July 4, 2014; HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
Proverbs 14-17
Yesterday, I gave out detailed directions for doing a “Wisdom Search” in Proverbs. Today, on Independence Day, let’s modify the rules of a “Wisdom Search” like this: The question is: What wisdom can I find for nation like ours, which sought to be established on trust in God? We’ll use all four chapters for today. Here we go.
Proverbs 14:11, “The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.” If America wants God’s blessing, we should be seeking God’s righteousness!
Proverbs 14:23, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” If America wants to win LBJ’s old “war on poverty,” there must be a re-birth of an old-fashioned work-ethic.
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people!” God help our nation!
Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” America’s leaders must look to “many advisers” of various points of view, if they are to succeed.
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” This is why the systematic omission of prayer in America’s public settings is so tragic.
Proverbs 16:12, “It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established in righteousness.” What’s true for Israel’s kings is true in principle for America’s leaders.
Proverbs 17:3, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold; and the Lord tests hearts.” The times of trial that have faced (and do face) our nation have been our purifying crucibles.
Proverbs 17:6, “Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.” America’s leaders would do well to find a revival of integrity!
Proverbs 17:15, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” Sadly, both practices are running rampant in America of late.
That’s quite a lot of wisdom for our beloved country, and from just four chapters of God’s wisdom book! Tomorrow, we continue in these rich pages of wisdom! Maybe we should continue our “America Wisdom Search!”
Your fellow traveler through the Word,
Pastor Gary
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