Sermon Title: Myth #5, God Loves the USA so We Cannot Lose
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
“God will always bless America.” Many people believe this because they think that America is God’s special country, a country that was pre-ordained by God to be a blessing to the nations. This theory is often called “Americanism” and it is a widely accept fact in many Christian circles. However, the Bible does not speak about America, nor does it give special status to any nation besides Israel. The Bible does say that God will hold a nation corporately responsible for her actions – if the nation follows God, it will be blessed; if it does not, it will be judged.
Dr. L.J. Ogilive writes the following concerning the passage above: “Not only does the creation exist by the word of God, the nations are also judged by that same word. Thus verses 10–11 contrast the vain “counsel” and “plans” of the nations with God’s own “counsel” and “plans.”In their pride, the “nations” (“Gentiles”) claim a false autonomy. They offer their worldly “counsel” (“advice, wisdom”) and they make their “plans.” They live on the horizontal, employing politics as the “art of the possible.” Their devices are “balance of power,” “the dictatorship of the proletariat,” “pro-choice,” the New Deal, the thousand-year Reich, NATO, the Warsaw Pact, the Alliance for Progress, and so on. Their “counsel” and “plans,” however, are a passing show. Thus God brings the autonomy of the nations, which is their idolatry, “to nothing,” “of no effect.” He breaks their rebellious spirit. On the other hand, “the counsel of the Lord stands forever” and His “plans” last through the “generations,” for this “counsel” and these “plans” come from the eternal God who speaks His word and who does His work in righteousness and truth.”
Nations and their affairs can never dictate to God what is right, holy and true. He will always be above the nations, their circumstances and issues of the day. And He is always prepared to bless and help those who follow Him with all their hearts, no matter what country they live in. I will speak more about how God blesses the nations this coming Sunday as I continue the sermon series, “Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe.” Hope to see you then!
