A Nation's True Happiness

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A Nation's True Happiness

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jul 2, 2013 (message contributor)

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Scripture: Psalms 33:10-22

Denomination: Baptist

Summary: The psalmist encouraged his readers toward a focused attention upon the inherent happiness found in their having been chosen of God. Without seeking God, any nation experiences distance & dissidence. When is national happiness experienced?

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, & to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate & equal station to which the Laws of Nature & of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, & to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles & organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety & Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light & transient causes; & accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses & usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, & to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; & such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries & usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.....

.....27 specific grievances listed.....

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration & settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice & magnanimity, & we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections & correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice & of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, & hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, & by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish & declare, That these United Colonies are, & of Right ought to be Free & Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, & that all political connection between them & the State of Great Britain, is & ought to be totally dissolved; & that as Free & Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, & to do all other Acts & Things which Independent States may of right do. 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 & our sacred Honor.

A NATION’S TRUE HAPPINESS—Psalm 33:10-22

Attention:

Declaration of Independence

Need:

Without seeking God as a nation, there will always be a distance & dissidence among its constituency & its governance.

The psalmist encouraged his readers toward a focused attention upon the inherent happiness found in their having been chosen of God.

Any nation whose God is YaHWeH is happy/blessed because of that relationship.

When is national happiness experienced?

1—National Happiness will result when we seek...

God’s COUNSEL(:10-11)

Explanation:(:10-11) Prudence/Recommendation

:10—“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

YaHWeH—the covenant God of Israel, the One who is self-existent & the Creator of time, matter & purpose, & the One who has revealed Himself to Israel(& thus to the world)—crushes even the best laid & funded “counsel” of any nation &/or all nations of mankind. Though man’s devices for attaining various lifestyles may be trusted by the one’s who produce them, they are utterly frustrated by the God of Scripture.

“the same thing is expressed here as before, in different words, for the further confirmation of it, & that it might be attended to. This is the Lord's doing, he is omniscient, & knows all the secret plots & designs of men; & he is omnipotent, & counteracts them, & confounds them in all their measures; & is faithful to his people, cause, & interest.”— John Gill—‘An Exposition of the Old & New Testament’.

“Counsel/Plans”(See :11)—hue ay-tsaw'—1) Counsel, advice, purpose. Strong—Advice; by implication--Plan; also--Prudence.

“Nations”(See :12)—ywg go'-ee—N. m—1) Nation, people—1a) Nation, people—1a1) Usually of non-Hebrew people, 1a2) Of descendants of Abraham, 1a3) Of Israel, 1b) Of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.). N. pr. m.—1c) Goyim? = “Nations.” Strong—apparently from the same root as [hwg gay-vaw'—Body, back, behind] (in the sense of massing); A foreign nation; hence, A Gentile; also figuratively--A troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.

“Brings...to Nothing/Bringeth...to Nought/Nullifies/Foils”—rwp puwr—1) (Hiphil) To break, crush. Strong—a primitive root; To crush. Used 3X.

“Plans/Devices/Purposes”—tbvxm makh-ash-eh'-beth—1) Thought, device—1a) Thought, 1b) Device, plan, purpose, 1c) Invention. Strong—A contrivance, i.e. concretely--A texture, machine, or abstractly--Intention, plan(whether bad, a plot; or good, advice).

“Peoples”(See :12)—Me ‘am—1) Nation, people—1a) People, nation, 1b) Persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men; 2) Kinsman, kindred. Strong—A people(as a congregated unit); specifically--A tribe (as those of Israel); hence collectively--Troops or attendants; figuratively--A flock.

“Makes...of No effect/Maketh...of none effect/Frustrates/Thwarts”—awn noow—1) To hinder, hold back, forbid, disallow, restrain, frustrate. Strong—a primitive root; To refuse, forbid, dissuade, or neutralize. Used 9X.

:11—“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.”

Whereas the “counsel” of man is only temporal & ultimately fails(:10), that which originates from the God of gods & Lord of lords remains perpetually. His devices for attaining His heart’s desire outdistance the lives of “all generations” of mankind including those of both past & future.

“Counsel/Plns”(See :10)—hue ay-tsaw'—1) Counsel, advice, purpose. Strong—Advice; by implication--Plan; also--Prudence.

“Stands”—dme aw-mad'—1) To stand, remain, endure, take one's stand. Strong—a primitive root; To stand, in various relations (literal & figurative, intransitive & transitive).

“Forever”—Mlwe ow-lawm'—1) Long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.

“Plans/Thoughts/Purposes”(See :10—“Plans/Devices/Purposes”)—tbvxm makh-ash-eh'-beth—1) Thought, device—1a) Thought, 1b) Device, plan, purpose, 1c) Invention. Strong—A contrivance, i.e. concretely--A texture, machine, or abstractly--Intention, plan(whether bad, a plot; or good, advice).

“Heart”(See :15)—bl leb—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding. Strong—The heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will & even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything.

“Generations”—rwd dowr—1) Period, generation, habitation, dwelling. Strong—properly--A revolution of time, i.e. An age or generation; also a dwelling.

Argumentation:

Rev. 3:14-19—““And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful & True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, & neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, & have need of nothing’--& do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, & naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; & white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; & anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten. Therefore be zealous & repent.” ‘

Eccl. 7:5—“It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.”

Prov. 1:24-33—“Because I[wisdom] have called & you refused, I have stretched out my hand & no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel[hue], And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress & anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.””

Prov. 19:20-21—“Listen to counsel[hue] & receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’S counsel--that will stand.”

Prov. 23:23—“Buy the truth, & do not sell it, Also wisdom & instruction & understanding.”

Jer 11:7-8—“‘For I earnestly exhorted your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, rising early & exhorting, saying, “Obey My voice.” ‘Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.’””

1Cor. 1:10—“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, & that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind & in the same judgment.”

Eph. 3:20-4:7—“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness & gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body & one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God & Father of all, who is above all, & through all, & in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

1Thess. 2:10-12—“You are witnesses, & God also, how devoutly & justly & blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, & comforted, & charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom & glory.”

Illustration:

Wisdom—Piney Woods’ comment to me that I have never forgotten— “Byron....A short pencil is better than a long memory.”/Great advice which I have always taken seriously/God’s COUNSEL even more so!

Application:

?Has your nation sought God’s COUNSEL or their own?

?Is our National ‘Happiness’ justified in God’s eyes?

2—National Happiness will result when we seek...

God’s CHOICE(:12)

Explanation: (:12)Faith

:12—“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”

That nation(among all nations on earth) which so recognizes & chooses to heed/set YaHWeH(the God of Israel) as their God, is a most “blessed”/happy of nations. Such “blessedness”/happiness is theirs by & because of their God, YaHWeH. He has “chosen” them to be His “people” above all others on earth in every age; past, present & future. The invisible God has chosen to reveal Himself to certain people who become faithful.

It is thereby impossible for a nation, which does not have YaHWeH as its/their God, to experience a ‘blessedness’/happiness aside from that which is possible thru human, fleshly means. Such is a ‘blessedness’ which is not blessedness. Such is only the futile & temporal enjoyment of a worldly peace or economic prosperity, or a general lack of trouble. This limited ‘blessedness’/happiness can be experienced by any nation on earth without acknowledging God, but only in a narrow sense. And only because God provides the sun & rain for the just as well as the unjust. He is indeed more than merciful, He is compassionate, gracious & loving toward those who are “His own inheritance.” We become His inheritance by faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Mat. 5:44-48—““But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, & pray for those who spitefully use you & persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil & on the good, & sends rain on the just & on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

What a magnificent blessing for the saved! God has Himself chosen them—by faith—as His own. What a magnificent privilege...To be loved, chosen & nurtured physically, but more importantly, to be so spiritually, by the Master Designer & Creator of the universe.

“Election is at the bottom of it all. The divine choice rules the day; none take Jehovah to be their God till he takes them to be his people. What an ennobling choice this is!”—Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon

“But the true comfort is this, when a man by assurance can conclude with his own soul that his name is written in those eternal leaves of heaven, in the book of God's election, which shall never be wrapped up in the cloudy sheets of darkness but remain legible to all eternity.”—Thomas Adams.

“Lest it should be thought that men obtain so great a good by their own efforts & industry, David teaches us expressly that it proceeds from the fountain of God's gracious electing love that we are accounted the people of God.”—John Calvin.

“Blessed”—rva eh'-sher—1) Happiness, blessedness—1a) often used as interjection, 1b) Blessed are. Strong—Happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection--How happy!

From—rva eh'-sher—a primitive root; To be straight(used in the widest sense, especially--To be level, right, happy); figuratively--To go forward, be honest, proper.

“Nation”(See :10)—ywg go'-ee—N. m—1) Nation, people—1a) Nation, people—1a1) Usually of non-Hebrew people, 1a2) Of descendants of Abraham, 1a3) Of Israel, 1b) Of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.). N. pr. m.—1c) Goyim? = “Nations.” Strong—apparently from the same root as [hwg gay-vaw'—Body, back, behind] (in the sense of massing); A foreign nation; hence, A Gentile; also figuratively--A troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.

“God”—Myhla 'el-o-heeym'—1) (plural)—1a) Rulers, judges, 1b) Divine ones, 1c) Angels, 1d) Gods; 2) (plural intensive - singular meaning)—2a) God, goddess, 2b) Godlike one, 2c) Works or special possessions of God, 2d) The (true) God, 2e) God. Strong—Gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; & sometimes as a superlative.

“LORD”—hwhy yeh-ho-vaw'— ‘Jehovah’ = “The existing One.”—1) The proper name of the one true God—1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of ynda ad-o-noy.' Strong—(the) Self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.

“People”(See :10)—Me ‘am—1) Nation, people—1a) People, nation, 1b) Persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men; 2) Kinsman, kindred. Strong—A people(as a congregated unit); specifically--A tribe (as those of Israel); hence collectively--Troops or attendants; figuratively--A flock.

“Chosen”—rxb baw-khar'—Qal Perfect—1) To choose, elect, decide for. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To try, i.e. by implication--Select.

“His own Inheritance”—hlxn nakh-al-aw'—1) Possession, property, inheritance, heritage—1a) Property, 1b) Portion, share, 1c) Inheritance, portion. Strong—properly--Something inherited, i.e. abstractly--Occupancy, or concretely--An heirloom; generally--An estate, patrimony or portion.

Argumentation:

Jn. 15:13-16—““Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you & appointed you that you should go & bear fruit, & that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

1Pet. 2:7-10—“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” & “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

This extends to the political nation of which we are a part. As individuals we bear God’s Gospel which is able to bring these in office to trust the living God, inviting Him to head our nation’s identification.

Titus 2:11-14—“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness & worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, & godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope & glorious appearing of our great God & Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed & purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Eph. 2:1-10—“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses & sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh & of the mind, & were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), & raised us up together, & made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, & that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Illustration:

My mother & father chose FOR me/They didn’t abort me, they didn’t shun me, they didn’t abuse me/They nurtured me/They Chose me a their own inheritance/If you were adopted, that’s an even closer picture!/God’s CHOICE

Out political choices/Are they Christ-honoring or merely the lesser of two evils?/God’s CHOICE

Application:

?Has your nation sought God’s CHOICE or their own?

?Is our National ‘Happiness’ justified in God’s eyes?

3—National Happiness will result when we seek...

God’s WORKS(:13-15)

Explanation: (:13-15)

:13—“The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.”

:14—“From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth;”

God in His preeminent position from “heaven”, “sees” & considers mankind & those generations(the sons of men) spawned from His original creation.

From God’s habitation He gazes upon man’s habitation. There are none who escape God’s glances.

:15—“He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.”

God(YaHWeH) “fashions” the “hearts” of men as a unit together. Though their “hearts” are many in number, they are each formed, as would a potter, with “individual” traits which produce unique desires, wants & thus lifestyles. These lifestyles must be given to God in order to bring Him deserving pleasure.

Though God has done this fashioning, He has granted each of them freedom of choice, so that He Himself is brought to “consider’ or comprehend every “work” of every man. In considering every work, it is implied that God is very concerned with the choices man makes on an individual level as well as on the level of their corporate manifestations. These would be manifestations of like-mindedness such as nationally held norms & principles per :10-12.

“He that fashions men's hearts fashions them alike. It is in hearts as in faces, though there is a great difference, & such a variety as that no two faces are exactly of the same features, nor any two hearts exactly of the same temper, yet there is such a similitude that, in some things, all faces & all hearts agree”.....“as the wheels of a watch, though of different shapes, sizes, & motions, are yet all put together, to serve one & the same purpose, so the hearts of men & their dispositions, however varying from each other & seeming to contradict one another, are yet all overruled to serve the divine purpose, which is one.—Matthew Henry

All hearts are accountable to their Fashioner.

“Looks down”—jbn naw-bat'—Hiphil Perfect—1) To look, regard—1b) (Hiphil)—1b1) To look, 1b2) To regard, show regard to, pay attention to, consider, 1b3) To look upon, regard, show regard to. Strong—a primitive root; To scan, i.e. Look intently at; by implication--To regard with pleasure, favor or care.

“Sees/Beholdeth”—har raw-aw'—Qal Perfect—1) To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider. Strong—a primitive root; To see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct & implied, transitive, intransitive & causative).

“Men”—Mda aw-dawm'—1) Man, mankind—1a) Man, human being, 1b) Man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT), 1c) Adam, first man, 1d) City in Jordan valley. Strong—Ruddy i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.).

“Place”—Nwkm makown’—1) Fixed or established place, foundation. Strong—properly--A fixture, i.e. A basis; generally--A place, especially as an abode. Used 17X.

“Dwelling/Habitation/Dwelling-place” & “Inhabitants/All who live”/2X—bvy yaw-shab'—Qal infinitive—1) To dwell, remain, sit, abide. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To sit down(specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication--To dwell, to remain; causatively--To settle, to marry.

“Looks/Watches”—xgv shaw-gakh'—1) (Hiphil) To gaze, stare. Strong—a primitive root; To peep, i.e. Glance sharply at.

“Earth”—Ura eh'-rets—1) Land, earth. Strong—from an unused root probably meaning ‘to be firm’; The earth (at large, or partitively a land).

“Fashions/Forms”—ruy yaw-tsar'—1) To form, fashion, frame. Strong—To mold into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively--To determine (i.e. form a resolution).

“Individually”— dxy yakh'-ad—N. m.—1) Union, unitedness. Adverb—2) Together, altogether, all together, alike. Strong—properly--A unit, i.e. (adverb) Unitedly.

“Considers”—Nyb biyn—Hiphil Participle—1) To discern, understand, consider—1c) (Hiphil)—1c1) To understand, 1c2) To cause to understand, give understanding, teach; 2) (TWOT) Prudent, regard. Strong—a primitive root; To separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e. generally--Understand.

“Works”—hsem mah-as-eh'—1) Deed, work. Strong—An action(good or bad); generally--A transaction; abstractly--Activity; by implication--A product(specifically, a poem) or generally--Property.

Argumentation:

Eph 2:10—“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Php. 2:12-13—“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear & trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will & to do for His good pleasure.”

Heb 13:20-21—“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever & ever. Amen.”

2Cor. 9:8—“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

2Thess. 2:16-17—“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, & our God & Father, who has loved us & given us everlasting consolation & good hope by grace, comfort your hearts & establish you in every good word & work.”

2Tim. 3:16-17—“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Titus 3:8—“This is a faithful saying, & these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good & profitable to men.”

Heb. 10:23-25—“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, & so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Illustration:

As a kid, my Dad would expect me to rake & bag leaves/I hated it!/BUT I would gladly & joyfully rake Mr. Wilson’s yard all day long if allowed to!/However, Mr. Wilson’s leaves were secondary to our own/I needed to do my father’s Works!/I was responsible to & answerable, not to Mr. Wilson but to my Daddy!/God’s WORKS

Application:

?Has your nation sought God’s WORKS or their own?

?Is our National ‘Happiness’ justified in God’s eyes?

4—National Happiness will result when we seek...

God’s DELIVERANCE(:16-17)

Explanation:(:16-17)

:16—“No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.”

However, again, there is no counsel of men which can accomplish any “king’s” “salvation” thru the enormity of his/their “army.” Though such conference may appear salvific in the shortsightedness of the temporal, & as accomplishing expediencies, however as such it can “save” neither man nor nation outright.

Though there are “mighty men”(warriors) & men recognized for their physical & mental “might”, none of these can truly “deliver” themselves at all by their own “strength.” A man’s strength must be attached to & employed via the empowerment of the Lord of lords & King of kings.

“Saved”—evy yaw-shah'—1) to save, be saved, be delivered. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To be open, wide or free, i.e. by implication--To be safe; causatively--To free or succor.

“Multitude/Mighty/Size” & “Great/Much”2X—br rowb(See :17)—1) Multitude, abundance, greatness. Strong—Abundance (in any respect).

“Army/Host”(See :17—“Strength”)—lyx khah'-yil—1) Strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army. Strong—probably A force, whether of men, means or other resources; An army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.

“Mighty man/Warrior”—rwbg gib-bowr'—Adj.—1) Strong, mighty. N. m—2) Strong man, brave man, mighty man. Strong—intensive from the same as rbg gheh'-ber; Powerful; by implication--Warrior, tyrant.

“Delivered/Escapes”(See :19)—lun naw-tsal'—Niphal Imperfect—1) To snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder—1a) (Niphal)—1a1) To tear oneself away, deliver oneself, 1a2) To be torn out or away, be delivered. Strong—a primitive root; To snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense.

“Great”(See above)— br rowb

“Strength”—xk kow'-akh—1) Strength, power, might; 2) A small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean. Strong—from an unused root meaning to be firm; Vigor, literally(force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively(capacity, means, produce); also(from its hardiness) A large lizard.

:17—“A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.”

Likewise, there is no “safety” existing even in the might of “horses.” Though horses, when employed militarily provide definite advantages to overpower & intimidate an enemy, to seek such “safety” is to trust in a lie bringing only disappointment to the truster.

There is no one & no nation which can somehow slip into(“deliver”) rescue thru the “strength” of “horses”...by the “strength” of anthing or anyone physical.

“Horse”—owo soows—1) Swallow, swift; 2) Horse. Strong—from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy); A horse(as leaping); also--A swallow(from its rapid flight).

“Vain hope/Vain thing/False hope”—rqv sheh'-ker—1) Lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood. Strong—An untruth; by implication--A sham(often adverbial).

“Safety/Victory/Deliverance”—hewvt tesh-oo-aw'—1) Salvation, deliverance—1a) Deliverance (usually by God through human agency), 1b) Salvation (spiritual in sense). Strong—Rescue (literal or figurative, personal, national or spiritual).

“Deliver/Save”—jlm maw-lat'—Piel Imperfect—1) To slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered—1b) (Piel)—1b1) To lay, let slip out(of eggs), 1b2) To let escape, 1b3) To deliver, save (life). Strong—a primitive root; properly--To be smooth, i.e. by implication--To escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively--To release or rescue; specifically--To bring forth young, emit sparks.

“Strength”— (See :17—“Army/Host”) —lyx khah'-yil—1) Strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army. Strong—probably A force, whether of men, means or other resources; An army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.

Argumentation:

Ps. 44:2-3—“You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, & cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, & the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.”

2Ch 14:8-12—“And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields & spears, & from Benjamin two hundred & eighty thousand men who carried shields & drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor. Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men & three hundred chariots, & he came to Mareshah. So Asa went out against him, & they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, & said, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, & in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa & Judah, & the Ethiopians fled.”

1Sam. 17:40-50—“Then he took his staff in his hand; & he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, & put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, & his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. So the Philistine came, & began drawing near to David, & the man who bore the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about & saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy & good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, & I will give your flesh to the birds of the air & the beasts of the field!” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, & with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, & I will strike you & take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air & the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword & spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, & He will give you into our hands.” So it was, when the Philistine arose & came & drew near to meet David, that David hastened & ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag & took out a stone; & he slung it & struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, & he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling & a stone, & struck the Philistine & killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.”

Jer. 9:23-24—“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands & knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, & righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.”

Zech. 4:1-6—“Now the angel who talked with me came back & wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, & there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, & on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl & the other at its left.” So I answered & spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered & said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” So he answered & said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

Jos. 11:1-6, 9—“And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, & to the kings who were from the north, in the mountains, in the plain south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, & in the heights of Dor on the west, to the Canaanites in the east & in the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, & the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mizpah. So they went out, they & all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses & chariots. And when all these kings had met together, they came & camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. But the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses & burn their chariots with fire.””.....“So Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him: he hamstrung their horses & burned their chariots with fire.”

Ps. 127:1—“<> Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.”

Ps. 20:7—“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

2Cor. 10:3-6—“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments & every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, & being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Lk. 5:1-10—“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, & saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them & were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, & asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down & taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep & let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered & said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night & caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, & their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come & help them. And they came & filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he & all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; & so also were James & John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.””

Jn. 21:3-6—“Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out & immediately got into the boat, & that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, & you will find some.” So they cast, & now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.”

Illustration:

I’ve met many ‘self-made men’/They pride themselves on every aspect of their lives/Some have led hard lives & others have led easy lives/These generally see themselves & their hard work as their Deliverance—but pride overshadows their every conversation & commitment!/Their life & lifestyle has never been delivered by God!/God’s DELIVERANCE

Dallas Willard quote— ‘“The cautious faith that never saws off a limb on which it is sitting, never learns that unattached limbs may find strange unaccountable ways of not falling.”—via Chuck Swindoll

Application:

?Has your nation sought God’s DELIVERANCE or their own?

?Is our National ‘Happiness’ justified in God’s eyes?

5—National Happiness will result when we seek...