If the Foundations are Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do?

Intro:

Good morning.

This morning I want to ask a question.

Are we looking around?

Are we paying attention?

Are we looking around and paying attention to where our society is heading?

How could we not at this point, right?

It’s not heading in a good direction.

But the question I really want to ask this morning is — “What can the righteous do about it?”

Did you know David asked the same question in the Psalms?

Psalm 11:3

Psalm 11:3 NKJV

If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?

It’s a valid question, and certainly a pertinent one for us today, when the moral foundations of a nation are crumbled.

Let’s read Psalm 11 in its entirety. (Read it).

V. 1-3 - The Problem.

V. 4-6 - Assurance.

V. 7 - Reassurance.

Background of Psalm 11:

Bible scholars are unsure.

The text indicates that some present threat has alarmed both David and the general population.

Some scholars think that David wrote this when he was facing the wrath of King Saul (For instance, look at the scribal note that goes with Psalm 18).

Or perhaps David wrote this when he was threatened with the rebellion of his son David (See scribal note that goes with Psalm 3).

However, we don’t have such a scribal note to go with Psalm 11.

Perhaps it was when David dealt with Saul or Absalom or Joab the traitor or some other threat.

Regardless, David is probably dealing with some enemy and mulling over in his mind what he should do!

In verses 1-3 we find that the people are telling him to head for the hills, essentially — “Get out of here while you still can!” “Flee as a bird to your mountain!”

But David wants to stand firm.

David is God’s King!

God’s anointed for such a time as that!

And David isn’t about to let the enemy win!

Perhaps it’s unclear whether it is the people who are speaking in verse 3, or is it David himself?

I think it’s the people asking David “what can the righteous do?” As if to say there’s NOTHING they can do, as if it’s a HOPELESS situation!

But was it?

No, God was still ultimately in control!

God is Sovereign and reigns supreme in heaven!

And God would punish the evildoers (vs. 5-6) and look upon the righteous with favor (vs. 5, 7).

So again we ask the question this morning: What can the righteous do?

Live the Quiet and Peaceable Life (and HOLY life) we pray for:

1 Tim. 2:1-3

1 Timothy 2:1–3 NKJV

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

Incidentally, do you think the duty of God’s people was to pray for their leaders in Old Testament times, too? (Of course)

I say that to say this — What if instead of spending their time trying to convince David to head for the hills (back to Psalm 11), what if God’s people (who represented the everyday citizens of the kingdom) had been PRAYING for David, SUPPORTING and SUBMITTING to him, and HELPING him in his fight against his enemies?

We must pray for a quiet and peaceable life wherein we are free to live out our Christianity without fear of intense persecution.

What does that look like?

It looks like living in godliness, walking in the light as Jesus is in the light (1 John 1:7).

It looks like godly men who provide for their families, because a man who will not work and provide for his own household has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8).

It looks like godly ladies with a quiet and gentle spirit (1 Pet. 3:4) who lovingly submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22) and keep and guard the home (Titus 2:5).

It looks like children who obey and honor their parents (Eph. 6:1-3).

It looks like citizens who pay their taxes (Matt. 22:16-21) and obey the government (Rom. 13:1-7) as long as the government isn’t requiring us to disobey God (Acts 5:29).

It looks like young people marrying a Christian spouse, bearing children, and rearing those children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (1 Cor. 7:1-2; Eph. 6:4).

And we could go on!

But the point is that we often pray to be able to live a quiet and peaceable life — But the real question is: Are we doing that?

Are we showing the world what faithful Christianity looks like?

Are we evangelizing the lost and dying world around us?

Which brings us to point number 2 …

Be a City Set on a Hill:

Matt. 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13–16 NKJV

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

“A CITY THAT IS SET ON A HILL … CANNOT BE HIDDEN.”

When was the last time that you went to the mountains?

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado, or the Appalachians of Tennessee …

Or perhaps a little closer to home — The Ouachitas of Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas …

Or the Wichitas of Southwest Oklahoma …

Or the Arbuckles? (Can you tell I love the mountains?)

But the thing about mountains is you can’t miss them! Right?

It never fails to amaze me — You can be traveling through Kansas and then eastern Colorado (which looks a LOT like Kansas), and the anticipation of that drive is something else!

Geographically you KNOW what lies beyond the horizon, but you can’t see the mountains yet and it messes with your mind!

And then you start to see a purple-ish/grey hue in the distance that kind of resembles clouds but you can tell they aren’t moving!

And you get a little closer and it gets bigger and bigger, and the color gets a little more clear, and then eventually you get right up on them and you look UP!

And WOW! Those mountains are amazing in height! You can’t miss them!

I remember going through something similar when we went to the Grand Canyon!

If you’ve ever been the drive to get there you’re thinking “this drive isn’t anything spectacular — just a bunch of desert!”

“Is there REALLY a Grand Canyon out here?!”

But then you finally get there and you see it and it just takes your breath away! (And pictures cannot do it justice!)

You can’t hide the Grand Canyon!

You can’t hide mountains!

And you can’t hide a city that is set on a hill!

There’s a lesson in there for us somewhere!

We must not hide our light that shines for Christ, we must not let our salt lose its saver, and we musts not let the city be hidden!

We’re about to mention number 3.

I’m afraid I’m going to get myself in trouble a little bit on this last one, but … point number three …

Vote:

(I know, I know) — Taboo topic! (It is an election year though and I’d be remiss if I didn’t discuss it at least a little bit).

Someone says, “Don’t you get into politics now preacher.”

Well, we’re not here to preach politics, you’re right …

But at the same time, if we think that politics and morality/Christianity never overlap, we’re simply denying reality.

So inasmuch as politics affects morality, we are obligated to at least take note of it (and I would argue that [if it doesn’t violate one’s conscience] Christians can and should make an impact by voting).

We’re asking the question, “If the moral foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Nothing?

No, I want to do SOMETHING.

“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

If we are able to vote (that is, if our conscience doesn’t keep us from voting — I realize some in the church that is the case) … then why would we not want to vote for those we think will best represent moral principles in the land in which we live?

I do not at all agree with Brother David Lipscomb’s position on this — I understand Brother Lipscomb was a good brother, but if you ever study his material on this, his position was that Christians should totally abstain from politics.

Let’s look at a few verses:

Daniel 4:17 - “‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest (or “basest”) of men.’” (Daniel in this verse is showing King Nebuchadnezzar that God is actively involved in the Kingdoms of men) (That is, God allows earthly rulers to be put in their positions in the various kingdoms/countries of men).

Romans 13:1–7 (We referenced it a moment ago) - “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

Brethren, what kind of government do we live under currently?

A Constitutional Republic which is a specific type of Democracy.

What does Democracy mean? “Rule by the people.”

Which means!

It means that technically speaking, we are living in a country wherein God has allowed a form of government where the PEOPLE rule by casting votes …

Which means that I would argue we probably SHOULD vote.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God,” that is, God allows governments to be put in their positions — Daniel 4:17 — “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’”

How do these men get put into their positions in THIS country?

Through elections, that is through voting.

Thus, it is my position that God has allowed US to be able to live in a country wherein God sets up leaders through a collective vote, and thus Christians can and should be a part of that process.

God sets over kingdoms the lowest of men, yes, but there have been glimmers in history (not very often, but occasionally) when God has allowed the people to have very GOOD leaders (such as King David, King Josiah, King Hezekiah — And I would argue that King Cyrus of Persia was a lot better than average as far as Kings go, and others).

Why would we not hope that God would give us GOOD leaders while we are living here on earth so that we can live that quiet and peaceable life that we pray for?

How to vote as a Christian?

I’m not going to tell you what to do.

But I’ll tell you what I’m thinking.

I think both major parties in this country have some very serious shortcomings.

Evidence for that? I’ve witnessed politicians in both major parties use extremely foul language, sexual innuendos and dirty jokes, political commentators in the news do the same, adultery is extremely common in politics on both sides of the aisle, etc.

God allows the basest of men to rule in the kingdoms of men.

That said, I’m going to vote the best I can for men who lead with policies that are as close to Biblical morality as I can find.

My top two issues as a voter, by far, are what?

Do I care about the economy? Absolutely.

Do I care about foreign policy? For sure.

But those aren’t my top two issues.

My top two issues are the sanctity of human life, and trying to do something to stop the sexual perversion that is RAMPANT in our society, because the Bible teaches that those are two extremely important moral issues.

Who can I vote for that is going to be CLOSER to what God would want us to do in those two issues? That’s who I will vote for.

And candidates that are closer to Biblical morality may not win!

If that’s the case, then God is giving the people what they deserve (which will eventually mean punishment), just like when Samuel warned the Israelites what would happen if they got a king, but they still clamored for a king!

And God allowed them to have King Saul, and it wasn’t good.

Conclusion:

What can the righteous do when the moral foundations are destroyed?

I think we’ve answered the question this morning.

I’ll leave this topic with this - “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34)

What about you? Does God count you among the righteous?

Well, He won’t … If you’ve never become a Christian!

(Invitation)