GOD BLESS AMERICA?
God wants to bless. (The basic definition of bless is to “benefit” us.)
Genesis 1:28 (Speaking of Adam and Eve) "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it…"
Some blessings are unconditional.
Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
Some blessings are conditional.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life…"
Nations will be blessed or punished.
Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…"
Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
How can we, as a nation, obtain the blessings of God? There are basic promises from God regarding this very subject. If we desire His blessings, or benefits, we must be aware of these timeless truths:
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Summary: We cannot think the way scorners, who reject God and His Word, would think. Instead, we must be familiar with His Word, meditate on it, and delight in it. This brings God’s blessings.
Genesis 12:2-3 (Speaking to Abram) “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
Summary: We must bless the nation of Israel. This ancient promise has proven to be true over and over again in history. America will not be the exception. God’s blessing is certainly tied to our treatment of Israel.
Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sin shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
Summary: Unconfessed sin will always bring the judgment of God instead of His blessings. Even nations are warned that “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Summary: Purity is powerful. When our heart is pure, our vision is clear. We cannot see the hand of God at work in our world when we have a corrupt heart. Titus 1:15 reminds us that “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” As Americans, we need to keep our hearts and minds pure from perversion and wickedness to be able to see the hand of God working among the nations and to truly be blessed.
Psalm 2:11-12 “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."
Summary: Psalm 2 is specifically written to and about nations. Verse 2 tells us that many kings set themselves against the Creator, and against His Son, Jesus Christ. As a result, governments bring God’s judgment upon their nations (verse 5). The end of the psalm challenges those same nations to “serve the LORD” rather than ignore or reject Him, and to “kiss the Son”, that is to adore and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ. No nation or people group can be blessed by God if they reject Him as their creator and savior.
It’s easy to sing “God Bless America”, and it’s certainly encouraging to see that our culture has not totally rejected this song or this sentiment. However, God’s Word is clear about how to obtain His blessings. While we’re asking God to bless, let us make sure we are following His clear instructions to position ourselves so He can bless. There is no doubt we need Him and His benefits.
