December 22, 2015 - (Psalm 33:12) "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance."
For many generations America was this blessed nation, but, sadly it seems she has turned from God and has gone the way of so many others, the way of the world.
God allows all people their own free will which is many times, our undoing. It is our choice if we are to serve Him, or if we are to serve man. God allows the lost to sink into the pit which they have made, trapped in their own nets like fish in the sea.
Verse 15 of our text tells us just that; "The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken." (Psalm 9:15)
God will not be mocked, people will most definitely reap what they sow. Those that sow in the flesh "building worldly wealth and empires" will reap corruption. Those that sow in the kingdom of God will reap of the joys of heaven. Again, that is each person's individual choice that must be made. That's that "free will" thing again.
Verse 17 says that; "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17) There is a literal, eternal, burning hell. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. While hell is for individual unbelievers, but it is also for nations that forget God. The Lord will judge the nations at His return to earth, and the "goat" nations, those lined up on the left, will be cast into hell.
You might ask; "how can that person do so well, by his words and deeds he convicts himself of non-belief? Well, think about what Jesus told the Pharisees, in my words, He told them "you better enjoy your riches in this life for this is all you will ever have". The righteous may have to wait, but eventually they will receive their riches, in heaven. So too, the poor and the needy will one day be rewarded as verse 18 tells us; "For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever." (Psalm 9:18)
Their faith might be tried, but they will not be forsaken by the Lord for God is able to supply all of their needs through Christ. Vengeance belongs solely to the Lord, and He and He alone will repay. The Psalmist prays that God might arise to prevent the wicked from prevailing and to judge the heathen. Verse 19 says; "Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight." (Psalm 9:19)
You see no matter how many television preachers rant every week about the mercy and love of God, the God of mercy and love is also the God of wrath and judgment and judgment will come.
Every person will give an account to the Lord: the saved for their faithfulness and the lost for their unbelief. Those are two separate judgments for two classes of people. The first at the rapture when all the righteous are judged and approved by Jesus, the second at the White Throne Judgment when all of the lost will be judged guilty of non-belief and cast into the sea of fire which is known as hell, for an eternity of torment.
Verse 20 says; "Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men." (Psalm 9:20) The greatest of men, the greatest of nations, yes, even America, are but mere mortals, and their days are numbered with God.
The Psalmist prayed that God might strike fear in the hearts of the nations, causing them to realize their frail nature. Perhaps he thought some of them might recognize their need of God and turn to Him for mercy. That maybe some of the nations might follow the instructions written in II Chronicles 7:14 where God tells Christians, those of His name, to humble themselves and pray and repent and that then He would hear them, forgive them and heal their lands.
Pray Christians, pray daily for American Christians to do just that, pray so that God will then be able to forgive our sins and heal our land. Amen???
You are always welcome to join us for our weekly Bible Study at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays at Spring Hill Baptist Church. For more info call (936-615-1427)
