Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs
14:34
We
begin with Psalm 33:12 which says; “Blessed is
the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he
chose for his inheritance.” This
verse refers to Israel because they are God’s
chosen people. God
chose them as His people, and out of Israel came
Jesus, God’s Son, the Messiah, and the Savior of
the world.
And if you study Israel’s history you
know that they were blessed, and things went
pretty good for the nation, as long as they
worshipped and followed God. It seems
simple, yet it is so true, that when Israel
turned away from God, then difficult and bad
things happened to the nation. Often
God’s punishment came to the nation, because of
their sin.
This verse, Psalm 33:12, which sounds
like one of the Beatitudes that Jesus taught,
can be applied to our nation today. “Blessed
is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people
he chose for his inheritance.” Blessed,
happy, being in a good and happy condition—that
is the way things are in a nation, when God is
the nation’s Lord. Notice
that blessedness and happiness for a nation,
does not depend on having a strong economy, or a
strong military, or good social programs. The
nation is blessed when God is their Lord. When God
is worshipped, when God is followed, when God’s
Word is obeyed and followed, when God is put
above all other persons and things, when God’s
will is searched for, discovered, and followed,
when God is communicated with, through
prayer—that is when a nation is blessed. That is
the Biblical plan for a great nation. This was
true for Israel in Bible times, it is true for
the United States, and it is true for every
other nation in the world. “Blessed
is the nation whose God is the Lord,” That is
the plan for a Godly nation that we are given in
Scripture.
The nation is great whose God is the
Lord.
When we look at our nation in light of
this Scripture verse, in light of the plan God
has
given for a nation, what do we see? We see a
nation that seems to say some of the right
things.
In the pledge to the flag we say that we
are “one nation under God.” And on
our coins we have the words, “In God we
trust.”
We have some leaders who are Christians
and we have many citizens who are
Christians. But are
we a nation who fits the Biblical description of
a great nation? Are we a
nation whose God is the Lord? Are we a
nation who follows the principles and the rules
that are given in Scripture? Are we a
nation who tries to do what is Godly, and right,
and just, as we deal with our own citizens, and
in our dealings with foreign countries? Before
we give any answers to those questions, let us
read another Scripture verse.
Let us move on to the other Scripture
from Proverbs 14:34. Here we
read; “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is
a disgrace to any people.” This
verse was the theme for this year’s National Day
of Prayer.
In the version of the Bible called, “The
Message,” this verse is translated like this;
“God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.” The
focus of this verse is a concern for the
spiritual and moral character and well being of
the nation. When
this verse was originally written, it was
pointing out the contrast between Israel and
other nations. Israel was a people who were
worshipping the one, true, and living God. The
other nations were worshipping idols and false
gods.
Israel was an example to other nations
because the Israelite people worshipped and
followed God. In
nations, as in individual lives, there is a
difference between those who follow God, and
those who do not follow God. Again in
this verse, God’s plan for a nation is being
taught.
“Righteousness exalts a nation.”
“God-devotion makes a country
strong.”
When a nation and a society are built on
the foundations of the Christian faith, and when
the one, true, living God is worshipped, there
is a higher standard that the people are
expected to live by, and do live by. When a
nation embraces and follows God and His
righteousness, the nation is blessed, and the
people of that nation live by a higher and a
holier standard. A nation
who follows God is a nation who other nations
look to as being different.
Why? Because
that nation operates out of it’s relationship to
God.
A
God-fearing nation is a strong nation. It is
strong because Godly morals, Godly values, a
Godly view of other people, a Godly idea of how
we treat other people, are all part of the rules
by which the people of the nation live. A
God-devoted nation is built on the foundation of
loving God with our whole being, loving our
neighbor as our self, keeping the Ten
Commandments, having a strong family life,
knowing the difference between right and wrong,
and following God’s plan for the nation. A
God-fearing nation is strong because it is built
on a solid foundation—the foundation of God and
His Word.
Again, this is the plan that the Bible
sets forth for a nation to be great. And I
believe that it is important that we as
Christians know what the Bible says about a
great nation.
The second part of Proverbs 14:34 says;
“but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
“God-avoidance leaves people weak.”
Godliness and righteousness make a nation
strong, but sin is a disgrace and it weakens a
nation.
By it’s very nature, sin is against God,
the good foundation. Sin
tears apart, it destroys, it breaks
relationships, it is evil, it does not bring
about any good. Sin
deceives and hides the truth. Sin tears
people apart, it destroys lives, it breaks apart
families and neighbors. Sin
causes violence, and puts person against
person.
Sin is selfish and causes folks to
believe that their rights and desires are the
only one that counts, and they will do what
makes them happy, no matter who they hurt. Sin puts
things ahead of people. Sin
weakens people, it weakens society and
nations.
Sin is often the downfall of a
nation.
And so we look at our nation and measure
it against what the Scripture teaches. Are we a
nation of righteousness? Are we a
nation where God is our Lord? Or are
we a nation that is being disgraced by our
sin?
Have we turned away from the one, true,
living God, and made other things and other
people our gods? Are the
words in the pledge to the flag and on our
coins, simply words? Are we
so busy trying to be “politically correct,” that
we have strayed away from any Godly morals and
values that once were part of our society and
nation?
Are we as a nation trying to be so
certain that everybody has “their rights,” that
we have become an “anything goes society?” Have we
become a society where at times, Christianity
has become a religion to be put down?
As
Christians, Jesus taught that we are to be good
citizens.
In Luke 20:25 when He was asked about
paying taxes to Caesar, He taught; “Then give to
Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is
God’s.”
As
Christian citizens we ought to pray for our
country.
Pray for our leaders in all levels of
government, and pray for each other as
citizens.
Pray for revival to come to our
nation.
As God raised up the prophets to preach
repentance to Israel, pray that He will raise up
preachers to preach the Gospel of repentance and
salvation to our nation. Pray
that God’s call to repentance will not go
unheeded, but that many folks will hear the
Gospel message, repent of their sin, and be
saved.
Pray that all of our elected officials
will seek God and His will for their lives and
the life of our nation. Pray
that we will become a God-devoted
nation.
As
a believer, be a witness for Jesus. We ought to
let our light shine for Jesus. Write,
email, or telephone your elected representatives
in the local government, in Harrisburg, and in
Washington, and let them know your stand on
issues and bills to be voted on. Let them
know how you want them to vote. At
elections, pray and then vote as the Lord leads
you.
A nation is only as Godly as it’s
people.
So live your faith everyday—at work, at
home, at play, and wherever you may be. If each
of us lets our light shine For Jesus, and brings
another person to know Jesus, we will be a
little closer to being a Godly
nation.
What makes a nation great?
According to God’s plan and His Word, a
nation whose God is the Lord, is a great
nation.
Let us pray and witness, so
America moves toward being a more Godly
nation.
