“A Nation God Will Bless”
Psalm 33:1-22
David P. Nolte
Let us all say a hearty, “Amen!” to the song, “God Bless America!” And you must know that, in fact, He has already blessed us materially, He has blessed us with freedom, and He has blessed us in terms of technology. Steve Straub listed 10 specifics showing how we are blessed in America:
1. In Ethiopia: Many women have to walk four to five miles per day to get something as simple as water for their families.
2. In North Korea: Owning a Bible can get you executed or deported to a labor camp.
3. In Pakistan: Since January of 2014, there have been 232 reported terrorist attacks.
4. In Egypt: Liking a Christianity-themed Facebook status is grounds for six years in prison.
5. In Cuba: A street sweeper makes an average of $19 USD per month, while a brain surgeon brings in $22 USD per month.
6. In Denmark: Laws require you to name your child only from a government-approved list.
7. In Afghanistan: Child-forced marriages are commonplace.
8. In Sudan: Without any trial, the National Intelligence and Security Service can indefinitely detain anyone.
9. In Iran: Facebook, Twitter and Youtube are banned.
10. In Mauritania: Over 4% of the 3.8 million population are slaves.
If only half of that is accurate, we still enjoy more blessings than most of the people in the world. Let’s look to the Scripture and see what kind of nation God will bless.
“Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.” Psalm 33:1-22 (NASB).
I. HE BLESSES THE NATION THAT WORSHIPS HIM:
A. “Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. . . . . Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” We worship Him when we accord Him our praises!
1. Praise Him with the songs we sing.
2. Praise Him with thanks.
3. Praise Him with joy.
4. Praise Him for His works.
5. Praise Him for His faithfulness.
6. Praise Him by fearing Him and standing in awe of Him.
B. Can you imagine what would happen today if these three things were announced on TV? From Melvin Newland I share this:
1. “The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has just issued this statement: ‘Divine Providence (that’s God) has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty… of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.’” (Letter to John Murray, Oct. 12, 1816).
2. “Inquiries by our reporters reveal that almost every state legislature has now passed a law requiring all elected officials to take this oath: ‘I do profess faith in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ His only Son… and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration.’”
3. “Legislation was passed today in Congress to affirm that, ‘The Congress of the United States approves of and recommends … the Holy Bible for use in the schools.’”
C. Every one of these statements is historically accurate and factual.
1. It was John Jay, the very first Chief Justice, who wrote, “It is the duty… of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
2. It was the state of Delaware (along with most of the others) which required officeholders to take an oath affirming their Christian faith before they could take office.
3. And not only did Congress in 1782 approve the use of the Bible in our schools, they even paid for them with tax dollars. And, in 1844, when someone sued to remove them, the Supreme Court ruled: “Why should not the Bible, and especially the New Testament, be read and taught as a divine revelation in the schools? Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testament?”
D. Check it out:
1. Ungodly people worship
a. Money and material possessions.
b. Power and control.
c. Physical pleasure, lust and sexual perversion.
d. Freedom to be and do what they want and hang everyone else.
e. Entitlement “Give me what I want because I deserve it and you owe me!”
2. Godly people worship God as we read,
a. “The devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”’” MATTHEW 4:8-10 (NASB)
b. From Dennis Grissom, a high school friend, “My name is God. You hardly have time for Me. I love you and will always bless you. I am always with you. .... Don’t pray, just praise. .... Why are prayers getting smaller, but bars and clubs expanding? Why is it so easy to worship a celebrity, but very difficult to engage with God?” Good question!
E. Let me illustrate worshiping God only. A missionary walking along a trail came across a native who was being attacked by a lion. He shot the lion and saved the man. He fell to the ground and kissed the feet of his rescuer, calling him by the name he used for God. The missionary quickly corrected the man and directed his worship to the one and only living God. Like Jesus, he reminded the native to worship only Jehovah as God. Anything else is idolatry!
GOD BLESSES THE NATION THAT WORSHIPS HIM ALONE. AND:
II. HE BLESSES THE NATION THAT TRUSTS HIM:
A. “The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.”
B. It’s on our money
1. But is it in our heart and mind and soul?
2. Is it a nice motto or is it a life truth?
3. Does it merely irritate the atheist or does it also inspire the believer?
C. To trust God
1. Means to have confidence in God.
2. Means to depend and rely on God.
3. Means to stake our life and eternal destiny on God.
4. Means to resign our fears and anxieties to God.
5. Means to obey and to leave the outcome to God.
D. A nation’s trust is the sum of its individuals’ trust. We trust Him
1. For provision as Paul promised, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NASB).
2. For pardon and forgiveness as John wrote, “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NASB).
3. For protection and security as the Psalmist wrote, “O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge; Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me.” Psalm 7:1 (NASB).
E. A 5 year old boy is a picture of trust. He had to have his tonsils taken out. He was nervous about it and tried to convince his parents he didn’t need it. But his dad said, “You are God’s lamb. So when you go in to surgery, hold your thumb and say, ‘The.’ Then hold your index finger and say, ‘Lord.’ Hold your middle finger and say, ‘is.’ Then hold the next finger and say, ‘my.’ And hold your pinkie and say, ‘Shepherd.”’ On the day of surgery, when the little guy was waking up, he was holding tight to his index finger, he was holding onto the Lord! That’s trust – if you trust, hold on to the Lord.
GOD BLESSES THE NATION THAT TRUSTS HIM! AND:
III. HE BLESSES THE NATION THAT HONORS HIS WORD:
A. “For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”
1. His word is upright! That is, it is right and straight and true.
2. His word is powerful and by it creation was accomplished.
B. People’s word can only be trusted so far:
1. Sometimes they lie to us.
2. Sometimes they mislead us with bad advice.
3. Sometimes they are talking out of ignorance.
4. Sometimes, for one cause or another, they fail to keep a commitment.
C. But God’s word can be trusted and honored.
1. It has stood the attacks of its enemies.
2. It has been vindicated by archaeology, by honest science, by historical accuracy, by fulfilled prophesy and by its positive moral and ethical impact on society.
3. It is based on His love, wisdom, power, fidelity and integrity!
D. We must honor His word to receive His blessing. But what has happened to a country where:
1. Schools can pass out birth control but not New Testaments?
2. A man can be sued when one employee sees an open Bible on the desk of another employee and bellyaches about religious harassment?
3. An air force chaplain is rebuked for having a Bible on his desk?
4. A young person carries her Bible in a sack so she won’t be bullied?
5. Even so-called Christian Seminaries cast aspersion on the integrity of God’s word?
E. In contrast let me tell you about a junior high girl in The Dalles who demonstrated honor for God’s word. When the teacher asked her to explain the origin of man, she said, “That’s easy. God created man in His image. The Bible says so.” He said, “But we can’t talk about God or the Bible here.” She said, “Then don’t ask me that kind of question!”
God Bless America! But for that to happen we must honor and follow His word which says that if “My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NASB).
Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord – and blessed is that person whose God is the Lord. Surrender to Him as Lord and you will know Him as Savior.
Why not do that today? You can do it as we stand to sing “I Surrender All!”
