In the Midst of Judgement - Hope

Reflections on our nation’s turning from God

Voting 2 Our system of democratic government is supposed to be a government of the people, for the people, by the people.

Landmark law

In 1918, the British Parliament passed a landmark law, The Representation of the People Act, which overhauled the electoral system of the day, abolishing most property qualifications for men, so that almost all men over twenty-one years of age gained the right to vote, and following almost six decades of campaigning for suffrage, women over thirty were granted the vote if they were property owners, householders, or married to a householder.

Ten years on, the 1928 amendment of the Act extended the vote to all women over the age of twenty-one. For almost a century since then, the right to vote has been a treasured right of every adult British citizen. These rights were hard won, and though we may not be optimistic about the outcome, we have a clear duty to exercise our right to vote in the local elections on May 7^th.

It is our ability to appoint or dismiss those who represent us in Parliament, forming a national government, which has kept our nation from the sort of fracture, violence and bloody revolution seen elsewhere. We have what political philosophers call a social contract in which individual citizens consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender some freedoms, and submit to the authority of a government, in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights, and the maintenance of social order.

For almost a century since then, the right to vote has been a treasured right of every adult British citizen.

Societal changes

The first duty of every government is the protection of its citizens and defence of its borders. Sadly, Britain no longer feels safe and secure. Hordes of unvetted, illegal migrants have invaded our nation and those who govern us end up maintaining them at taxpayers’ expense, making no attempts at integration and, frequently, silencing opposing voices. Shoplifting is out of control, fraud has risen significantly, and many are concerned at the visibility of violent crime.

These are societal changes which no-one voted for, which no political party included in their manifesto, and many would now argue that the social contract in Britain is well and truly broken. It is no longer unthinkable that the outcome will be blood on the streets of Britain. The steps to our social, political, and economic decline are well documented, but fundamentally, this once great Christian nation has rejected and sinned against God. The consequences of His judgement are plain for all to see. Indeed, far greater judgement and crisis is soon to come.

Wisdom of the world

The Bible describes how a nation which turns away from God will be marked by its people scoffing at the very idea of God. In His sovereignty, God uses their own foolishness to shame them, as 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 describes:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

The consequences of His judgement are plain for all to see. Indeed, far greater judgement and crisis is soon to come.

However, within such a nation, God will always preserve for himself a small remnant of true followers, those we would describe as the Bible-believing remnant.

Rejection of God

Tragically, the rest of the nation will be given over to their sin which will only increase their misery, as Romans 1:22-25 describes:

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

When a nation rejects God, He gives them the leaders they deserve. The prophet Samuel warned the people that having kings rule over them would lead to more problems. But the people wanted a king nonetheless:

When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day. But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

The prophet Samuel warned the people that having kings rule over them would lead to more problems. But the people wanted a king nonetheless.

When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” (1 Samuel 8:18-22)

Power of God

God also reminds the nation of his power:

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
    all the nations that forget God.
But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
    let the nations be judged in your presence.
Strike them with terror, Lord;
    let the nations know they are only mortal. (Psalm 9:15-20)

The words of Isaiah 1:16-20 offer us hope, even in these dark times.

Our Hope

We may have the leaders we deserve, but all is not lost. The words of Isaiah 1:16-20 offer us hope, even in these dark times:

Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
But if you resist and rebel you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Amen!

Nick Szkiler, 01/05/2026

Feedback:

	JB (Guest)	12/05/2026 00:36
The earlier verses in Isaiah 1 also include the words ‘your hands are full of blood’. When David Cameron as PM accused Assad of Syria of just this, it was apparent at the time, that this was just what was in fact true of ourselves, the UK. Though many people in the UK may have disagreed with the Iraq war, as a people we are nevertheless held responsible for what happened. Just one example though of the scale of national repentance needed.
	Peter Morrow (Guest)	06/05/2026 20:08
Nick, may I ask a question? When you say “covenant loyalty” what do you mean by this, and how does this relate to Jesus being the fulfilment of the covenant?
	Nick Thompson (Guest)	06/05/2026 17:34
Proverbs tells us that 'righteousness exalteth a nation' and I personally see that as being on YHWH's team in any situation. In the case of the Spanish Armada we were around 50 years from Martin Luther protesting the indulgences of the Catholic Church so my sense would be we were on God's side in that one. In 1656 Oliver Cromwell welcomed the Jewish people back to England after the expulsion if 1290, and I subscribe to Genesis 12 & 22 and the promise I will bless those who bless you. On that score Great Britain, in the Napoleonic wars, represented stability for the Jewish people, especially compared with Napoleon's 1808 decree. The Jewish people were fully emancipated in Britain in the 1850's and then in 1917 the British government proclaimed the Balfour declaration and General Allenby liberated Jerusalem. My sense is that was Great Britain's spiritual high water which stayed in flood during WWII as we stood against Nazi Germany and bought time for Russia & USA, despite our double dealing with the Arab tribes, promotion of the grand mufti in Palestine and toleration of Arab atrocities during the 20's and 30's. However, from thereon in it was downhill, we treated the Jewish people shamefully post-war and failed them as we handed the land over and actively mitigated against Jewish Aliyah. Since then we have been feeble friends at the best and last year's recognition of Palestine set us in direct opposition to God. I was led to write a range of articles for PT warning of God's judgement over this issue last summer. As a nation we have increasingly, deliberately and consciously, opposed God over the last 40-50 years and because of that we have entered into judgement. Whether that judgement is greater, lesser or the same as other nations is for Him to say. However, I believe we have fallwn from a higher place because of our history over the last 350-400 years of covenant loyalty. It's not us, it is Him and where we stand in our relationship.
	Peter Morrow (Guest)	03/05/2026 22:11
Carol. Who put into government in a part of the United Kingdom a political party which continues to act as an apologist for IRA terrorism? It wasn't for the want of prayer that it happened.
	Peter Morrow (Guest)	03/05/2026 22:07
Edward and Douglas, i hope you don't mind me running two replies together. First of all, the reading of Isaiah 1 as one of 'sins going from bad to worse' is certainly different from the more common one of reading 'white as snow' in terms of redemption and has got me thinking and reading. And in the course of that reading I turned to a commentary I don't often use: Matthew Henry's. I certainly agree that Britain has benefitted from a public identification with Christianity, and that we are the poorer for the lack of it, but the question that bothers me is, what does it mean - really mean - that Britain was Christian, and how could that happen again, assuming it was a good thing. And it seems to me that we can best learn what it means by ruling out what it doesn't mean. It cannot mean Britain is analogous to Israel and that the Old Testament speaks to Britain as it spoke to Israel; it cannot mean that Britain is analogous to the Church and that the Bible speaks to Britain as it speaks to the Church; and it cannot mean that Britain was chosen by God in the same way as Israel, the same way as the Church, or in some special way not applicable to other nations. (Of course if others think we are in some way 'special' then what I say isn't going to carry any weight.) Anyway... that leaves us with Britain being in some way ceremonially (I have no better word) Christian - promoting Christian vales in the public square, in government and in the offices of State - which is not a disagreeable thing - but can we really say more than that? It was still a nation that needed the Gospel - otherwise we'd have had no Latimer, Ridley, Whitfield or Wesley. And it remains a nation that needs the Gospel: not ceremony, not convocations, not assemblies, not feast days, not offerings and not sacrifices - not even "prayer"; and whatever way we read Isaiah 1 - as speaking directly to Britain or to the Church, or as a general warning to the people of the earth - that much is clear... to use another word God isn't much interested in 'heritage'. And that's where Matthew Henry comes in. Here's a quote which intrigued me: "When sinners are under the judgments of God they will more easily be brought to fly to their devotions than to forsake their sins and reform their lives." And it seems to me he was right. It's not a return to a 'Christian heritage' we need, it's salvation: the Gospel: changed hearts - and if there is ever to be any return to a 'Christian' past then this is the only way it can happen, for what Isaiah seems to be telling us is that God judges 'heritage' as much as He judges anything else. And if that true, then calling people back to a heritage will result in more judgement, not less, and more sin not less: to use Edward's reading: 'white, like full blown leprosy'. Britain needs the real thing, not a shadow.
	Carol Bignall (Guest)	03/05/2026 21:06
Who protected us from the Amada? Who protected us from Invasion in the Battle of Britain? Who allowed us to bring our servicemen back from Dunkirk? For anyone to even think that this Nation has not been under the protection of Almighty God has a very short memory. We now have two generations of children who have not heard the Gospel and the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the gravity of entrenched unspeakable sin to the extent that the word hardly exists anymore - yes we are indeed under Judgement !!
	Douglas (Guest)	03/05/2026 14:54
Peter, I would agree that these verses refer to Israel, but Britain as a nation has historically looked to put itself under God’s protection and base many of our laws on His word. For example, the king’s coronation oath. To then turn from God in so many ways can, I believe, only bring a measure of His judgment. We cannot turn our backs on Him, having relied on His blessings and provision for so long, and expect our national life to continue as before.
	Edward Barnes	03/05/2026 10:44
Peter - it’s when you look at the verse in the context of the rest of the chapter and the reign of Uzziah (dying from leprosy) that suggests how it would have been understood originally. I take your caution about applying such scriptures to modern nations - though I would say that the Holy Spirit may draw our attention to specific passages, and of course the whole run of scripture points us to God’s character as well as a backdrop to weighing prophecy.
	Jo Henderson	03/05/2026 08:58
Thank you so much for this word Nick. I was led to those specific Isaiah verses also, yesterday, with the same interpretation of them. The holiness of the Lord's people is and will be what sets us apart.
	Peter Morrow (Guest)	02/05/2026 10:35
Edward, the warning interpretation of Isaiah 1:18 is not one I’m familiar with, but it is interesting. I don’t think, however, that it refers to any nation other than Israel and then subsequently those gentiles grafted into by faith in Christ, which ultimately all God’s people will have. To offer these passages as a a commentary on or promise to Britain, is, I think, misplaced. I’m not even convinced that Britain is under any particular judgement other than the judgement of sin, which we and all nations face outside of Christ, and which at times, as Romans 1 indicates, can become progressively worse. We seem to be living in such times.
	Edward Barnes	02/05/2026 09:20
Is Isaiah 1:18 merely a promise of redemption or a warning that the sins of the people go from bad to worse? Written in the reign of king Uzziah, Isaiah’s contemporaries would have recognised that leprosy that started as a red sore would become white and a killer.
	Crystal (Guest)	01/05/2026 15:29
For the nation or kingdom that will not serve You will perish; it will be utterly ruined. Isaiah 60:12.