Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 32
Righteousness Exalteth a Nation
On 9 August 2022, Singapore celebrates 57th National Day. As a son of our nation, born after the nation’s independence, I am thankful to God for bringing my forefathers to Singapore and establishing the family here as our earthly home.
I am thankful especially for our spiritual heritage by which the gospel was freely given and the grace of God to open my spiritual eyes to know Jesus Christ and to embrace Him for life and service in His vineyard.
I am thankful for the good laws that undergirded our nation since her independence. I am especially grateful that Singapore maintains herself as the “plain of Abraham”, a place of rest and prayer, for the spiritual comfort and protection of God’s people. The modern “cities of Sodom and Gomorrah” are rearing their ugly front these days and pushing to establish a “global Sodom and Gomorrah”. I pray that Singapore will maintain her purity. Otherwise, God’s blessing would be withdrawn from this nation and God’s wrath will certainly come to us.
We shall remember God’s goodness on 10 August 2022 in allowing us to meet for prayer on Wednesday nights in the Praise Chapel for the past ten years. The Word of God exhorts the church to pray and preach the word – 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (KJV) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
We pray for God’s wisdom for our leaders to guide the nation in the paths of righteousness, upholding the good laws that undergirded our past preservation and our future protection.
Proverbs 14:34 (KJV) Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Psalm 11:3 (KJV) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
It is a poor exchange for economic gain vis-a-vis investments that will bring harm and disrupt the fabric of our society. The biblical character Lot was one such example who set himself to get such ungodly gain to the ruin of his family and to the loss of all his earthly possessions when God rained fire and brimstone upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is not worth the exchange. The wife of Lot turned into a pillar of salt. Our Lord Jesus admonished His disciples living in the last days in Luke 17:32 (KJV) Remember Lot’s wife. Lot’s wife could not bear to part with the high life and “prosperity” of Sodom and was judged by God as an example for posterity not to trade the soul for earthly gain.
2 Peter 2:6-9 (KJV) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
In Sodom, the men were predators. The Apostle Paul described well these men in Romans 1:20-32 (KJV) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up,unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the womanburned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
It was the reason for God’s judgment when men ignore God’s warning and persist in the way of perdition. It is my prayer that God preserves this nation for His honour and glory as a bastion for truth and righteousness.
Psalm 11:4-7 (KJV) The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee