When we worry about the problems of our country, express dissatisfaction with existing deplorable conditions and feel a strong urge to do something positive to change, correct or improve upon the situation, the we are said to show concern for our nation. The condition may be political where there is a bad leadership or where unpopular laws need to be changed or new laws have to be legislated to protect the rights of minorities and women, or to protect children against child abuse such as using them for street trading.
It may also be socio-religious, where greed and the get-rich-quick mentality force people into ritual murder and when human beings are killed and their parts removed to make JuJu or video or traditional medicine for money. It is also clearly evident in most countries today that there is a proliferation of churches through which many people want to get rich quick.
The condition may be social where there is oppression of the poor, corruption, fraud, examination malpractices, tribalism, cultism, drug abuse, drug trafficking, gambling and prostitution. Social problems are also created by out-moded customs and traditions such as female circumcision, high bride price and the exclusion of women or the children of the dead father from the right if inheritance.
Economically, there may be trase malpractices such as over-in-voicing, under-invoicing, tax evasion and money laundering. In the Bible, the state of Judah witnessed deplorable conditions following the defeat by the Babylonians in 586B.C. This led to the deportation of the upper and middle class Israelites to Babylon. Patriotic citizens among the Jews such as Hanani, Nehemiah, Jerubabel, Jeshua and Ezra showed concern for the state of the nation and translated that I to positive action. From their exmaples, wrleaen to identify problems of our country and try to find solutions to them.
THE CONDITION OF THE NATION
King Josiah was killed in a battle with the Egyptians at Megiddo. Judah then became s vassal of Egypt. The Egyptians removed the son of Josiah, Jehoaz and his brother Johiakim the king of Judah. Later, the Egyptians were defeated by the Babylonians and Judah came under Babylonians rule. King Jehioakim revolted against the Babylonians. He died when the Babylonians attacked Judah and his son, Jehioachin was made the new king. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar deleted the king,members of the royal family, the Bible men and craftsmen into exile in Babylon. free the deportation, the Babylonians made Zedekiah, the uncle of Johioachin, the king of Judah. Zedekiah revolted against Babylon, inspite of the warning by the prophet Jeremiah that God was using Babylon as His instrument to punish Isreal for their sins. Zedekiah was captured and bus two sons killed before him. His eyes were removed and be was sent into exile. More people of the middle class were also taken into exilem there was mass destruction of lifes and property. The temple was totally destroyed and the walls of Jerusalem were razed to the ground.
With the devastation caused by the war, social and economic life in Judah became unbearable. Three was not enough food to eat, and they wer danger of being atta med by their neighbours.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CONDITION OF THE NATION
Judah's condition was caused by war as it is in Liberia BN and Sierra Leone today. While this suggests that war is bad, we must do everything to avoid it, it raises the issue of deplorable conditions in our own countries. We must learn to identify all the existing problems that militate against our growth and development as third would countries and try to correct them with the limits of the law. Problems in the political, economic, Religious and social aspects of natioylife which can lead to political unrest, rebel or civil war must be exposed for necessary action. Some of these problem have been highlighted at the beginningof this article.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it while reading. This is just the part 1 you'll see part 2 in my next post.
