Righteousness Exalts a Nation

In Proverbs 14, 34 we read, Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. We see this to be the case in the days of King Hezekiah, when the king of Assyria lay siege to the city of Jerusalem, and began to mock God, and speak blasphemy against him, and dare him to do anything about it. And King Hezekiah got Isaiah the prophet, and they both got down on their knees before God, and with a humble heart and with holy boldness, they besieged Almighty God to be their deliverer.

They could do this because earlier they had made God their rightful ruler, through temple reforms and national repentance, as good King Hezekiah led the people back to the God of their fathers. We see the principle of Proverbs 14, 34 play out in the life of the people, where righteousness exalts a nation. For in 2 Chronicles 32, and in verses 20 to 22, we read, And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven, and the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria.

So he returned with shame of face to his own land, and when he was come into the house of his God, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I believe that same God still reigns today, friends.

I believe Almighty God still hears the cries of His people, and I believe His arm is not too short to save. I believe His word is true, that righteousness exalts a nation, and that sin brings it low. Christian America was founded on Christian religion, Christian education, and the Christian home.

Take Christ out of either of these three cornerstones, and the Republic falls. The three things pagan America stands on today are sports, entertainment, and sex. Our churches used to be lifeboats that saved the perishing.

Now they are showboats that entertain the careless. Let me share a story with you, friends. A traveling preacher was passing through a certain city, and he wanted to go by and visit a historic church that had a long reputation for doing good for the Lord.

And when he got in the town, he stopped at a local restaurant to grab some lunch and ask directions to that famous church. The owner of the restaurant was well familiar with that church, and when the visitor went on and on about all the great things that church had done, the owner of the restaurant looked at him strangely and commented, Yes, it used to be that way some time ago. If you want directions to that church, go up the road a piece, and turn right at the next stop sign, then go up a hill, and at the top of the hill there will be a sign telling you the way to that church.

Oh, what does the sign say? asked the visitor. The man paused, and with a sad look in his eyes said, The sign says, CAUTION! CHILDREN AT PLAY! I'm sorry to say, friends, I've known churches like that, too many, that once did great things for God, and now there's a sign out front that says, CAUTION! CHILDREN AT PLAY! I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but when I look at our nation, I see on one end of our country it's on fire, and the other end is in a flood, and in between all that is a plague that won't go away, and the news reads like a page out of the Old Testament, while our nation sinks deeper in sin. It looks to me like God is trying to get our attention through these remedial judgments that have so shaken our nation.

In former times, America looked to God for guidance and to the church for direction, but if the church is out of touch with God and out on the playground, how can she lead a nation back to the God of the Bible? How can righteousness exalt that nation if the leaders are off out in the woods? Maybe it's time we picked up our marbles and dusted off our pants and got back inside our sanctuaries and got down on our knees to seek God's face and brokenness and humility and repentance through earnest, fervent, desperate prayer. Maybe, just maybe, if we quit playing around and got serious with God long enough, then he would get serious with us and send us the revival and deliverance we so desperately need. God says in Malachi, return to me and I will return to you.

We better hurry up and turn back to God with our whole heart and serve him with an undivided heart before we burn, drown, and die.