Psalm 85 - When God Blesses a Nation

What does that mean to you? We sing "God bless America" and other patriotic songs that mention God. Many religious leaders jumped on the Trump train to make America great again - asking God to bless us again.

But what does that look like? Everyone getting a pay raise? Our trade deficit going away? Creating hundreds of thousand of new jobs? Having politicians that do what we want them to do? having an Army that can beat ISIS and anyone else that threatens the American dream?

The psalmists (sons of Korah) tell us that God showed them favor and restored their fortunes, forgave and covered their sins, and set aside His anger. But apparently that was in the past because now they are asking God to restore and revive them again. They wanted to see His unfailing love and His salvation.

They were ready and willing to do these things.

• They asked.
• They listened.
• They would not turn to folly.
• They would fear Him.

Here is how God would bless them.

• 10 Love and faithfulness meet together; 
• righteousness and peace kiss each other. 
• 11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
•  and righteousness looks down from heaven. 
• 12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, 
• and our land will yield its harvest.

Now.....how does that line up with your thoughts about God blessing America?

Are we willing to ask then listen? Will we turn from our folly? (And I'm talking about the Christians.) Will we fear Him? (Which means we follow His commands.)

We need to pray that God will restore and revive us (Christians) again and that our nation would return to Him. It will be easier to reach the rest of the nation when we are living the way we should. 

      Just thinking out loud.....

King of the Flood? - Memory Monday

Psalm 29:10.The LORD sat as King at the flood ; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

The point of this Psalm is not that God brought the flood. I'm not going to be one of those TV preachers that blames all natural disasters on God punishing the sins of America. But I DO know that these natural disasters sho God's power because He is more powerful than they are. He rides the storm, He is enthroned in the flood. His majesty and power are heard in the thunder and seen in the lightning.
And yes, these disasters need to show us our need for Him and bring us closer to God and make us turn from our sin.

So for Memory Monday this week I am memorizing Psalm 29:10 The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

There is more to this verse than what I have said here. Let God's Spirit show you more.

Here is the entire Psalm for you to read.

Psalm 29 (Holman Christian Standard)
A Psalm of David.

1.Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2.Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name ; Worship the LORD in holy array.

3.The voice of the LORD is upon the waters ; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters.

4.The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic.

5.The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars ; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6.He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox.

7.The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire.

8.The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness ; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9.The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And strips the forests bare ; And in His temple everything says, "Glory !"

10.The LORD sat as King at the flood ; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

11.The LORD will give strength to His people ; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
 
Ah! The part you hoped for. With all of His power God still reaches out to His people and gives strength and peace! THAT takes power! 
 
Live as people of strength and peace!