An Exalted Nation

Invite Attention: Proverbs 14:34

Personal Comments -

Read: Proverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34, KJV 1900)

Introduction:

Our passage this morning “is a device of contrast. First the statement ''righteousness exalts a nation'' Then the contrast ''but sin is a reproach to any people.''

I call this a “Teeter-Totter Principle” now that is not an official theological term, but I think it helps describe what I mean.

A Teeter-Totter principle is a principle that contrasts an up with a down.

I can remember in Kindergarten at Troy Holiness School, they had a huge “Teeter-Totter” I don’t know if it is still there or not but I can remember being on it and playing with it. You get on one end and someone else gets on the other end and when you push up, they go down, Then they go up and you go down.

So you could go up, or you could go down,

That is how I see this principle, in this passage:

you go up on one side, if the nation walks in righteousness.

But you go down on the other if you walk in sin.

In 1776 we declared our independence from England and the throne with a prayer and at least verbal dependence upon God for help.

Today we are declaring independence from God and allegiance to ourselves.

I don’t ever want to put America in as God’s chosen nation, or people. There is only a brief verse where perhaps she is even mentioned in the Bible, and even then it is only speculation.

At the same time, America was primarily founded upon a Judeo-Christian sense of understanding of Scripture. No the founding fathers did not get everything right. No they weren’t all Christians, yes they did things and said things that I do not agree with,

However I am amazed when I read early American or even more modern history, from original sources, not a modern history book, but words from the presidents and founding father’s themselves.

Listen to a few of these:

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity. JOHN ADAMS

[T]he teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally….impossible for us to figure to ourselves what that life would be if these teaching were removed. 8 TEDDY ROOSEVELT

America was born a Christian nation – America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. 9 WOODROW WILSON

American life is builded, and can alone survive, upon . . . [the] fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior nineteen centuries ago. 10 HERBERT HOOVER

This is a Christian Nation. 11 HARRY TRUMAN

Let us remember that as a Christian nation . . . we have a charge and a destiny. 12 RICHARD NIXON

Then there is the example of Thomas Jefferson. No he was not a Christian as we would describe it but a forgotten piece of history about Jefferson

...Jefferson was instrumental in establishing weekly Sunday worship services at the U. S. Capitol (a practice that continued through the 19th century) and was himself a regular and faithful attendant at those church services, 14 not even allowing inclement weather to dissuade his weekly horseback travel to the Capitol church. 15

...Why was Jefferson a faithful attendant at the Sunday church at the Capitol? He once explained to a friend while they were walking to church together:

“No nation has ever existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has been given to man and I, as Chief Magistrate of this nation, am bound to give it the sanction of my example.”

https://wallbuilders.com/america-christian-nation/#FN7

There are many many others but this will suffice for now, to convince me that not only the founding fathers understood what they were doing and saying, but also many of the Presidents both old and newer, understood that the Constitution and even civil liberties and law were based on the principles and teachings of the Bible or might I say “RIGHTEOUSNESS>”

Now we did not have a state run church or religion, nor did we want one. We wanted to keep the government and religion separate just as we wanted to keep the three main branches of government separate, (although they seem to be overlapping quite a bit lately)

I personally believe that we can look at this, the basing of our Constitution on Religious and might I add Christian principles.

Isn’t that the principle stated before us in the proverb?

Righteousness exalteth a nation.

This is a principal that was instituted by God as a law of the nature of things it seems.

He promised this same principal to the Children of Israel.

“Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” (Leviticus 26:4, KJV 1900)

“That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” (Deuteronomy 11:14, KJV 1900)

“The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.” (Deuteronomy 28:12, KJV 1900)

Caveat - Just because a nation exhibits any of these qualities does not make it a godly nation, however this is a principal of governments and nations.

An Exalted Nation is a Prosperous Nation

America has understood prosperity like no other nation on earth. We are known as the land of plenty, land of opportunity, land of prosperity.

An Exalted Nation is a Powerful Nation

While we have not always been so, we have been exalted, and I would venture to say, by God as a world super-power.

An Exalted Nation is A Purposeful (they know where they come from and where they are going)

At one point it was known by all exactly who we were and what we stood for as a nation. Now we are divided as to purpose, and destination.

As an illustration of this, Yesterday was July 4th, a day my family has celebrated for as long as I can remember. While I don’t remember talking every time about what it was about - we knew the meaning behind it and it wasn’t just fireworks. We understood that was just a symbol of what went back then.

I was embarrassed as Prager University did a poll of people my age and a little younger on the question, “Why do we celebrate the 4th of July?” Many of them American born, had no clue. Some thought it was when Columbus discovered America, other’s simply didn’t know.

I believe with all of my heart that for many years, America has enjoyed an exalted position in the ways in the world’s way of thinking.

But I am concerned with the rise of sin and open ungodliness and rejection of God that

Now I fear we are headed to the other side of this spiritual sea saw.

We are beginning to see, and will probably see more of what kind of reproach sin can bring to a nation.

A reproach means: an act that causes disgrace and shame to come upon someone.

Pastor Joe Wright - formerly of Central Christian Church now of Summit Church prayed in our Kansas State Legislature and confessed some of our national sins - our national unrighteousness.

We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word & called it "moral pluralism."

We have worshipped other gods & called it "multiculturalism."

We have endorsed perversion & called it an "alternative lifestyle."

We have exploited the poor & called it "the lottery."

We have neglected the needy & called it "self-preservation."

We have rewarded laziness & called it "welfare."

We have killed our unborn & called it "choice."

We have shot abortionists & called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children & called it "building their esteem."

We have abused power & called it "political savvy."

We have coveted our neighbors' possessions & called it "ambition."

We have polluted the air with profanity & pornography & called it "freedom of expression."

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our fore-fathers & called it "enlightenment."

Conclusion:

As I was preparing for this sermon I came across an article form the Washington Times from several years ago. It was written by Patrick Buchanan and sums up much of what I have been saying, listen to this quote from that article,

“The videotape of history seems stuck on fast rewind--as our post-Christian era comes to resemble the pre-Christian era: Material affluence amid moral decadence. ... In a time of despondency and despair over the hubristic follies of our own republic, Christ's road remains open. We had the truth, we can find it again.”

Patrick Buchanan in the Washington Times (April 11, 1993). Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 14. (NOV. 22 1993)

“We had the truth...” We once realized the importance of God and God’s righteousness in our nation.

We can find that again, we can get back to that again. That is really the only way “We can make America great again.”

There are principles God has established that will benefit a society if they are followed—even if the leaders themselves don’t know God.

As Paul later urged Timothy to pray for governmental leaders “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim 2:2),

“For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Timothy 2:2, KJV 1900)

we should pray for leaders to be sensitive to God’s way of doing things.

Pray that your leaders will be patient ( Proverbs 14:29),

content and not power-hungry (Proverbs 14:30),

kind to the poor ( Proverbs 14:31),

righteous (Proverbs 14:32),

wise (Proverbs 14:33),

and will surround themselves with wise administrators (Proverbs 14:35).

When biblical principles infiltrate society, their restraining influence is felt as an expression of God’s grace that he makes available to all. See Proverbs 16:10-15; 19:12. Tony Evans, Tony Evans Bible Commentary, The: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda, (Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 595-596.

In November you can vote for a president - with a platform

But I suggest you Pray to God who has a Principle

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34, KJV 1900)