Galaxy NGC

 

Exaudi Sunday - Borrowed From 2025

 

                        Exaudi Sunday, The Sunday after Exaudi

                                                                Borrowed From 2025

                                       Exaudi Sunday - 2025.

                                    9 AM

 

The Hymn #145 (text)              Jesus Refuge of the Weary    (tune - Jesus Refuge)          

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Hear (Exaudi), O Lord, when I cry with my voice: Hallelujah!

When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face, 

my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek: 

Hide not Thy face from me. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: 

whom shall I fear?

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty, everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will toward Thee and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; 

through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. God reigneth over the heathen: 

God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. Hallelujah!

V. I will not leave you comfortless: 

I go, and I will come again to you, and your heart shall rejoice. 

Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #523      Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me?

                         The Spirit of Truth

            

The Communion Hymn #314         Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray - Henry Eyster Jacobs

The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #370           My Hope Is Built

In Our Prayers

• Friends and members appreciate the power of God's Word.

 Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.  4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Spirit of Truth

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

So many learned professors make fun of the Trinity - or - deny these simple words. Nothing churns up reaction to the Trinity more than this simplicity. Harvard Divinity School has libraries worth, but no truth. The emphasis of the Spirit is especially strong in John's Gospel, and this will show the listener why. Jesus is teaching His disciples about the Spirit managing the Father and Son. What was there in the beginning (Genesis 1 and John 1) is the energy of the Spirit, the direct power of God moving faithful ministers, organists, teachers, members, and parents. 

As described many times, in John 16:8 - 

8 And when He is come, He will reprove [expose or convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; 

Sin is not the sins of the flesh, our egos, or many alternatives - The Spirit convicts unbelief. The Word is always energized through the Spirit - even when people are hardening their hearts against the Truth and blinding their eyes to Jesus Christ.

John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended [scandalized, set off by the trigger in the trap].

Notice how early Jesus teaches, warns, and strengthens the disciples. They were right on the edge when they gathered inside locked doors. Fear overcame faith, and through Jesus faith overcame fear. That was so strong with the risen Christ that it led them into the opposition and rejoiced in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, the Way the Truth and the Light.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Like Jesus, the disciples would be removed from the synagogues. They would be pursued and even killed for teaching the truth. Like Paul, who came along rather early, some of the most antagonistic toward Jesus also became His followers. The crowds were overwhelmed by the witness of Stephen, and his death by stoning opened up the Heavens to Christ and His glory. 

Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

These things had to happen because the Antichrist was stirred up by the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 

This passage - look at how much more needs to be said, up to and including John 21. The events, discussions, and conflicts are quite condensed. They have remained the Word of God over the centuries. Many people speak or write from their perspective, but that does not mean they are correct. Luther called them "wolf preachers," who are eagerly followed by many. When people complain about this, it is a reminder of what Jesus described in John 10. Those who hear His voice follow Him - He leads them out to the pure water and green pastures. Those are the three elements most needed - His voice, food and water.

They listen to His Voice but many do not. I can count four churches I served, where the buildings are either empty, a small business, or demolished. Bethany began from members of two congregations, moved to Phoenix, and then to the Internet. We used phones at first, handed a video camera (with great reluctance), and moved from ancient IBM video streaming, then to Vimeo, finally to Zoom.

The foundation is not in creating a building. That arrived with the papacy, priests, bishops, and the pope. 

The foundation is the Word of God, as clearly portrayed (but often ignored) in the KJV. This has been turned upside-down, with the unscrupulous moving from the Word itself to interpretations and endless puerile arguments about the footnotes and other highways and byways. 

The Spirit is always in the Word and will not make the gimmicks of the day fruitful. The gimmicks devour themselves, as they are doing now, because they are no better than the ashes and poisons of the past.

John 16:8 And when He is come, He will reprove [expose or convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me;

Heat, Humidity, and Problematic Computers

 

We are experiencing a heat wave and difficult computers. The computers are being fixed somewhat, only to have more problems, not bad - but not enough to shout HOOREY! 

The good part is having people finding the glitches.  

Psalm 8 - God's Wonderful Declaration

Psalm 8  KJV 

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

The Psalms Include Morning and Evening

 Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

+++

The Psalms teach us from morning until evening, starting a new day and closing off the end. 

The Necessity of Morning and Evening Psalms

 

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

***

The necessity of morning and evening Psalms comes from our own demands to make the morning and evening prayers, not just for short remarks but for the desire to absorb these passages as important messages from God the Spirit, Jesus the Savior, and God the Spirit at work in the Word.

***

More than once will leave us craving for leaving what we need at the moment - grief, fears, anger, abandonment, and much more. Skipping around lightly, as many of us have done, can miss the depth of God's Word for us. In contrast, a pattern of regular praying with the Psalms - in the morning and evening - will change from a simple Psalm effort to one that commands what God freely and generously gives.

    We soften the pain and sorrow when we pray for ourselves and for the losses. In many cases we have special reasons and the healing of sorrows, whether immediate or distant. 

 The Empty Grave also brings life, eternal life, and healing.
The Easter Promises were all fulfilled, as we know today. 

Psalm 121

Psalm 121 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Tom Fisher Is Having Great Challenges

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Please pray God will restore me to full health and strength. Caring for all my livestock in this extreme heat has taken it's toll on my health and strength.

Especially pray God will help me write my next article on Holy Baptism. My Baptism into Christ is precious to my soul. 

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Third Sunday after Trinity, 2026

 

Trinity 3 2026. Luke 15 and the Gracious Mercy of God

9 AM

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

The Third Sunday after Trinity, 2026

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Church

The Hymn #650                Behold a Stranger 

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me: 

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 

and forgive all my sins.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: 

O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Cast thy burden upon the Lord: 

and He shall sustain thee.

V. I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. I will love Thee, O Lord my Strength: 

the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #436            The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want

       

God And Angels Rejoice

The Communion Hymn #179                     On My Heart

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #49                 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment -those with emotional issues and those with metabolic disorders. Tom Fisher - very tough year with the sheep.

 By Norma A. Boeckler

KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.  3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Third Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end Amen.

God And Angels Rejoice

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth [welcomes!] sinners, and eateth with them.

Luke 15 is often called Luke's Great Passage - the Loving Mercy of Jesus.

1. The Lost Sheep - Luke 15:1-7

2. The Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10

3. The Lost Son - Luke 15:11-32.

These three passages are distinctive in dealing with one particular theme, Jesus' gracious love - comparing that to the self-righteous or works-righteous Pharisees and scribes.

The Lost Sheep is not so much about the animal but God. 

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

This is painfully clear. The works-righteous have their feet to the fire, as people say. Someone could have 100 sheep and still go after that one sheep until it is found. How about seeing people as God does? Sheep are timid, easily frightened, hard to control. The owner cares about them and their suffering. So this part alone is easy to see - the scribes and Pharisees are placed in the position of God. Jesus is saying, "Wouldn't you go out and look for that sheep, dying in the wilderness, growing weaker by the hour?" Our emotions would respond - we have to try. We can't let the little guy suffer. We will find him! But that is not all! The owner will search until he finds the lost sheep.

1. Searches
2. Finds
3. Lays it on the shoulders - 
4. Rejoices
5. Calls friends and neighbors - 
6. Rejoices
7. The lost one is found!
8. More joy in Heaven than the 99 almost perfect ones - a jibe from Jesus - for those who think they are without sin.

I often hear from people who have reached the bottom of life from alcohol and drug abuse. The Savior has rescued them from almost complete destruction and have experienced the long passage back from the wilderness, which very difficult. But it also means someone can be a good counselor after coming back. 

Most importantly - This is a parable about the graciousness of God. He delights in mercy.

When graduate students write about how tough Jeremiah is, I remind them of the name that came from the prophet's long, angry speeches. The denunciations are called jeremiads, in honor of Jeremiah. But I respond to Jeremiah 31

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

This is a great follow-up, which can make anyone sweat bullets - as they say - go bats trying to find lost items - tickets, glasses, maps, etc. Once again, the emphasis is about rejoicing over the lost coin. Just as the angels rejoice in this parable, so does the individual have joy in telling the friends and neighbors. 

The joy is over repentance, not coin collecting. Just as we find a thrill in the object of value lost and then found, even more significant are the angels rejoicing over one repentant sinner.

250 years later, Washington's warning about a nation without God still rings true

GlennBeck.com ^ | July 1, 2026

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” That Bible verse, found in Proverbs 14:34, is not a political slogan. It is a moral law of history. Nations rise when justice, truth, humility, courage, and reverence for God shape their public life. They decline when sin becomes normalized, truth is considered subjective, and liberty is severed from biblical virtue.

The founders of America understood this better than we realize.

After the Revolutionary War, George Washington wrote to the governors of the thirteen states and prayed that God would dispose Americans “to do justice, to love mercy,” and to imitate the charity, humility, and peaceable spirit of “the Divine Author of our blessed Religion.” Without that, Washington said, “we can never hope to be a happy nation.”[1]

In his first inaugural address, Washington acknowledged “the Invisible Hand” that had guided the United States. He warned that “the propitious smiles of Heaven” could never be expected to shine on a nation that disregarded “the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained”—referring to the Bible.[2]

John Adams made the same point in different words. He believed the Bible contained “the most perfect morality” and was the only system capable of preserving a republic.[3]

Long before Washington and Adams, a Puritan pastor named Thomas Hooker helped shape America’s political imagination. In 1633, Hooker became pastor of a congregation near Cambridge, Massachusetts, and later helped establish Hartford, Connecticut. Studying Deuteronomy 1:13, where Moses instructed Israel to choose wise and understanding leaders, Hooker concluded that civil leaders should be chosen by the people. “The choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God’s own allowance,” he preached. “The foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people.”[4]

Those ideas created the climate that led to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, often regarded as the first written constitution in the American colonies with a democratic tone. It is one reason Connecticut is still known as the Constitution State.

Another biblical text shaped the debate over liberty and authority—Romans 13:1, which teaches that governing authorities are instituted by God. On January 30, 1750, Jonathan Mayhew preached a sermon based on this verse titled A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the High Powers. He taught that government is accountable to God. When rulers fulfill their God-given role, they deserve respect and obedience. But when they become tyrants and oppressors, they violate the purpose for which government exists.[5]

John Adams later called Mayhew’s sermon “the catechism of the Revolution.” It gave many colonists a biblical framework for understanding resistance to tyranny.

Then came prayer. In September 1774, delegates gathered in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. Before beginning their work, they agreed to open in prayer and invited Jacob Duché, an Anglican pastor, to lead them. The previous evening, a frightening rumor had spread that British forces were shelling Boston. As Washington, Adams, Hancock, Henry, and others gathered in Carpenter’s Hall, Duché read the appointed Scripture reading for the day—Psalm 35: “Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me.”

John Adams later wrote to Abigail that he had never heard a better prayer. It seemed, he said, as though Heaven had ordained that Psalm for that morning.[6]

The American Revolution was not only fought on battlefields. It was also interpreted from pulpits. After the shots at Lexington and Concord, Pastor Jonas Clark looked to Joel 3, where God condemns the shedding of innocent blood. Seven members of his congregation had died near the church at Lexington. Their blood, he believed, testified to the seriousness of the hour. Clark reminded his people that however dark events appeared, God still ruled over nations. “An all-wise God is seated on the throne,” he said. That conviction steadied Americans through perilous days.[7]

When victory came at Yorktown, another biblical text came to the forefront. On October 20, 1781, the day after Cornwallis surrendered, chaplain Israel Evans preached to the American troops from 1 Samuel 7:12: “Hitherto the LORD has helped us.” Like Samuel raising his Ebenezer stone after victory, Evans called the army to remember that their help had come from God. America, he said, should learn her happiness as a nation from dependence on Almighty God.[8]

Winning independence was one thing. Framing a government was another. In 1787, the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia seemed near collapse. At that moment, Benjamin Franklin, then eighty-one, rose and asked why they had not sought the help of “the Father of Lights.”

“I have lived, sir, a long time,” Franklin said, “and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men.” He cited Psalm 127:1: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”[9]

His motion for prayer did not formally pass, but the words hung over the convention. A few days later, Washington led delegates to a prayer service. Eventually, the Constitution emerged with its opening words: “We the People.”

James Madison later reflected that it was impossible for a thoughtful believer not to perceive in those events “a finger of that Almighty Hand.”[10]

Proverbs 14:34 contains both promise and warning: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” That truth applies to nations, but it also applies to individuals. Perhaps that is why my final story belongs not to a battlefield or convention hall, but to a deathbed. Alexander Hamilton, mortally wounded in his duel with Aaron Burr, asked for Christian counsel and communion. Presbyterian pastor John Mason spoke to him of Christ, quoting Acts 4:12: “There is salvation in no one else.”

Hamilton replied, “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Before receiving communion from Bishop Benjamin Moore, Hamilton renounced his sins and embraced Christ his Savior. His last words to his wife were, “Remember, my Eliza, you are a Christian.”[11]

America’s hope has never rested ultimately in presidents, armies, constitutions, courts, or elections. These are not enough. The deeper question is moral and spiritual. Can a people remain free without righteousness? Can liberty endure without virtue? Can any nation disregard God’s eternal rules of order and right and still expect the smiles of Heaven?

Let me go back to my opening verse: “Righteousness exalts a nation. Sin is a reproach to any people.” No matter how advanced we may feel we are, we can never escape the truth of that ancient proverb.