THIS NATION IN THE SIGHT OF THE NATIONS--DEUTERONOMY 4:6-8

THIS NATION IN THE SIGHT OF THE NATIONS

DEUTERONOMY 4:6-8

Introduction:

“For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” Deuteronomy 4:7. This speaks of Israel, but it could be said of America as well. What nation is more blessed then the United States? Do not other nations envy our prosperity and our freedom to live our lives?

Today all of that is changing because we have changed. Let’s consider some things about America in respect to the Word of God and what it requires.

I. SURELY THIS GREAT NATION IS A WISE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE

A. Is this nation a wise and understanding nation, Job 28:28, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

1. Where is the fear of the Lord in America?

a. The fear of the Lord is a clean thing, Psalm 19:9-10,“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10- More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

b. The wicked have no fear of God, Psalm 36:1-2, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2- For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

c. This is a heart problem, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

2. Do we keep God’s commandments? Deuteronomy 4:6, “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

a. Keeping God’s Word is what makes us different from the world, Proverbs 8:32, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.”

b. Why America became great in the past, Psalm 1:1-4, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2- But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3- And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4- The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

3. Are we an understanding nation today? Psalm 34:14-16, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15- The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16- The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”

a. The eyes of the Lord are on those that know Him as Savior, v. 15; Psalm 33:18-19, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19- To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”

b. The face of the Lord is against the evil doer, v. 16; Ezekiel 14:8,“And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

1) Those that say “there is not God,” Psalm 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

2) Their end is destruction, Deuteronomy 32:20, “And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.”

B. Surely this nation is a blessed nation, Psalm 89:15-16, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16- In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.”

1. They shall walk in thy presence, Psalm 4:6-7, “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7- Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”

2. They rejoice in the name of the Lord, Psalm 33:21, “For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”

3. In His righteousness the nation is exalted, Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

C. However, this nation has forgotten God, Deuteronomy 32:18, “Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.”

1. Those that forget God, Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

2. America has grown fat and forgotten the God who made her, Deuteronomy 32:15, “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” [Jeshurun is a poetical name for the people of Israel, used in token of affection, meaning, “the dear upright people.”]

CONCLUSION

America has changed for the worst. We have so many good things to enjoy that God has so abundantly given us, but we as people have become blind to the truth.

America is not the America of yesterday, but is headed for a One-World-Government that will take away everything that America has stood for in the past. America has forgotten God.