Psalm 33:12 - America, This Is Your Wake-Up Call.
Psalm 33:12 (NKJV) Blessed is the nation
whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as
His own inheritance.
Psalm 33:12 (NLT) What joy for the nation
whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen
as his inheritance.
COMMENTARY
Today is the 244th birthday of the United
States of America. Our founding fathers framed a
document that was drafted for the Second Continental
Congress meeting in Philadelphia, who adopted it on
July 4, 1776.
We call it the Declaration of
Independence. Among other things it says, 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, and the pursuit of Happiness.
The framers acknowledged that all people,
from all backgrounds, have dignity before their
Creator.
Pastor Chuck Smith once said that
sometimes we forget that the Declaration of
Independence, which declared independence from foreign
tyranny, also declared our dependence on an eternal
God.
We see this in its closing words: 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.
Our forefathers believed there is a God
who guides the affairs of mankind. And they
clearly founded our nation on the teachings of one
book. That book is the Bible.
Abraham Lincoln said of the Bible in
1864, All the good the Saviour [sic] gave to
the world was communicated through this book.
But for it we could not know right from wrong.
All things most desirable for mans welfare,
here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in
it.
However, in our pursuit of freedom I
think weve lost sight of the Creator who gave
us clear parameters to live by. We need to turn
back to God.
Although we have forgotten Him, He has
not forgotten us. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Every national privilege can be traced
back to the hand of God. If we have liberty, we
can thank the One who came to proclaim
liberty to the captives to set at liberty those
who are oppressed (Luke 4:18 NKJV). If we
enjoy a robust economy or a high tide of justice,
we dont limit our thanks to senators or the
Supreme Court; we thank God.
Tally this up. God makes the boundaries.
He determines the leaders. He dispenses the
blessings. And America exists by the power of God. Can
we afford to forget this - can we afford to
sever this single, silver strand that supports the
whole framework of our republic?
Only at terrible risk.
If you ever forget the Lord your God
and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing
down to them, you will certainly be destroyed
(Deut. 8:19, NLT).
America, God says, you exist by
My power. Thats the first reminder. But
God doesnt stop there. A second reminder
commands our attention.
America, you exist for My glory.
Recall what God said through the prophet,
I will demonstrate my glory among the
nations (Ezekiel 39:21, NLT).
God does not need the United States in
order to advance His cause. He lobbies no country
and depends on no government. No, for all the
nations of the world are nothing in comparison with
him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on
the scales. He picks up the islands as though
they had no weight at all. The nations of the
world are as nothing to him. In his eyes they are
less than nothing - mere emptiness and froth
(Isaiah 40:15, 17 NLT).
Suppose - just suppose - Gods glory
became Americas prayer and priority: Not to
us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the
glory (Psalm 115:1). Suppose our elected officials
daily asked. How can we honor God in our
decisions? How can this school introduce students to
God? How can this army promote the name of God?
Remember, who manages the hearts of
rulers? Who prompts the decisions of kings? God
does. God can change a nation.
For that reason, we must pray - pray with
all our hearts - that America would turn back to
God.
Help us, O God our Savior, for the
glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our
sins for your names sake (Psalm 79:9). [Max
Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
Revival - could it ever happen again?
Could we have another Jesus Movement? Or, are the
best days of the United States behind us? I
dont think the ultimate need of this nation will
be solved by the White House or members of
Congress. I think the real need for America will be
met by a spiritual solution. We really need to
pray.
America needs to pay attention, because
God may give us exactly what we want. I read
about an interesting new alarm clock called the
Wake n Bacon. You wake up in the morning to
the amazing smell of bacon. I think its time
for America to wake up and smell the bacon. As
we look at end times events in the Bible,
its alarming not to find the reigning superpower
on the face of the earth in the last days chain
of events. We can certainly find the nation
Israel. We can find the nation Iran. I think a case
could be made for Russia and perhaps China. But
where is the reigning superpower, the United
States of America?
Every nation has a life span. Every
nation has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The
might of ancient Babylon lasted for 86 years. The
powerful Persian empire did a bit better at 208
years. The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268
years. Mighty Rome ruled for almost nine centuries.
The British Empire endured for some 250 years in
her great power.
The United States of America is 244 years
old and counting. Every nations days are
numbered. The Bible says, Righteousness exalts a
nation, but sin is a reproach to any people
(Proverbs 14:34 NKJV). If we turn from righteousness,
if we forget God, and even worse, if we rebel
against God, we will face the consequences. [By Greg
Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Isaiah 61:1-3 - Set Free and Beauty for
Ashes:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190607-1117.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657