What Will Make America Great Again?

Happy Independence Day, America!  Today, let's rekindle our Dependence on the LORD!

July 4, 2022

"Righteousness exalteth a nation:  but sin is a reproach to any people."

Proverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalteth a nation.”
So it is with the individual, the family, or the nation when we choose to live right by God’s “just principles and actions” [1].  When we honor the Lord, there is a whole new level of life that we are exalted to.  The nation that focuses on the Lord and determines they will elevate Him will be exalted.  “All of society feels the benefits of righteousness” [2] (FSB).  “Exalted” means “to lift up” in the moral sense.  [3]  Our verse says, “righteousness [is] the key to a nation’s greatness.” [4]  This is borne out by a nation’s “Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty.” [5]

What is needed in America today?  What can her citizens, families, and the nation itself do to make her great again?  The first step is turning to God in righteousness.

 

“But sin is a reproach to any people.”
The opposite of righteousness is, of course, being sinful.  “Sin makes the people wretched” [6] (Clarke).  And the consequence of a sinful nation is that she becomes a “reproach” and is shamed before the nations.  Israel’s history teaches us this.  They were God’s chosen people, and when they rejected their God, they were rejected by Him.

Can America be “great again?”  Only if we humble ourselves before the Lord, beg for His forgiveness, and ask mercy for our sins!  If we turn to God, this nation could “be great again.”  Will America “be great again?” Knowing the cumulative effect of sin on humanity (or a nation), it seems highly unlikely that America will turn back to God.  God could send revival to the nation, but first, our churches and believers need to live less like the world, walk with Him, confess our sin, and faithfully preach the Gospel message as Jesus commands.

Dear believers, regardless of what our nation does or does not do with this truth, we still honor and glorify our Lord with our lives.  We will do our best to be good citizens here, but we long for that day when we see Jesus in His Kingdom, where our eternal citizenship is.

 

Quote:  “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children” [7] (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).  (Under Republican Bush and Democrat Obama, more and more of America’s children are going hungry, 2015).”  What about today?

 

 

 

[1] JFB, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 396.
[2] FSB, John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Pr 14:34.
[3] BKC, Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed.  J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 936.
[4] NBC, John E. Goldingay, “Proverbs,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 597.
[5] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Pr 14:34.
[6] Clarke’s quote is his translation of this phrase from the Latin Vulgate version.  ACC – Adam Clarke.  Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[7] Bonhoeffer’s quote is borrowed from the Tentmaker organization.  Downloaded: July 02, 2022.  From: https://tentmaker.org/Quotes/america_falling_quotes.html.