"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
Proverbs 14:34
Part 2
Yesterday:
“Righteousness exalteth a nation.”
Today:
“But sin is a reproach to any people.”
It is fascinating that this truth is not just for Israel but “to any people.” When a nation “exalts” sin and reproaches “righteousness” her doom has begun.
“Righteousness, good manners, and piety are the things which secure to a nation a place of honour [sic.], while, on the contrary,… sin,… prevailing, and more favoured [sic.] and fostered than contended against in the consciousness of the moral problem of the state, is a disgrace to the people, i.e., it lowers them before God, and also before men who do not judge superficially or perversely, and also actually brings them down”[1] (Keil and Delitzsch).
Is there any help for a nation like America who has forgotten God? We murder our babies, promote corruption that destroys families, and have turned our backs on the Lord God Almighty. Incredibly, and graciously, God will help any nation godly values, yes, as He promised to support Israel. He can help us too! It begins with repentance, a turning to God, and abandoning our sin.
“Now for a long season, Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel and sought him, he was found of them” (2 Chronicles 15:3-4).
America, can we be “great again?” Only if we will turn to the Lord and strive to build our nation under godly principles.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
[1] Keil & Delitzsch, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, the electronic version in eSword.