Although this message was delivered some years ago, the significance of what you will read is timeless. We are seeing an unprecedented crisis in this country and around the globe. So what is our part? It is time to seek God and ask for a miracle!
God blessed the nation of Israel. God has blessed the nation of America. There are principles and parallels in our heritages that the discerning eye can see and the ready heart can apply.
Grave National Danger
Psalm 80:12 says, "Why hast Thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?" Here was a vineyard, divinely planted, divinely protected, and divinely prospered, then suddenly God removed the hedge. Anyone who came by could now pluck the fruit off the vines.
Do you see any similarity with what is happening in America? Our adversaries are plucking our fruit — we are disintegrating before our eyes. There is an external danger but also an internal danger.
Something is happening in America that is very un-American. America is tottering. And I am not talking about the danger we could experience from external forces. Instead, we are experiencing internal danger.
I do not believe that America can hold back the hand of God's righteous intervention much longer. This nation has become so immoral, corrupt, and vile that I believe we are ripe for God's judgment.
And for that I believe God's judgment of external danger is imminent. Now, not only is there external and internal danger, but there is also eternal danger. The vine has been cut down. Psalm 80:14-16 says,
Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which Thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that Thou madest strong for Thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of Thy countenance.
Now, the great wrath of God has been manifest in the vineyard. This may come as news to you, but I want you to understand that not only is God our only hope, but God is also our biggest threat.
The acts of God's judgment — the fire to burn the vine, the ax laid to the very root — are not only probable events, but as we have seen in history these are also real events. We have no right to believe that God is going to let this nation endure unless we have a national revival.
I believe we are no longer standing at the waterline, we are knee-deep in the waters of the wading pool of God's judgment. And it is time that America repents.
Great National Despair
What is it that so grieves my heart? First, it is the spiritual sterility of our country. People say we need to pray, and we do. But, don't think God is pleased every time someone prays. Sometimes when people pray, God gets angry. Psalm 80:4 says, "O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt Thou be angry against the prayer of Thy people?"
The prayers of a wicked, unrepentant people only move God to anger. Religion without righteousness is repugnant to God. Right now, the cesspool of iniquity is overflowing in America. It's a wonder He doesn't blot us off the face of the earth!
On top of the spiritual sterility I see in our country, there is personal sorrow. Israel was baptized in salty tears. America will, as well. Sorrow follows sin like night follows day. Psalm 80:5 says, "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." We cannot flaunt God and prosper.
We seek peace, but we'll not have it until we have an alliance with the Prince of Peace. Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." I wonder how high the price is going to be that we will pay — how large the oceans of tears and rivers of blood?
The once mighty God-blessed America has become a laughing stock in many respects to the world. Now, I'm not saying we should not be patriotic and think we are a great nation. But, I believe the Bible when it says: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance" (Psalm 33:12).
Well, is there hope for America? Yes. Can there be a way in these last days? Absolutely. There was a gracious national deliverance for Israel, and there may be one for us. Next month, we will look at the victory — God's Gracious National Deliverance!
