Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 29, 2011

The National Debt, The Government, and the Fourth Verse

The major news item recently has been the national debt and the threat of default. Accompanying that is the danger of downgrading our AAA credit rating to a lower one. Much has been written on the impact of a downgrade on the USA and the world.

I find it ironic that the same people who created the problem are the ones charged with finding a solution to the problem they created in the first place; that reminds me of the old saying about the fox guarding the hen house.

As our government haggles over a solution it appears that partisan polarity is keeping the two sides sufficiently far apart to avoid implementing a workable answer to the problem. I wish I could say this phenomenon is new to our political arena but I cannot.

Even a casual perusal of American history shows that this sort of thing has gone on since our very beginning as a nation. I believe I can safely say that we have succeeded as a nation in spite of our government, not because of it.

The Bible is very clear as it speaks regarding governments; in Daniel 4:17b “to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

Again in Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.” These verses among many others give conclusive evidence that governments are put in place by God for the accomplishment of His purposes.

In light of all of this I believe I can safely say that President Obama and all of the members of our government were ultimately placed there by God to accomplish His purposes; whether they realize it or not they are servants of the Most High God. That does not mean they are all born-again believers, just servants being used by God in the accomplishment of His will. This is what the Bible teaches.

I’ve heard many say that the secret to restoring the USA is a return to constitutional government as prescribed in the Constitution. I’ve heard the praises heaped upon the “Founding Fathers” as the reason for our national success.

I propose to you that we succeeded as a nation not because of our wisdom and cleverness but in spite of it. I propose to you that our success was strictly because of God’s hand of blessing on our nation.

The fourth verse of our National Anthem is far and away my favorite; it is rarely if ever sung. These are some of the words from the fourth verse: “Oh thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand between their loved homes and the war’s desolation, blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.”

These words identify the source of our success as a nation, Almighty God alone is the reason we have succeeded as a nation. The troubles we observe afflicting out nation are all symptoms of the basic problem; we have nationally turned our backs on God, the only one who has made and preserved us a nation.

Students of Bible prophecy have long wondered why the United States is not even hinted at in prophecy; I think we are seeing the reason take shape before our eyes.


Responses

  1. I agree, especially with the last two paragraphs.

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  2. It is saddening to me to consider how much we have lost; just during my lifetime things have changed so dramatically. Although I was born during the Great Depression and spent much of my life growing up during WW II there still seemed to be a sparkle of life which I do not find now.

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  3. God works in wonderful ways! I was greatly encouraged and comforted this evening by your previous post, The Christian’s Choice, and this one, The National Debt, The Government, and the Fourth Verse! Thank you, David, for helping me keep my heart turned to our Lord and God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
    You are a blessing, David! Thank you!
    D.V. Alison

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    • I’m thankful the Lord is using my posts to encourage and comfort you; what a joy to know the Lord is always there regardless of anything else.

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  4. David,

    I’ve really been enjoying your posts.

    When it talks in Revelations about a third of the land mass being destroyed, I think the U.S. is part of that. The other thing that is interesting is that there are numerous other prophecies that have been made in the last 2,000 that echo Revelations 8. Some specifically name the U.S. as a nation that is devastated by natural disaster, others just give a description.

    But beyond the financial crisis, the U.S. is currently playing a huge role in leading the way to what will eventually be a one world government. They are pushing the creation and enforcement of one ID online.

    I think it is also interesting that in the past month the FBI lead the efforts in tracking down and arresting the leaders of the hackers group, which was really a worldwide effort. Not that I think that in itself was a bad thing, they may have been kids but they were performing criminal acts. I just think it is one more step down the path.

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    • Thank you for your comment, your interest in prophecy is very commendable; way too many believers either ignore prophecy completely or regard it as relatively unimportant.

      I am convinced we are living in the times foretold and are seeing prophecy unfold all over the world. I also appreciate your comments on the book of Revelation; as you will recall it is the only book in the Bible that specifically promises a blessing to those who read and hear it.

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