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Psalm 33
by Samuel E. Ward
Introduction
Christian motivational speaker and life coach, Paul Davis, wrote in an Ezine article entitled, "The Founding Fathers Pray" . . .
The good prayer and fasting has done cannot be underestimated. It has often both thwarted evil and moved God in heaven. It is terribly unfortunate that very few know the truth about American history and the great influence that praying men who lived fasted lives had upon this nation.
The Continental Congress made their first official act a call to prayer on September 6, 1774, after just receiving news that the British troops had attacked Boston. The first prayer in Congress was uttered on September 7, 1774, in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia.
The Library of Congress, from the collected reports of the various patriots, recorded on a famous historical placard the effect of that first prayer upon Congress:
"Washington was kneeling there, and Henry, Randolph, Rutledge, Lee, and Jay, and by their side there stood, bowed in reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New England, who at that moment had reason to believe that an armed soldiery was wasting their humble households. It was believed that Boston had been bombarded and destroyed.
They prayed fervently 'for America, for Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston,' and who can realize the emotion with which they turned imploringly to Heaven for Divine interposition and - 'It was enough' says Mr. Adams, 'to melt a heart of stone. I saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, Pacific Quakers of Philadelphia.'"
Fasting is a means of humbling ourselves individually and as a nation before God. The Israelites were taught by Moses to "afflict their souls" by means of fasting (Lev. 16:31). Devout Jews interpret this as a command by God to fast and strictly adhere to do so (Acts 27:9).
The founding fathers of the United States of America, the pilgrims, attributed their success to God through fasting and prayer. Setting aside special days of fasting and prayer was an accepted part of life in the Plymouth Colony. A law was passed on November 15, 1636, allowing the Governor and his assistants "to command solemn days of humiliation by fasting, etc. And, also, for thanksgiving as occasion shall be offered."
The assembly of Virginia passed a resolution on June 1, 1774 as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. George Washington, our first president, set a pattern for leaders of this country to fast and pray. Washington's diary records, "Went to church and fasted all day."
Our country has precedence to fast and pray to avoid war. John Adams, our second president, proclaimed May 9, 1798 as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer. The United States was on the verge of war with France.
Under our fourth president, James Madison, when engaged in war with Britain, both houses of Congress passed a joint resolution desiring a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer on January 12, 1815.
Abraham Lincoln, the Savior of the Union, the country's greatest president, proclaimed three fasts. During the Civil War, Lincoln called the nation to prayer and fasting for national peace and unity. Lincoln's second call on March 30th, 1863, was to repent as a nation through prayer and fasting. Honest Abe's third proclamation was the first Thursday of August, 1864. He made a special plea for those in positions of authority to seek God with fasting and prayer.
The might that prayer and fasting exerts cannot be underestimated, as petitioners humble themselves before the throne of grace and unlock the arm of the Almighty to intervene in the earthly affairs of men. Indeed, we "have not" because we "ask not" (Jas. 4:2). Could it be that we are so engulfed in responding to the demands of our flesh that we cannot hear from our spirit? If we were not so quick to indulge our flesh in all that it is asking for, we might have time and attentiveness to do some asking for the spiritual blessings that ultimately affect the natural world in which we live.
--Paul Davis, "Congress and the Founding Fathers Pray", published in Ezine.com
If we are looking for answers to explain why our nation is in the spiritual, economic, moral turmoil it is, perhaps we need to look no further than the apparent loss of the realization of the source of our hope and prosperity—the God Who made it possible. And He made it possible because of the general consensus of our citizenry that to trust in Him was to invite His blessings upon our nation.
The message this morning is a call to remember the LORD Who has granted us such blessings in our past and then to renew our confidence and faith in Him to restore us to His blessing in the present and future. Let us not be fooled that any nation can ignore God and not experience losses that are more important than material wealth.
The Lord spoke through Jeremiah to the nations promising to uproot any nation that seized the land of His people, Israel. However, there was a promise of love and compassion held out to any of those nations who repented of their evil and learned "well" the ways of God's people and put their faith in the God of Israel. He would bring those people back to their own lands and bring blessing to them. If they did not listen, they would then be completely uprooted and destroyed.
(Jer 12:14-17 NIV) This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them. {15} But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. {16} And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'--even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal--then they will be established among my people. {17} But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD.
America can be restored. But it must not only cease its ignoring of God, but she must return to its former and founding principle of relying upon God not only as a means of gaining eternal life, but also return to those principles that form the basis of a free and just society for all.
I want the service this morning to be one in which we, like Israel of old, . . .
1. Praise the God Who made this nation great.
2. Encourage each other to enjoy the blessings which this nation has enjoyed for so long
3. Commit ourselves as a nation to once again place our faith and trust in the only One and True God Who can deliver us in times of trouble.
4. Pray for God's love to rest upon our nation to the degree that we place our national hope in Him
In our High School Chorus in Centralia, MO, we sang a song, "Let There Be Peace on Earth." The phrase that followed voiced the prayer, "and let it begin with me." That is the way it starts. Let each of us begin to be the answer to our prayer for a godly nation by being a godly person. First, . . .
I. Let's Just Praise the LORD, Psa 33:1-11
A. Let It Be Melodious Praise, Psa 33:1-2.
(Psa 33:1-3 NIV) Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. {2} Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. {3} Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
B. Let It Be Thankful Praise, Psa 33:4-9.
1. Praise Him for His faithfulness.
(Psa 33:4 NIV) For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
2. Praise Him for His love for righteousness and judgment,
(Psa 33:5a NIV) The LORD loves righteousness and justice.
3. Praise Him for His unfailing love.
(Psa 33:5b NIV) The earth is full of his unfailing love.
C. Let It Be Awesome Praise, Psa 33:10-11.
(Psa 33:10-11 NIV) The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. {11} But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
II. Let's Enjoy the Blessing of the LORD, Psa 33:12-15.
A. As a Nation Which Has Chosen Yahweh to Be Its God, Psa 33:12.
(Psa 33:12 NIV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.
B. As a Nation Which Recognizes Yahweh as the Creator God, Psa 33:13-15.
(Psa 33:12-15 NIV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. {13} From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; {14} from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-- {15} he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
C. As a Nation Which Acknowledges the LORD as the Only Deliverer-God, Psa 33:16-19.
1. It is not our governments or armies that save us, Psa 33:16-17.
(Psa 33:16-17 NIV) No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. {17} A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
2. It is only Yahweh Who can deliver us, Psa 33:18-19
(Psa 33:18-19 NIV) But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, {19} to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
III. Let's Put Our Full Faith and Trust in Yahweh Alone, Psa 33:20-22.
A. Hope in the LORD, Psa 33:20
(Psa 33:20 NIV) We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
1. Because He is our strength to endure the fight against our enemies, Psa 33:20
2. Because He is our shield to deflect the blows of our enemies,
B. Rejoice in the LORD, Psa 33:22
(Psa 33:21 NIV) In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
We can trust in His holy Name.
IV. Let's Pray for His Love to Rest on Us
(Psa 33:22 NIV) May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Conclusion
In the beginning of this message I said America must not only cease its ignoring of God, but return to its former and founding principle of relying upon God not only as a means of gaining eternal life, but in those principles that form the basis of a free and just society for all.
We are presently unable to achieve this lofty at present. It is impossible as long as we do not have a common authority for our morals. And there can be no meaningful common morality unless there is a belief that there is One over us all Who will ultimately judge us in regard to that morality. Man cannot be the judge because one man's view of one the moral code ought to be is no better than anyone else's if there is no God Who is also Judge in the affairs of men. That is the problem in America today. There is a competition for whose idea of justice ought to prevail that is bringing us to a point of not just one revolution, but many from different sides. America is in trouble. God is calling Christians to be the voice of godly reason that should have as its goal the preservation of America, but the preaching of the truth which is only found in the Gospel. This Gospel is the only truth that holds an undistorted mirror to the face of humanity to show him as the needful sinner he is. It is humanity's failure to resolve his evil, self-serving heart that has brought us to this day of decision.
