“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
Isaiah 9:10
Without having to name names, there have been at least two high profile U.S. politicians who used this verse in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was meant to be a rallying cry of patriotism – the country would come back stronger than before and the terrorists would not crush our spirit.
To be sure, there was a swell of patriotism and a brief period of spiritual revival after that horrible day. Most all Americans want our country to be great, to be a place of peace and security. And yet, we shouldn’t use a Bible verse out of context to justify our sentiment, like we do with verses such as Jeremiah 29:11.
Isaiah 9:10 is in the midst of a passage where the Lord’s anger is burning against the nation of Israel, and judgment is coming. In fact, all you have to do is read part of the previous verse where the Israelites were saying “with pride and arrogance of heart, the bricks have fallen down…” This wasn’t said out of a humble desire to rebuild. In the verses that follow, The Lord shared what He was going to do to this proud people – and it ain’t pretty! Destruction was in Israel’s future. Read the rest of Chapter 9.
This is a stark example of achieving the exact opposite of your intention with quoting a verse. Please be aware of the true meaning of God’s Word!
Pray this verse for Israel instead, and perhaps God will do this for America as well:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
