Psalm 43:1-5 Judge me, O God, and plead
my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust
man. 2 For thou art the God of my
strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the
oppression of the enemy? 3 O send
out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy
hill, and to thy tabernacles. 4 Then
will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp
will I praise thee, O God my God. 5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope
in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my
God.
This psalm provokes some very deep contemplation. David is the leader of a
nation that he now calls ungodly.
Israel had
experienced a fatal lapse of memory.
·
Like Israel, we
have forgotten God and replaced him with secular humanism, materialism and
pride.
·
Courts that once decided
against immorality have begun to allow men “to do that which right in his own eyes” – promoting rights
without responsibility.
·
Our eyes have become
accustomed to the dark.
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people
whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
In preparing for this message
(July 7), the thought crossed my mind
·
It’s not the church's purpose to
create a theocracy in America, but rather to build a spiritual Kingdom.
·
God knows a
theocracy will not work in a world led by sinful men.
·
God must
rule the heart before He can direct a nation.
·
God's
kingdom today, is a kingdom of regenerated hearts.
·
Our work is
to worship the Lord, live for Christ and win souls.
That's not to say we are not to
be involved in politics.
·
As citizens
we have the responsibility to hold Gov. accountable.
·
As Christians we have a
responsibility to stand for what is right.
What can we
do to turn America back to God?
1.
REQUEST GOD’S DELIVERENCE (v 1). Deliver me from the
deceitful and unjust man.
·
Deceitful = to mislead, deceive or ensnare.
·
Unjust = [`evel] iniquity, perverse, unrighteous; wicked.
There is a very popular saying that is foolish and false – “You can’t legislate morality.”
Moral = Relating to the practice, manners or conduct of men as social
beings in relation to each other, and with reference to right and wrong.
The word Moral is applicable to actions that are good or evil, virtuous or
vicious, and has reference to the law of God as the standard by which their
character is to be determined (Web 1828)
2.
RETURN TO RELIANCE Upon
God (v 2).
For thou art the God of my strength:… Why go
I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am
with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I
will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness.
3.
RECOGNIZE THE REASON For
God’s Judgment (v 2). Why dost thou cast me off?
We may “feel” God has forsaken us, but He has not. Cast me of [Heb. zaw-nakh'] a primitive root meaning to push
aside, reject, forsake, cast away; to remove far away.
George Mason was an American
Revolutionary statesman and delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention.
In an address to the Continental Congress on Aug 22, 1787, he stated…
“As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, they
must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence
punishes national sins, by national calamities,”
4.
REALIZE THE REMEDY (v 3). O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me
unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
The answer for America’s problem is…
·
The Word of God. Send out thy light and truth:…
·
Calvary. Bring me unto thy holy
hill.
·
The Church. Bring me unto thy
tabernacles.
5.
RESOLVE TO RETURN Until God’s Blessing
Returns… (v 4). Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding
joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
6.
REFUSE TO RETREAT. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Why art thou disquieted
within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, [He] is the health of my
countenance, and my God.
Prepared
by Kevin Burden | Cornerstone Baptist, McMinnville TN | July 7, 2013
