“The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who taught my word ignored me, the rulers turned against me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols.” Jeremiah 2:8
God puts the responsibility on the spiritual leaders. And I believe that the problems in our nation began in the church. No nation falls until it falls first spiritually. There is first of all a spiritual apostasy, then a moral awfulness, and finally a political anarchy. That is the way every nation makes its exit as a great nation. “The priests said not. Where is the LORD?” There are too many folks today who are supposed to be Bible teachers and preachers and witnesses for Him, even among the laymen, who do not know the Word of God. I am sorry to say that, but it happens to be true. As a result of not knowing the Word of God, they don’t really know God. It is necessary to know the Word of God in order to know Him. The religious leaders of Israel did not serve God or the people well. They did not seek the Lord and they did not teach the word of God. They did not know God.
This is a problem we have today in our churches; we have every few preachers that want to preach the Gospel of the Cross. Leonard Ravenhill says it well. “Preachers, to no other man on earth does God give such an awesome task as to you. You trade in eternal things. Yours is a calling that angels might envy. To you is given a power that hell fears above all other powers on earth. You are a divine delegate, a God induced ambassador. Life and death are in your hands. To some your message is a savor of death unto death, but to others your words are savor of like unto life. I believe the Christ who cleansed the Temple in the days of His flesh would without a question, cleanse the pulpit if He was here right now.” (Leonard Ravenhill )