Lessons From Israel

Intro:

Just before we left to drop the kids off at camp, we were able to finish our study through the Book of Daniel. I have been asked a few times what book we will study next and I feel that the Lord has impressed a certain book on my heart that we will open in the near future.

However, I also feel that during this time of transition, from one book to another, I feel that it is a good time to interject one or two messages that go along with some current events.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past several years… it is very obvious that we live in a time where division, hatred, and violence seem to be at an all-time high… The recent attempt to assassinate President Trump is a stark and tragic illustration of how far we have fallen.

Regardless of political affiliation, the very idea that someone would resort to such an extreme act highlights the deep-seated anger and disregard for human life that permeates our society.

Scripture tells us in 1 John 3:15, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

This verse underscores that hatred in our hearts is the same as murder in God’s eyes. When we allow hatred to fester, it leads to destructive actions and erodes the moral fabric of our nation.

Our culture increasingly glorifies violence, elevates selfishness, and dismisses the sanctity of life. We see it in our entertainment, our discourse, and even our legislation… We have become a nation that calls good evil and evil good, which is greatly warned against in Isaiah 5:20.

The attempt on President Trump's life is a symptom of a much larger problem—a collective turning away from God's commandments and principles.

The Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy gives a statement that I believe describes, with 100% accuracy, our world today… as I read these off, let me know if it is true today…

2 Timothy 3:1–4 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal,  haters of good, 4  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,”

All of these words ring true as we look around and see the decay of Biblical values in our society. We have forgotten the foundation upon which this country was built… Which was a foundation of faith in God and adherence to His laws.

As we reflect on this troubling state of our nation, I think we are able to get a better understanding of how Daniel felt when a majority of the Israelites stayed in Babylon, even after they were given permission to go back home and how he felt after he heard that the ones who did go back to their homeland, were in no hurry to rebuild the walls or the Temple in order to engage in the proper worship of All Mighty God.

Also, as we reflect on this troubling state of our nation, it becomes evident that we must turn to Scripture for guidance and understanding.

Just as Israel faced its own challenges and failures, we too can learn from their history… and so this morning, we are going to look at… “Lessons from Israel”

Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 33…

As we navigate through this passage, we will compare the failures of the United States with the past failures of Israel.

Both nations have experienced remarkable blessings and yet have faced significant challenges. Hopefully we can learn from Israel's history and heed the warnings that come from the Word of God as our Nation goes through these challenging times.

(Read Psalm 33:10-22)…

Meat:

As we dive into this passage this morning, the first lesson that we need to learn, is the same overarching theme that we just finished from our study through Daniel… And that is the fact that we need to…

1. Trust in God’s Sovereignty

Look at vv. 10&11

Psalm 33:10–11 “10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.”

In these verses, we see the sovereignty of God over all nations… Again, this was the overarching theme of our study through Daniel…

But the Psalmist points out that “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.” And I believe the reason for that is because…

1.1 Human Plans are Temporal and Self-Serving

And can be characterized by selfish motivation for immediate satisfaction… Nations, leaders, and even individuals often pursue their own personal agendas based on what seems beneficial in the moment, seeking power, wealth, or security through whatever means necessary.

The down fall of this is the fact that it can lead to poor alliances, major wars, and terrible policies that may provide temporary gains but fail to consider long-term consequences or moral integrity.

Here in lies the mistake that Israel made… over and over again…

Despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance and repeated provision, Israel frequently relied on their own wisdom, their own understanding, and made alliances with pagan nations for protection and prosperity.

Let me give you God’s response to one of these occasions…

Isaiah 30:1–2 NASB95

1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

Israel made their own temporal, self serving plans, and decided to trust a foreign nation and leader for their protection instead of trusting the God that centuries earlier protected them from the Egyptian army that enslaved them for 400+ years.

Similarly, in America, we often place our trust in political strategies, military strength, economic policies, and technological advancements. While these can be useful tools, they are not ultimate sources of security or success. When we rely solely on human ingenuity and power, neglecting to seek God's guidance and wisdom, we are repeating the same mistakes that Israel made.

Back in our passage, the Psalmist says in v.11… “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.”

Our self made plans are temporal and self serving, but…

1.2 God’s Plans are Eternal and Perfect

They are established from a heart of love and righteousness, designed to bring about His glory and ultimately, our good.

Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Folks… When we trust in God’s Sovereignty and align ourselves with God's purposes, we tap into a source of wisdom and power far greater than our own. His plans stand firm through all generations, offering stability and hope in our ever-changing world.

The second lesson that we can learn from Israel is…

2. How to Receive Blessings

Look at v.12…

Psalm 33:12 “12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”

This verse is talking about Israel specifically as they were uniquely chosen by God to be a light to the nations, reflecting His glory and His ways to the world.

Even though this promise was given to Israel the lesson is there for us to learn… … Blessings can only be received…

2.1 Through Obedience

When Israel followed God’s commandments and lived in accordance to His statutes, they experienced abundant blessings in the areas of peace, prosperity, and divine protection.

Similarly, the United States has experienced significant blessings, often attributed to the Biblical values upon which our nation was founded.

The early settlers and founding fathers of America were deeply influenced by Christian principles. Documents such as the Declaration of Independence reflect a belief in divine providence and the importance of moral integrity.

The principles of liberty, justice, and equality, rooted in biblical teachings, I believe have contributed to America's success and global influence. John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, famously said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Now that our government is full of immoral people, is it any wonder why they are constantly trying to change our Constitution?…

Throughout its history, America has seen periods of tremendous growth, innovation, and prosperity. The nation has been a beacon of freedom and opportunity, attracting people from all over the world. Like Israel, America's blessings can be seen as a result of aligning with God’s principles.

However, just as Israel faced dire consequences when they turned away from God, America also faces challenges when it strays from its foundational values.

Today we see signs of moral and spiritual decline. Issues such as the breakdown of the family unit through divorce, increasing homosexuality and transgenderism, abortion... and then there’s all the rioting and hatred of any sort of authority… all of it is a threat to the fabric of our society…

The rise in violence, division, and social unrest clearly shows a rapid departure from the Biblical values that were once the foundation of our nation.

And the lack of obedience to God, surely results in the lack of blessings from God.

Moving on in our text and the Psalmist clearly shows what causes…

3. The Downfall of Nations

Starting in v.13…

Psalm 33:13–17 “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; 15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

I want to stop right here for a brief moment and just point out 5 or 6 Attributes of God that are woven through these 3 verses…

Omniscience (All-knowing): "From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." God has complete knowledge of all human activities and motives.

Omnipresence (Present Everywhere): God's ability to see and watch over all humanity from His heavenly throne indicates His presence everywhere. He is aware of everything happening on earth.

Creator: "He who fashions (or forms) the hearts of all." God is the Creator who has made each person's heart, indicating His intimate involvement in the creation of every individual.

Sovereignty: God's ability to watch over and consider everything humanity does points to His sovereign rule over all creation. He governs and oversees all things.

Wisdom: The fact that God "considers everything they do" shows His wisdom in understanding and evaluating human actions. He discerns the motives and intentions of the heart.

Holiness: While not explicitly mentioned, the context implies God's moral purity and righteousness, as He watches and judges human actions.

These attributes highlight God's supreme power, knowledge, and authority over all creation, as well as His intimate involvement with the crown of His Creation... us.

The Psalmist acknowledges who God is by using all of these attributes and then he says this…

16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.”

The downfall of any Nation can be traced back to one thing…

3.1 False Hope

The nations of the world figure the one with the most and the biggest weapons will be the winner of any battle… they put their hope in military might, political power, or economic strength.

Military forces, political alliances, and economic wealth are often seen as guarantees of security, yet they can fail when they are needed the most.

A recent illustration of ones reaping the consequences from this type of false hope would be the terrorist group Hamas.

Their attack on Israel October 7th was based on false hope… an article recently came out that said this…

“Arab commentators claim that the emerging picture that Hamas-Gaza is at a breaking point stems from a misjudgment by leader Yahya Sinwar.

According to these experts, Sinwar gambled that there would not be a long campaign with Israel. His assessment that of this was fourfold: The IDF is not built for a long war; An intervention by the "Iranian axis" which would force the IDF to divert forces from Gaza; The international community would stop the war; And the Israeli government would collapse against the backdrop of the war. ”

All of these assumptions were based on false hope, none of the assumptions proved to be true and now Hamas is on the verge of elimination because their hope was in military might, political power, or economic strength.

But their biggest mistake was attacking Israel, God’s chosen people… God made a promise to Israel, a long time ago, that He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel… Hamas decided to curse Israel and is now paying the price.

Unfortunately, In America today, we see a similar reliance on military power, political strategies, and economic strength as sources of security.

The United States has one of the most formidable military forces in the world, a complex and influential political system, and a robust economy. While these are significant assets, they can create a false sense of security if we place our ultimate trust in them rather than in God.

The economic crises, political turmoil, and social unrest that America faces are reminders of the fact that these are indeed sources of false hope. No amount of military might, political maneuvering, or economic intervention can address the deeper spiritual and moral issues that underlie these challenges.

Jeremiah 17:5 NASB95

5 Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord.

The question for us then is this… … Do we rely on our resources, strength, and strategies, or do we seek God's guidance and place our hope in Him?

This leads to our final Lesson from Israel for today......

Which is simply…

4. Hope in the Lord

Psalm 33:18–19 “18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.”

We are to hope in…

4.1 His Mercy

God’s Mercy is a central theme throughout Scripture. It shows us God's willingness to withhold a punishment that is deserved and instead offer grace and pardon.

His Mercy is one attribute that is the basis for many of His other attributes… such as…

- His Compassion

- His Forgiveness

- His Patience

- His Salvation…

That is where our hope should be placed…

Throughout their history, Israel experienced numerous instances of turning away from God, worshipping idols, and failing to keep His commandments. These actions led to periods of suffering, defeat, and exile.

And yet, through it all, God’s mercy remained… He could’ve wiped them all out, destroyed the Earth and said “Well, I gave them a chance and they decided to go the complete opposite direction”…

But no… He decided to show them mercy and even sent His Son, to take their punishment, and ours, so that we would all have a way of Salvation, so that we would all have an opportunity to have our sins forgiven and our souls delivered from death...

God remained committed to His covenant promises and showed mercy time and time again… and because He is an unchanging God, He continues to show that mercy to us each and every day.

Closing:

As we see the unfortunate state that our Nation is in… that our World is in…

May we…

- Trust in God’s Sovereignty

- Live in obedience to His Word so that He can continue to bless us.

- We look out for the false hopes that not only cause the downfall of nations, but the downfall of individuals as well.

And may our hope be in the Lord and His Mercy…

According to Matthew 5… We as Christians are called to be the salt and light of the earth. We must pray fervently for our nation, its leaders (yes, even our current President), and its people. We must stand up for righteousness and speak out against the evils that plague our society. Most importantly, we must live out the love of Christ in our daily lives, showing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

May we turn back to God, seek His forgiveness, and strive to impact our nation with His love and His truth.

Prayer:

I’ll use the final 3 verses of passage as our closing prayer…

“Father, Our souls wait for You… For You are our Help and our Shield… Our Hearts shall rejoice in You because we have trusted in Your Holy Name… Let Your Mercy, O Lord, be upon us… as we hope in You and the Salvation You provide through Your Son, Jesus Christ… and it is in His Name that we as these things… … AMEN!”