This reprint comes from the September, 1979 Christian Courier. It was written by Wayne Jackson who was also the editor. It was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California.
It is a fact beyond dispute that as long as Israel walked in the ways of God, He was their impregnable protector. For example, thrice yearly male Jews were required to "appear before the Lord" (in Jerusalem) to celebrate certain feasts. In connection with such, God promised, "neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou goest up to appear before Jehovah thy God three times in the year" (Exodus 34:23). T.H. Horne points out that, "it is a well known fact, that the Jews constantly attended these ceremonies without any fear of danger, and that their most vigilant enemies never invaded or injured them during these sacred seasons" (Critical Introduction, II, p. 122).
On the other hand, when Israel apostatized from Jehovah, neither fortress nor armament could protect them from God's providential instruments of punishment. Because of their corruptness, which was consummated by the crucifixion of Jesus, the Almighty decreed the destruction of Jerusalem. This was accomplished in 70 A.D. by the invasion of the Roman army (God's army - Matthew 22:7) under Titus. In connection with that event, Josephus records this remarkable statement: "...when he (Titus) saw their solid altitude (towers of the city) and the largeness of their several stones, and the exactness of their joints, as also how great was their breadth, and how extensive their length, he expressed himself after the following manner: 'We have certainly had no other than God for our assistant in this war, and it was no other than God who ejected the Jews out of these fortifications; for what could the hands of men or any machines do towards overthrowing these towers?'" (Wars, VI, IX, 1).
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