation.

With individuals, judgement does not necessarily mean receiving God’s direct wrath. Rather, God allows a person to reap the consequences of sin (speaking from personal experience, here). Likewise, when God judges a nation, he often allows the nation itself to be weakened under the consequences of corruption and poor leadership rather than a direct judgement via wrath such as a disaster.

God really delights to bless His creatures and to have fellowship with them, but the invasion of sin into creation has meant that He must exercise judgment, because He is not only love, but also light, absolutely holy, righteous, and good.

God’s Strange Work: The Judgments of Scripture – M C Davis, Leeds – Believersmagazine.com

The Bible provides the most detailed account of the judgement of nations. Most commonly, judged nations are overthrown or dominated by other nations, typically after bad leaders come into power.

For example, the nation of Babylon remained strong while king Nebuchadnezzar was on the throne, but a successor, the regent Belshazzar, was part of a weak and corrupt government, which hastened the overthrow of the nation by the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 5:23-31).

Furthermore, the prophet Daniel predicted the eventual downfall of Persia itself which was eventually weakened by poor leadership and conquered by Alexander the Great.

National Division – A special kind of Judgement

There is a special type of national judgement that involves a division of the nation before an eventual domination by foreign powers. This type of judgement was reserved for God’s chosen nation. Around 950 B.C., Israel divided into two Kingdoms – the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel.

This division occurred after a long leadership decline driven by an increasing departure from God. Following the imperfect but Godly rule of King David, King Solomon grew the government and embarked upon expensive programs than demanded high taxes, while subtly introducing Solomon’s successor, Rehoboam, raised taxes even more, and sparked a revolt. Most of the nation split off into the north, while Judah and part of the tribe of Benjamin formed the southern kingdom with its capital remaining in Jerusalem.

Upon dividing, the northern kingdom fell into worshipping one of the darkest, most evil of the gods, Baal, and produced some of the most wicked leaders in the Bible, including king Ahab and queen Jezebel. The northern kingdom was more powerful than the southern kingdom, but because of its corruption, the north fell to the Assyrians around 721 B.C.

The southern kingdom’s account was mixed, with some excellent Godly leaders, such as king Hezekiah, but it also had some poor leaders. Despite being smaller and weaker than the northern kingdom, it lasted longer, but was eventually conquered by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C.

The United States – National Division like Ancient Israel?

The United States once stood, and in many ways still stands, for good. The nation was founded by leaders, though not all Christians, who at least valued Biblical principles.

I propose, like the judgement of ancient Israel, we too are dividing as a nation as part of an overall judgement by God. During our first bloody civil war in the 1860’s we very nearly divided along moral and ideological lines. Since the 1960’s this nation has become increasingly divided again and now there are effectively two nations: one that embraces a pagan religion, racial and ethnic tribalism, and rejects God, and another that still holds, albeit imperfectly and weakly, to the original biblical concepts of freedom and liberty to all without regard to race, color, creed, or even religion.

Is there Hope for the United States?

Will we suffer the same fate as the divided nation of Israel and Judah? Only time will tell. However, the very fact we are dividing like ancient Israel is actually encouraging. Not all nations experience the judgement of division. The very fact the United States is dividing, with one part embracing radical paganism, and the other holding on to liberty, indicates there is a Godly remnant remaining.

In the case of Israel, even after the southern kingdom fell, God miraculously preserved the exiled remnant of the southern kingdom, and they eventually returned to the land from exile. I’m not saying the United States is on the same path as Israel, but I am encouraged that in our path to judgement, there is at least a remnant to be divided.