A Good Word for Today

05/19/2013

With the recent events in the news our minds turn to the corrupt nature of our once blessed nation. Nothing is more clear in world history than the truth of today's verse. Nations that honor the LORD are blessed above all nations. The U.S. is one such nation we could show as proof. History records that Christian nations were led to their civilized standards by a respect for the LORD and His word. Modern western civilization and all of it's worldwide benefits sprang from the "blessed" nations of Europe and America because they worshiped the one true God. The word "LORD" in all caps is the way the translators chose to represent the name of God: "Jehovah." He is the one who blesses those who worship and honor Him, not the false deities of other religions.

One of the blessings that accrue to such nations is righteousness. People and nations become like the gods they worship. If people worship a righteous God they become righteous. If they worship gods of wrath and anger they become so (witness the Moslems). If they worship gods of immorality like the pagan gods of Zeus, Venus and Aphrodite they become immoral like them. The LORD is righteous, so His worshipers become so too. Remember the chief benefit of righteousness as stated in Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

"America is great because it is good", so said a French writer of another century. America is good because it was founded upon the scriptures and the acknowledgment of the LORD as our God (like on our coins, in our founding documents and our pledge to the flag). Righteousness brings with it unity, because He fashions their hearts alike (v.15). It also carries with it as benefits, respect (v.8), confidence (v.12 "whom He hath chosen"), and prosperity (v.19). Isn't it amazing when most of the world lies in squalor how the Western, Christian nations enjoy the highest level of prosperity the world has ever known?

Another blessing that accrues to such nations is protection. Our forefathers sensed the truth of this, as is shown in the concluding paragraph of the Declaration of Independence: " . . . and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." In verse 20 it states that our "shield" is the LORD. Our shield was down on September 11, 2001. That is due to our departure from God. We no longer honor Him as a nation as we did. Indeed our institutions of government seem to despise Him. Unless we repent, we can expect more of the same destruction.

Reliance on superior weapons, though we have them, will not protect us (v16). It is not the weapons that protect the blessed nations. General George Washington leading the rag tag Continental army against very superior British forces won that war. It was not weapons that did it. Actually, in those days when America relied on God more completely than this untoward generation does today, it was safer from enemies than it is now with all of our armament. The passage further shows that it likewise is not the size of armies that determine safety (v.16)

Finally, the blessed nation enjoys the twin blessings of mercy and forgiveness. Verses 18-22 reveal the reliance a blessed nation can have on God¡¯s mercy. We have sinned. Oh, have we ever sinned! If we repent we may be blessed once again by His mercy. But it is doubtful He will ever return us to the favored national status we once enjoyed even with genuine repentance. For we have proved we cannot be trusted with prosperity. But we must ask ourselves ¨- seriously - what are the chances for a national repentance in today's environment? We are more wicked than in anytime in our nation's history and more determined than ever to eliminate the Christian witness from our national identity.

No, even though His blessings in the past have included mercy and forgiveness, it has come to a point now in our national rage against the Holy One as it says in Psalms 2, that His wrath is to be expected rather than mercy. And all true believers surely say, "Thank God! It's high time for our Father to vindicate His righteousness and reveal His holiness to a nation that has had every advantage heaven could afford it and then turned its back on Him." "Even so, come Lord Jesus!."

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