It has been 235 years since our Founding Fathers gave us our National Birth Certificate. We continue to be the longest on-going Constitutional Republic in the history of the world. We must admit that God has blessed us with these many years of existence. We are a nation today by His grace alone.
On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain. Two days afterwards – July 4th – the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed, although by only two individuals at that time: John Hancock, President of Congress, and Charles Thompson, Secretary of Congress. Four days later, on July 8, members of Congress took that document and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell was rung. The inscription around the top of that bell, Leviticus 25:10, was most appropriate for the occasion: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof.”
What was the basis of American Independence? There are many in our nation today who have a problem answering that question. It is obvious that they do not agree with John Adams, the second president of the United States, who said in answering the question concerning the basis of American Independence, “The general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Perhaps the clearest identification of the spirit of the American Revolution was given by John Adams in a letter to Abigail the day after Congress approved the Declaration. He wrote her two letters on that day; the first was short and concise, jubilant that the Declaration had been approved. The second was much longer and more pensive, giving serious consideration to what had been done that day. Adams cautiously noted: “This day will be the most memorable epic in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” Adams was prophetic in his statement to his wife. We celebrate now the birth of a great nation founded on the principles of God’s word.
Were all of our founders Godly men without fault? No! Some of them were not true Christians. Some were Deist. It is possible that some were agnostic or atheistic. For example Thomas Paine was a Deist as well as Jefferson. Yet, these men were criticized by the others for their disbelief in the truth of Scripture. John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, said that Paine was “ignorant of human nature as well as an enemy to the Christian faith.”
Our founders knew that our rights come from our creator who benevolently deals with His fallen creatures through His common grace. They knew that human rights do not come from government but from our God who made us in His image. Governments are simply instruments in God’s hands to be used in carrying out His will.
God chose Israel for the purpose of manifesting Himself to the world and fulfilling His plan of redemption through Christ. Israel was God’s instrument, in particular, as He called her into existence for His own glory and purpose. The psalmist knew the blessing of being a citizen of a nation that acknowledged the true God as its Sovereign ruler. Many of our founders acknowledged God as the Sovereign establisher of America. George Washington, our first president understood this truth. He said on October 3, 1789, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor.” Like the psalmist of ancient times, our first president knew that our nation gained its liberty and benefits by the will and purpose of God.
I. Notice with me first of all today that in Psalm 33: 12 the psalmist declares that a nation acknowledging God as its Lord is in a state of blessedness.
A.The word blessed here is the Hebrew word “esher”, which means, as it does in the Greek equivalent, to be happy or experience happiness. The term happy means to have a deep inner peace; it is more than just a superficial feeling caused by some external pleasure. It is actually possessing a deep inward satisfaction with God Himself. This kind of happiness does not depend on situations, circumstances, or possessions; it finds delight in God alone.
B.The psalmist makes this clear as he points to the fact that the nation whose God “eloheem” or (ruler) is Lord “yeh-ho-vaw” or (the true God) is a happy or blessed nation. Simply stated, the nation who is acknowledging and serving the true God as the Sovereign ruled is a blessed nation.
C. Israel experienced this blessedness at times when she was in obedience to Jehovah. When she kept His commandments and precepts and worshiped Him genuinely in love and adoration. God had given the nation a warning when He prepared them to enter the Promised Land. He said to them as His nation, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.”
D. If God punished Israel for their disobedience, will He not punish America, whom He has given so much, by withholding His blessings and justly administering His judgment? Aren’t we just as guilty as Israel in forgetting God; the true God who established this nation for His purpose? Our founders knew that without His divine providence this nation could not be born and remain free.
II. Notice also that righteousness will exalt a nation (Proverbs 14: 32).
A. The wisdom writer knew that sin will bring a nation down, but righteousness will raise it up to be strong.
• Why is it that we can’t learn from our past? Israel was severely punished for her sins. We read about God’s dealings with His Old Testament people and how sin brought them to destruction.
• We read about Greece and Rome and the moral decay that brought them down. Why do we think that things will be different with us?
• A good economy does not make a nation strong. A great military does not make a nation strong. Wealth doesn’t make a nation strong. Having state-of –the –art technology does not make a nation strong. Righteousness before God makes us strong.
• Obedience to God’s word, knowing what God teaches about morality and obeying Him makes us strong. How weak we are today! Passing laws that bring disgrace to God’s principles of righteousness. Our Supreme Court ruling against posting God’s law in our schools. Many in our nation have been convinced that killing babies in the womb is a matter of choice. Our progressive and liberal thinking is making us weak. How long will our God be patient with us? How long will He withhold His anger? May God bring us to our senses as a nation before He destroys us. We are no better than Sodom and Gomorra. God destroyed those sinful cities, He will not forget us. Our only hope is found in Christ. May God send a great awakening and grant repentance to us as a nation. May we call Him to forgive us a many have in the past and to know that righteousness will exalt our nation.
III. Notice that there is a severe consequence for forgetting about God (Psalm 9: 17).
A. All nations that forget God shall be turned into hell.
• To forget God is to rebel against His word. We are guilty of that very thing today in this country.
• There is hope. 2 Chronicles 7: 14 states, “if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” His is my prayer for our nation.
