Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: Promises Of The Law

How to Know the Hand of God is Against a Nation

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Covenant Theology

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2014-01-19

Synopsis: John Weaver examines Lamentations 1:1-7 to identify eight biblical evidences that God's hand of judgment is against a nation, drawing parallels between ancient Judah and modern America. He argues that God's immutable character means He judges nations today for the same sins, and calls for repentance and a return to biblical obedience.

[John Weaver] Lamentations, chapter one. We're going to read the first seven verses. And let me just say, I'm going to be quoting a lot of scriptures today only because I'm going to be pressed for time. I will ask you to turn to some, but I want you to listen as I quote them, because obviously they are related to the truths that I'll be expounding. Look in the book of Lamentations, chapter one, beginning there with verse one, and we'll read through verse seven.

[John Weaver] How doth a city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces? How has she become tributary? She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her. All of her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They are become her enemies. Judah is going into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen, and findeth no rest.

[John Weaver] All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper, for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy, and from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed.

[John Weaver] Her princes are become like hearts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all of her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock at her sabbaths." The title of the message today is How to Know. when the hand of God is against a nation. How to know when the hand of God is against a nation? There is absolutely no dispute that the hand of God was against Judah and Jerusalem. In fact, the entire book of Lamentations is written concerning the downfall and the destruction of the nation. Moreover, there are specific passages that state undeniably that God was moving to destroy that nation.

[John Weaver] Let me just give you a few quotes. Listen carefully. Here is Isaiah 5, verse 25. Therefore, as the anger of the Lord kindled against His people, He had stretched forth His hand against them and had smitten them. And the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." So obviously God's hand is stretched out in anger. When you get to Isaiah 9 and verse 21, the Bible says this, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. And then in Jeremiah 15 in verse 6, God says this, They have forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward. Therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee and destroy thee.

[John Weaver] I am weary with repenting. So in each one of these passages, the Bible refers to God's hand being stretched out against them. So it's important then that we understand our terms. When we're talking about the hand of the Lord, what exactly are we discussing? Well, the phrase the hand of the Lord is usually presented to discuss the power of God. The hand is the instrument of power, of work, and blessing. I want to give you two quotes, two paragraphs, both by Stephen Charnock in his book, The Attributes of God. He says this concerning the power of God. The power of God is that ability and strength whereby he can bring to pass whatsoever he pleases.

[John Weaver] whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. As holiness is the beauty of all of God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfection of the divine nature. How vain would be His eternal counsels if power did not step in to execute them. Without power, His mercy would be feeble pity. His promise is an empty sound.

[John Weaver] His threatening is a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible. It can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature. And then the second paragraph, power is also used as a name of God. The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, Mark 1462, that is at the right hand of God. God and power are so inseparable that they are reciprocated. As His essence is immense, not to be confined to place, as it is eternal, not to be measured in time, so it is almighty not to be limited in regard to action. So when you're talking about the hand of God, you're referring then to the power of God. And interestingly enough, as you study scripture, you're going to find that God's hand may be upon us, either in blessing or in anger.

[John Weaver] You see, it's the hand of the Lord that guarantees his promises as well as his threatenings. In Numbers 11 in verse 23, the Bible says, And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? And shalt thou see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not? Obviously, God's hand is not waxed short, and God's hand is quite capable of bringing to pass whatever God has decreed.

[John Weaver] Now, when you get to 2 Kings 3 in verse 15, regarding Elisha. Here we read about the hand of the Lord being upon him, but I want you to understand in this instance, it was the hand of blessing. In 2 Kings 3 verse 15, Elisha said, But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. So when the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, in this instance, it was a hand of blessing and salvation and deliverance. For Elisha was telling the kings before him how God would deliver them and their armies and give their enemies into their hands. So when you and I talk about the hand of the Lord, normally We're referring to the anger of God, His righteous judgment.

[John Weaver] Now, as you study the Bible, here's an interesting thing. You will find that the hand of the Lord can be against individuals, families, cities, and nations. Let me give you a verse to document each one of these truths. You remember how Naomi and her husband went into a foreign land and their two sons. You remember how the husband died and the two sons, Malon and Chilian, died.

[John Weaver] I think her husband's name was Elimelech. And all she had left were her two daughters-in-laws. So Naomi hears that there's food back in Israel and she's going to leave Moab and go back. And in Ruth 1 in verse 13, she says to her daughter-in-laws, talking about she could not have any more sons, she said, Would you tarry for them till they were grown?

[John Weaver] Would you stay for them from having husbands? Nay, my daughters, it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. So in the loss of her husband and the loss of her two sons, she says the hand of the Lord is going out against me. So it's not just the hand of the Lord against individuals. It's also the hand of the Lord against certain families as well. Eli's family was to be destroyed because of the hand of the Lord against them because of their sins and their rebellion.

[John Weaver] So in 1 Samuel 3 verses 11 through 14, listen carefully. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. And when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth.

[John Weaver] because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever." So here God, in his righteous anger and indignation, is not just simply destroying an individual, but an entire house, an entire family. So God's hand can be directed against individuals and families. It can also be directed against entire cities. You remember when the Philistines had captured the Ark, had defeated Israel, and they were taking that Ark and they were placing it in the house of Dagon, their god, and of course you remember how Dagon fell over before the Ark, and finally he broke in two.

[John Weaver] But the Bible says in 1 Samuel 5 and verse 6, listen now, but the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emeralds even from Ashdod unto the coast thereof. But the hand of the Lord was heavy against them. So it doesn't matter where the Ark went in Philistine, among the Philistines, all of their cities were afflicted by the hand of God being against them. God's hand was certainly against the men that came from Egypt. The Israelite men who refused to obey God God destroyed them and they never got the opportunity to enter into Canaan. And in Deuteronomy 2 and verse 15, the Bible says, For indeed, the hand of the Lord was against them to destroy them from among the host, and they were consumed. So here's the hand of the Lord against individuals. Against families. Against cities. Against people. I don't have to quote any scriptures to show you that the hand of the Lord was against all of those nations whom the Israelites defeated and conquered in Canaan land.

[John Weaver] Obviously the hand of the Lord was against them, for they were defeated and conquered. But God gave a warning to Israel. I want you to see this, and then I want us to Start back looking in Lamentations chapter 1. So if you will turn your Bibles holding Lamentations chapter 1. If you will look in 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. I want you to see the warning that God gave to the nation of Israel. 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. Watch this carefully, because you're going to see this in Lamentations chapter 1. In 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15, God says this, But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as it was against your fathers. So God gave them a warning. God says, look, if you refuse to obey me, if you rebel against me, my hand will be stretched out against you exactly the way you were stretched out against your fathers.

[John Weaver] So here's my question, and this was a thought that came to my mind as I read through Lamentations chapter one. We know that God's hand was stretched out against the nation of Judah, the entire southern kingdom. We know that it was stretched out against their capital, Jerusalem. So here's my question. What are the evidences? What are the manifestations? That God's righteous anger is being exhibited when his hand is stretched out against a nation.

[John Weaver] Let me cut it down to the very bare minimum. How can we tell whether or not God's hand is stretched out against America? How can we tell whether or not God's hand is stretched out against England or Canada? The reason I quoted so many scriptures is I've got eight things I want to show you this morning. Eight truths, eight manifestations, and I will have to be very quick on each one of them because of time. But I want you to begin looking at verse one. So an answer, how do we know that God's hand is stretched out against a nation or against the people? Or how do we know whether or not God's hand is stretched out against America? Verse one, how does the city sit solitary that was full of people?

[John Weaver] How has she become as a widow? She that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces. How has she become tributary? Number one. We know that God's hand is against us when we become a nation of serfs and slaves. Note, if you would please, how Jerusalem now sits solitary. It has been depopulated. She's become a widow, so to speak. She was once great among the nations, but now she has become a tributary. In the context, Judah and Jerusalem had become a tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. They were his servants. They were his slaves. They were his serfs.

[John Weaver] You remember he killed most of the people. Less than 5,000 he took into captivity in Babylon. The remaining poor he left in the land to work the land For him, for himself, they were his servants. They were his slaves. They were his servants. So. Here, Judah and Jerusalem had been conquered by foreign power.

[John Weaver] Now, I can hear you with an objection and that objection is this. Well, we've not been conquered by a foreign power and therefore we're not serfs or slaves. Well, let me ask you a direct question. Does it really matter whether or not we're serfs or slaves to a foreign power or to a domestic power? Does it really matter whether you've been conquered by an enemy from without or an enemy from within?

[John Weaver] A serf is a serf and a slave is a slave. Does it really matter? whether or not we've been conquered by a foreign power or not. The truth is, we are a conquered people. Let me just try to enlarge upon this just momentarily. You say, how can you say we're a conquered people? Well, have you ever considered, and I realize the money issue, and I'm not getting into that right now, but have you ever considered how much money that America as a nation owes China. What about our foreign debt? Do you realize that the Chinese could actually devastate us economically by refusing to buy any more of our debt or hold any more of our debt? So actually The Bible says the borrowers serve it to the lender. And even if you don't want to consider China and Japan, and by the way, I think I read where Japan holds 1.8 billion dollars, so-called, of our debt. No, it's 1.8 trillion, not billion, it's trillion. China has more than that. If you don't want to consider that, consider the fact that the Federal Reserve is neither Federal nor Reserve, and yet they're in control of our so-called money supply, and they are international bankers.

[John Weaver] Their goal is not to help and strengthen America. Their goal is to destroy and bankrupt us. You say, but I'm still not a serf. I'm still not a slave. I'm nobody's servant. Well, if you believe that you're not a serf, and if you believe that you do not hold your property at the discretion of your liege lord. Try not paying your property taxes. Or try to sell your property.

[John Weaver] Or your crops or your produce or your land without his permission. And all of a sudden you're going to discover who's really in control. You see, the problem is this. We're living in a day when the servant has become the master and the master has become the servant. It was Solomon, the wise man who said this in Ecclesiastes 10 and verse 7. He said, I have seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants upon the earth. What's he saying? Everything's turned upside down. Servants were riding horses and princes were walking.

[John Weaver] It's the same thing today. Our servant, the servant of the states, the federal government, has become our master. And the masters, the states and the individuals, have now become the servants and the serfs and the slaves of the federal government. When an individual is a tributary, when he owes, when he has to pay, when he is forced to pay, when he cannot do anything but pay, he is a serf. He is a slave. He is a servant.

[John Weaver] How do we know when God's hand is stretched out against America? when we become a nation of serfs and slaves just like Judah and just like Jerusalem. Look in verse two. Verse two says she weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she have none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her and they have become her enemies. Number two. We know that the hand of God is against us as a nation when we become isolated, unwelcome, and disrespected. Note, if you would please, she weepeth sore in the night. Her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she had none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They have become her enemies.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. Where are the nations and the countries that are really, truly, and genuinely our friends? Where is the respect that America had 100 years ago? What nation? What country? actually respects our government, our policies, and our leaders. The truth is, our president, his cabinet, and our political leaders are irresponsible buffoons and lack the common sense and courtesy of the average country boy. It's the truth. Most Americans don't even respect the politicians. You remember the poll that I gave you some months ago where a question was asked, who do you think more of, a toenail fungus or Congress? And the toenail fungus won. Another one was, who do you think more of, hemorrhoids or Congress? And the hemorrhoids won. Obviously, something is wrong. Do you realize there was a time when America's foreign policy was to walk softly and carry a big stick? Now our foreign policy is to walk softly, bow to foreigners, apologize for our ways, and give in, give up, and surrender. Is it any wonder that our so-called friends deal treacherously with us and we deal treacherously with them?

[John Weaver] There is no character. Because like Israel of old, we no longer possess or exercise that which originally set us apart from other nations. You say, well, what was it that set us apart from other nations? Well, whole Lamentations 1, and go to your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4. Deuteronomy chapter 4, and let's begin reading there with verse 5. Deuteronomy 4 and verse 5. Look, if you would, please, this set Israel apart.

[John Weaver] And if I had time today, I could go over our founding documents and the original charters and constitutions of the states and prove this to you. But watch in Deuteronomy, chapter four, beginning there, verse five, God says to Israel, behold, I've taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land, whether you go to Bethesda. Now look what he says about these statutes and judgments. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people for what nation is there so great who have God so nigh to them, as the Lord our God is in all the things that we call upon Him for. And what nation is there so great that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day?

[John Weaver] Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons." Note, if you would, God said, it's my law. that sets you apart. It's my law that makes you unique. It's my law that makes you special. We know the hand of the Lord was against Judah and Jerusalem because they forsook His law and His statutes. We also know that God's hand is against America because we have forsaken His law and His statutes.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to Lamentations chapter one and look, if you would please, at verse three. Here's a third thing. Watch carefully. Let's read verse three. He says Judah is going into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen and findeth no rest. All her persecutors overtook her between the streets.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, we know the hand of the Lord is against us as a nation. When we dwell among the heathen, what did he say? She dwelleth among the heathen. Wow. I want you to turn hold lamentations, but turn back to Psalm 44. Let me show you two passages here. Psalm 44. And first of all, I want you to look at verse 11. Psalm 44 and verse 11. Look at what the Scripture says, Psalm 44 verse 11.

[John Weaver] Here's the complaint, but yet it's the truth of what happened. He says, thou has given us like sheep upon for the meat and has scattered us among the heathen. The hand of God in judgment, it scattered them among the heathen. Skip down to verse 14. Thou makest us a reproach, that's verse 13, verse 14. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. In other words, God has put them there. God's made them a reproach and God has scattered them.

[John Weaver] Now, we know exactly what God did to Judah and Jerusalem, how He slew many of them. He sent the rest into captivity into Babylon among the heathen, the poor He left in the land. So here's the question we have to ask. Do we dwell among the heathen? Well, the answer to that is yes. Unhappily, we do not need to be transported to a foreign nation to dwell among the heathen. It appears that they're being transported here. And I'm not just simply talking about and referring to the multitude of illegal aliens that have and continue to invade our land.

[John Weaver] What about the multitudes of foreigners and especially Muslims that have been brought into our country by our own government? And now these very same Muslims that our own government has brought into this country are demanding that we adopt Islam and submit ourselves to Sharia law. Do you realize there are certain sections in this country that have been literally taken over by foreigners. When I say that, I was just trying to think of the group of people that were from, not Vietnam, Laos, I believe, that settled in the northern part.

[John Weaver] And there's a whole congregation of them. I use the word congregation not as a church because they're heathen. But it was one of these men who were known for their violence. It was one of these very men who went deer hunting and saw a man in the stand that he wanted to hunt deer up and he shot and killed the man so he could use the stand. Yeah. Mom. Yeah. Yeah.

[John Weaver] I'm just simply pointing out and certain sections are country. These places are controlled by foreigners. Look at what has happened in England, what has happened in Canada and in France. And if any of you have seen the pictures, look what is happening in New York City when streets are blocked by Muslims for afternoon prayers. Do you realize a Muslim doesn't need to pray in the streets? They have mosques. They have other buildings.

[John Weaver] Why would they do that? Because it is a sign of dominion and control when they can successfully stop traffic and successfully stop anyone else from doing what they're doing in order to prove that they are in control and their demands must be met. I just read Listen to this. I just read where every 10th child now born in England is a Muslim. The most prominent name in England today in 2014 is Mohammed.

[John Weaver] Multiculturalism, diversity and multi religions are not signs of success, advancement and prominence. There are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us. Because Judah and Jerusalem dwelt among the heathen. Yes, multiculturalism, diversity, multi-religions are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us. If you look back in Lamentations chapter 1 in verse 4. Here's the fourth truth. He says the ways of Zion do mourn because none come to the solemn feast.

[John Weaver] All her gates are desolate. Her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Now listen carefully. We know the hand of the Lord is against us. When we become a nation of hypocrites, and apostates. Go back to verse four, the ways of Zion do mourn because what? None come to the solemn feasts. All our gates are desolate. Our priests are sighing, our virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

[John Weaver] If you and I totally disregard the heathen that are being imported into this country legally and illegally, We must consider the fact that as a whole, most professing Christians and most professing Christian churches have apostatized and for all practical purposes have become heathenistic and pagan in faith and in practice. The truth is, folks, we dwell among the heathen Because the hand of the Lord is against us and our churches today are filled with hypocrites and apostates. I could go off over scripture after scripture.

[John Weaver] But do you remember that passage in 1 John 2, verses three and four? In 1 John 2, he says, hereby, we do know that we know him when we keep his commandments, but when you get to verse four. The Bible says, he that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. What? If you were to take God's word and you measure most preachers and most professing Christians. They're not. They're not anywhere near what God demands.

[John Weaver] How many in America really and truly honor the ways of Zion? Now, I'm not talking about earthly Zion. I'm talking about heavenly Zion. I want you to look whole Lamentations 1, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, and just hold that passage because we'll look there in just a moment. We'll look in Hebrews, chapter 12, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. There's a difference between earthly Zion and heavenly Zion. And Hebrews chapter 12. Beginning there of verse 22. God says. But you are coming to Mount Zion. And into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels. to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

[John Weaver] What does the Bible say? The Bible says there is a heavenly Zion. We live in a time when God's house is neglected, His word is rejected. His ordinances are despised. His worship is perverted. His preachers mocked. His people ridiculed and persecuted. His name is blasphemed and profaned. Very few today are willing to identify themselves with Jesus Christ. Since you're in Hebrews 12, look right over to Hebrews chapter 13. Let me show you. Here's what the Word of God demands, Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 12. Hebrews 13 verse 12. The Bible says,"...wherefore Jesus, also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." That is without the gates of Jerusalem, the fleshly Jerusalem or the earthly Jerusalem. Now what does the Bible say in verse 13? Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. So the Bible is teaching that basically Jesus Christ and true Christianity is without the camp. And if we stay true to Christ, He is saying that inevitably, invariably, we're going to suffer reproach with Christ.

[John Weaver] I've got news for you folks. You go to the average church today. There's not enough gospel preach to convert a gnat.

[John Weaver] Professing Christians are absolutely, totally ignorant of the Word of God. We know that the hand of the Lord is against us. When we live in a land of hypocrites and apostates. And when the sovereign God of heaven and Earth is rejected and despised. None come to the solemn feast. Nobody wants the truth. Well, hardly anyone wants the truth. Fifthly, I want you to look at verse 5.

[John Weaver] Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper. For the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy. Fifthly, we know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we are overpowered and controlled by our enemies. What does God say? Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you something. It is one thing to be surrounded by your enemies. And it is something quite different. To have your enemies in positions of power at control and ruling as chief among us. I want you to hold lamentation chapter one, but I want you to turn back to Deuteronomy 17. Deuteronomy 17 because I want you to see. That God demands. Christian rulers. Look what he says concerning.

[John Weaver] The king or the civil ruler. Not only does God demand that each one be a Christian, but he demands that each one have his own personal copy of the word or the law of God and reading it daily. Deuteronomy 17 beginning there with verse 14. When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, number one, whom the Lord thy God shalt choose, number two, one from among thy brethren shalt thou set as king over thee, number three, thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

[John Weaver] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses. Forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, you shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away. Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, Out of that which is before the prince is the Levites and it shall be with him and he shall read there in all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord is God to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom.

[John Weaver] He and his children in the midst of Israel. So the Word of God then demands a Christian ruler. and demands that he be one who reads and studies the law of God on a daily basis. Listen to this. On October the 12th, 1816, John Jay, who was also the first Supreme Court Justice, said this, Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty As well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. That was 1816. The Supreme Court Justice said this is a Christian nation. And it's in our interest that we select and prefer Christians for rulers.

[John Weaver] Now, what is going to object and say, oh, but Brother Weaver, Somewhere in the United States Constitution, it says that there is to be no religious test to hold office. Well, you'll find. That in Article six of the Constitution, let me read it to you. The Senators and Representatives before mention, and the members of the several state legislatures, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all the executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution, but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification of any public trust or office under the United States." Now you have to remember that the Constitution was written in 1787. The phrase no religious test in 1787 in the parlance of that day would mean no denominational test.

[John Weaver] In other words, in 2014 what it means is that you do not have to be a Baptist or a Presbyterian or a Methodist or an Anglican It was not excluding Christian beliefs because all you've got to do is look at the original state constitutions and the original state constitutions required you to be a Christian, to be a ruler. So when the Constitution says that there is to be no religious test, all it meant was no denominational test. In other words, you did not have to be a certain denomination to be a ruler. That's all it meant.

[John Weaver] Without going into detail, since you're in the book of Deuteronomy, go in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 28. Let me just show you. Because here's a question, since God demands Christian rulers. And since the original state constitutions. Demanded Christian rulers, and since even the first Supreme Court justice said it's our interest to select Christian rulers. Why do we not have Christian rulers? Well, look in Deuteronomy 28, beginning there with verse 43. Deuteronomy 28, verse 43. God says the stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high. This is the curse of God. And thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee. Thou shalt not lend to him.

[John Weaver] He shall be the head. Thou shalt be the tail. Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed, because I hearken it is not in the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee. And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder and upon my seed forever, because Thou servest not the Lord by God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve by the enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things. And he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he destroy thee." The hand of God is against us.

[John Weaver] It is evident when we know and when we see that our enemies are in power and are chief and have control. In Psalm 106, verse 4, don't turn there. The Bible says, And He, God, gave them into the hand of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them. How do we know the hand of a God is against America? Because our enemies that hate Christ and hate Christianity rule over us. Sixthly, very quickly. Look, if you would, at verse six of Leviticus of Lamentations, Chapter one, verse six, Lamentations, Chapter one, and from the daughter of Zion, all her beauties departed.

[John Weaver] Her princes are become like hearts that find no pastor. They are gone without strength before the pursuer. We know the hand of the Lord is against us when the people as a whole are distressed, discouraged and depressed. Let me ask you a question. How can an individual function when one is discouraged, depressed and distressed? It's impossible. Everyone in this room has been discouraged at one time or the other. You've been depressed at one time. You know what you do?

[John Weaver] You sit around with your hands folded, twirling your thoughts. You don't want to do anything. You can't function. If that is true of an individual, How can such an attitude and disposition affect an entire nation? You see, according to verse six, it is not just a few individuals that are given to distress and discouragement and depression. No, no, no. It's it's practically the entire population. Jeremiah intimates by these words, that none would dare to contend with their enemies or stand up against them.

[John Weaver] They were so discouraged and so depressed. Instead of fighting, they fled and they proved that they were wholly heartless and lifeless. Think how discouraging it must have been for these Judahites to realize that their kingdom was removed. The priesthood had ceased, their temple, their beautiful house was burned to the ground, the palaces of the kings and the nobles were demolished, and everything in church and state which they considered glorious was now gone. Everything had changed, nothing was the same, and everything that they had loved and appreciated had disappeared. May I remind you, those of you who are my age and older, You know that everything is changed. You know that everything that we once held sacred and dear is gone. And he said.

[John Weaver] Her princes are become like hearts that find no pasture and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. What? Even the rulers were worthless. Oh, that's an enlightened thought, isn't it? They were without courage, they were fearful, they were timorous. That describes our politicians. No character and cowards to the hilt. The hand of God was against them. By the way, if you will turn very quickly in your Bibles to first Samuel 22 and we've got to hurry first Samuel 22.

[John Weaver] Look, if you would, please, at verses one and two. We know that the hand of God was against King Saul as well, because God had already said he was going to destroy his kingdom. And I want you to see one of the manifestations. That happened when the hand of God was against King Saul, look in first Samuel, chapter 22, beginning there, verse one, the Bible says David, therefore, departed fence and escaped to the cave of Doolam.

[John Weaver] And when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. Now watch verse two. And everyone that was in distress and everyone that was in debt and everyone that was discontented or discouraged gathered themselves into him and he became a captain over them. And there were with him about 400 men. Wow. In other words, there's a revolution. Everyone who was. In debt. Everyone who was distressed, everyone who was discontent came to David.

[John Weaver] The same scenario is prevalent in America today. Do you realize that now in America there are over 92 million Americans that are out of work? There are over 100 million that are on welfare. There are over 300 million that are in debt up to their eyeballs. And the truth of the matter is. Practically the entire nation. Is distrustful of our political leaders of every stripe. And the truth of the matter is the hand of God, the hand of God is against us. Look in verse 7.

[John Weaver] Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and her miseries, all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock her sabbaths. Number seven, we know the hand of God is against us when our faith is mocked and ridiculed. Note, if you would, what the Bible says they did mock at her sabbaths. We must remember that the sabbaths pictured and symbolized their deliverance and their redemption. Now they had been defeated and enslaved, so how could they speak of deliverance and redemption?

[John Weaver] Let me just give you a couple of verses. Let me just quote them to save time. In Deuteronomy 5 and verse 15, here's what God said about the Sabbaths. And remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt. and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm. Therefore the Lord commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day." Why did he command them to keep the Hebrew Sabbath? Because it symbolized their deliverance and redemption from Egypt.

[John Weaver] Well, what happened when they got captured by Nebuchadnezzar and enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar? Listen, if you would, to Psalm 137, verses 1 through 4. Listen now. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hang our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For they that carried us away captive required of us a song, and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" What were they doing? They were mocking. Sing us one of those songs of Zion.

[John Weaver] Come on, make birds, be happy. Don't you remember? You are the special people. You were delivered. You were redeemed. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? I trust you are now beginning to understand why Christians are mocked and ridiculed. The enemy believes that we have been captured and defeated. Therefore, they believe they are free to gloat and rejoice. Such gloating and rejoicing is temporary.

[John Weaver] But yet the truth is. They're doing it in Ezekiel 22. Verses one through five, let me just read it. I want to show you where the hand of the Lord is against us. He gives us over to reproach among the enemies. Ezekiel 22, verse one over. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Now thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? Yea, thou shalt show her all her abominations. Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord God, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defy herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made, and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even thy years. Listen, therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all the countries, those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which are infamous and much vexed."

[John Weaver] What did God do to Judah, Jerusalem? He delivered them over to mocking. You know, the hand of the Lord is against us when everything holy and righteous and biblical is mocked and ridiculed. Eighthly, very quickly in verses 10 and 11. Watch verse 10. The adversary has spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things. For she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation." All her people sigh, and they seek bread that they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul. See, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile. Eighthly, we know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we are destroyed by inflation and worthless money. What did Judah have to do? She had to barter. She had to trade her precious things just for bread to eat. Bread was no longer plentiful, nor was it inexpensive. It took everything they had just to stay alive.

[John Weaver] Do you realize that is a prevalent complaint today? I read recently, Remember who all I've told this, but I just read recently. In 1970. One parent. Was able to work. And provide everything the household needed. And still they could save 11%. Of their earnings. In the 1970s. Today it takes both parents working. And they still can't make it. And they have absolutely no savings. None. In Nehemiah, chapter five, the same thing occurred when the people had to sell themselves into slavery just to have something to eat.

[John Weaver] Because either there was no real money or their money was worthless, so we know then That the hand of God is against us when we have a fraudulent, dishonest, and unbiblical monetary system. The Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 11, a just weight and balance are the Lord's. All the weights of the bag are his work. One last passage. I want you to look in Leviticus chapter 19. Leviticus chapter 19. And I want you to notice. Beginning there with verse 35. Leviticus 19 and verse 35. Look what God says. Leviticus 19 verse 35. You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meat yard, in weight or in measure. Just balances, just weights. And a just ephah and a just hen shall you have. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.

[John Weaver] Therefore, shall you observe all my statutes and all my judgments and do them. I am the Lord. God demands honest money. And we know the hand of the Lord is against us. How do we have an honest monetary system?

[John Weaver] Now, let me make just a couple of quick applications. The first one. God is not changed. God is immutable. The sins that he judged in Israel and in Judah are the same sins that he judges today. His hand is still stretched out in judgment against all of those that violate his law. Read the book of Jeremiah and notice the question that God asks often, especially in Jeremiah chapter 5.

[John Weaver] I think he asked it three times there. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? God has not changed. The second one is this. We need to examine our circumstances, our situation, our environment in light of Scripture. And when you do, you can't help but see an amazing parallel between that which happened in Judah and Jerusalem and that which is happening right today before our eyes. God is a God of judgment. And the third application is this, if you really understand what I've just preached today. We must repent. And we must cry to him for grace and mercy and help. And we must determine in our lives that we're going to be biblical and we're going to be holy and we're going to be godly to the extent of our ability and the grace that he gives us.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for teaching us, helping us, open our eyes, awaken us, and turn us, O God. And we shall be turned, and we'll give Thee the praise and the glory in Christ's holy and blessed name. Amen. Amen.

How to Know the Hand of God is Against a Nation

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	428142310413
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: Promises Of The Law
Genre	Sermon
Date	2014-01-19
Dictation Name
Book	Book 042: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: God's Answer to America's Problems — Chapter 14
Source Timed Segments	76

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Hand of God Against Judah

Weaver establishes that God's hand was undeniably against Judah, citing Lamentations and other scriptures where God's hand is stretched out in anger.

Lamentations, chapter one. We're going to read the first seven verses. And let me just say, I'm going to be quoting a lot of scriptures today only because I'm going to be pressed for time. I will ask you to turn to some, but I want you to listen as I quote them, because obviously they are related to the truths that I'll be expounding. Look in the book of Lamentations, chapter one, beginning there with verse one, and we'll read through verse seven.

Scripture Reading — Lamentations 1:1-7

"How doth a city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces? How has she become tributary? She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her. All of her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They are become her enemies. Judah is going into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen, and findeth no rest. All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper, for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy, and from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed. Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all of her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock at her sabbaths."

The title of the message today is "How to Know When the Hand of God is Against a Nation." There is absolutely no dispute that the hand of God was against Judah and Jerusalem. In fact, the entire book of Lamentations is written concerning the downfall and the destruction of the nation. Moreover, there are specific passages that state undeniably that God was moving to destroy that nation.

Let me just give you a few quotes. Listen carefully. Here is Isaiah 5, verse 25:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 5:25

"Therefore, as the anger of the Lord kindled against His people, He had stretched forth His hand against them and had smitten them. And the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

So obviously God's hand is stretched out in anger. When you get to Isaiah 9 and verse 21, the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 5:25

"Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

And then in Jeremiah 15 in verse 6, God says this: "They have forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward. Therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee and destroy thee.

Defining the Hand of the Lord

The hand of the Lord refers to God's power, which can be exercised in blessing or judgment, as seen in examples like Elisha and Naomi.

I am weary with repenting." So in each one of these passages, the Bible refers to God's hand being stretched out against them. So it's important then that we understand our terms. When we're talking about the hand of the Lord, what exactly are we discussing? Well, the phrase "the hand of the Lord" is usually presented to discuss the power of God. The hand is the instrument of power, of work, and blessing. I want to give you two quotes, two paragraphs, both by Stephen Charnock in his book, "The Attributes of God." He says this concerning the power of God: "The power of God is that ability and strength whereby he can bring to pass whatsoever he pleases. whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. As holiness is the beauty of all of God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfection of the divine nature. How vain would be His eternal counsels if power did not step in to execute them. Without power, His mercy would be feeble pity. His promise is an empty sound.

His threatening is a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible. It can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature." And then the second paragraph: "Power is also used as a name of God. The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, Mark 14:62, that is at the right hand of God. God and power are so inseparable that they are reciprocated. As His essence is immense, not to be confined to place, as it is eternal, not to be measured in time, so it is almighty not to be limited in regard to action." So when you're talking about the hand of God, you're referring then to the power of God. And interestingly enough, as you study scripture, you're going to find that God's hand may be upon us, either in blessing or in anger.

You see, it's the hand of the Lord that guarantees his promises as well as his threatenings. In Numbers 11 in verse 23, the Bible says, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? And shalt thou see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not?" Obviously, God's hand is not waxed short, and God's hand is quite capable of bringing to pass whatever God has decreed. Now, when you get to 2 Kings 3 in verse 15, regarding Elisha, here we read about the hand of the Lord being upon him, but I want you to understand in this instance, it was the hand of blessing. In 2 Kings 3 verse 15, Elisha said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 3:15

"But now bring me a minstrel."

And it came to pass when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. So when the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, in this instance, it was a hand of blessing and salvation and deliverance. For Elisha was telling the kings before him how God would deliver them and their armies and give their enemies into their hands. So when you and I talk about the hand of the Lord, normally we're referring to the anger of God, His righteous judgment.

Now, as you study the Bible, here's an interesting thing. You will find that the hand of the Lord can be against individuals, families, cities, and nations. Let me give you a verse to document each one of these truths. You remember how Naomi and her husband went into a foreign land and their two sons. You remember how the husband died and the two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, died. I think her husband's name was Elimelech. And all she had left were her two daughters-in-law. So Naomi hears that there's food back in Israel and she's going to leave Moab and go back. And in Ruth 1 in verse 13, she says to her daughters-in-law, talking about she could not have any more sons, she said, "Would you tarry for them till they were grown?

Would you stay for them from having husbands? Nay, my daughters, it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me." So in the loss of her husband and the loss of her two sons, she says the hand of the Lord is going out against me. So it's not just the hand of the Lord against individuals. It's also the hand of the Lord against certain families as well. Eli's family was to be destroyed because of the hand of the Lord against them because of their sins and their rebellion.

Scope of God's Hand: Individuals, Families, Cities, Nations

Scripture shows God's hand against individuals (Naomi), families (Eli), cities (Ashdod), and nations (Canaanites), with a warning to Israel in 1 Samuel 12:15.

So in 1 Samuel 3 verses 11 through 14, listen carefully. "And the Lord said unto Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. And when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth. because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever." So here God, in his righteous anger and indignation, is not just simply destroying an individual, but an entire house, an entire family. So God's hand can be directed against individuals and families. It can also be directed against entire cities. You remember when the Philistines had captured the Ark, had defeated Israel, and they were taking that Ark and they were placing it in the house of Dagon, their god, and of course you remember how Dagon fell over before the Ark, and finally he broke in two.

But the Bible says in 1 Samuel 5 and verse 6, listen now,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 5:6

"But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods even from Ashdod unto the coast thereof."

But the hand of the Lord was heavy against them. So it doesn't matter where the Ark went in Philistia, among the Philistines, all of their cities were afflicted by the hand of God being against them. God's hand was certainly against the men that came from Egypt. The Israelite men who refused to obey God, God destroyed them and they never got the opportunity to enter into Canaan. And in Deuteronomy 2 and verse 15, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 5:6

"For indeed, the hand of the Lord was against them to destroy them from among the host, and they were consumed."

So here's the hand of the Lord against individuals. Against families. Against cities. Against people. I don't have to quote any scriptures to show you that the hand of the Lord was against all of those nations whom the Israelites defeated and conquered in Canaan land.

Obviously the hand of the Lord was against them, for they were defeated and conquered. But God gave a warning to Israel. I want you to see this, and then I want us to start back looking in Lamentations chapter 1. So if you will turn your Bibles holding Lamentations chapter 1. If you will look in 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. I want you to see the warning that God gave to the nation of Israel. 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. Watch this carefully, because you're going to see this in Lamentations chapter 1. In 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15, God says this,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 12:15

"But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as it was against your fathers."

So God gave them a warning. God says, look, if you refuse to obey me, if you rebel against me, my hand will be stretched out against you exactly the way you were stretched out against your fathers.

Evidence 1: A Nation of Serfs and Slaves

When a nation becomes tributary and its people are enslaved, whether to foreign or domestic powers, it indicates God's judgment.

How has she become as a widow? She that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces. How has she become tributary?" Number one. We know that God's hand is against us when we become a nation of serfs and slaves. Note, if you would please, how Jerusalem now sits solitary. It has been depopulated. She's become a widow, so to speak. She was once great among the nations, but now she has become a tributary. In the context, Judah and Jerusalem had become a tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. They were his servants. They were his slaves. They were his serfs.

You remember he killed most of the people. Less than 5,000 he took into captivity in Babylon. The remaining poor he left in the land to work the land for him, for himself, they were his servants. They were his slaves. They were his servants. So here, Judah and Jerusalem had been conquered by foreign power.

Now, I can hear you with an objection and that objection is this. Well, we've not been conquered by a foreign power and therefore we're not serfs or slaves. Well, let me ask you a direct question. Does it really matter whether or not we're serfs or slaves to a foreign power or to a domestic power? Does it really matter whether you've been conquered by an enemy from without or an enemy from within? A serf is a serf and a slave is a slave. Does it really matter whether or not we've been conquered by a foreign power or not? The truth is, we are a conquered people. Let me just try to enlarge upon this just momentarily. You say, how can you say we're a conquered people? Well, have you ever considered, and I realize the money issue, and I'm not getting into that right now, but have you ever considered how much money that America as a nation owes China? What about our foreign debt? Do you realize that the Chinese could actually devastate us economically by refusing to buy any more of our debt or hold any more of our debt? So actually the Bible says the borrower is servant to the lender. And even if you don't want to consider China and Japan, and by the way, I think I read where Japan holds 1.8 billion dollars, so-called, of our debt. No, it's 1.8 trillion, not billion, it's trillion. China has more than that. If you don't want to consider that, consider the fact that the Federal Reserve is neither Federal nor Reserve, and yet they're in control of our so-called money supply, and they are international bankers.

Their goal is not to help and strengthen America. Their goal is to destroy and bankrupt us. You say, but I'm still not a serf. I'm still not a slave. I'm nobody's servant. Well, if you believe that you're not a serf, and if you believe that you do not hold your property at the discretion of your liege lord, try not paying your property taxes. Or try to sell your property.

Or your crops or your produce or your land without his permission. And all of a sudden you're going to discover who's really in control. You see, the problem is this. We're living in a day when the servant has become the master and the master has become the servant. It was Solomon, the wise man who said this in Ecclesiastes 10 and verse 7. He said, "I have seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants upon the earth." What's he saying? Everything's turned upside down. Servants were riding horses and princes were walking.

It's the same thing today. Our servant, the servant of the states, the federal government, has become our master. And the masters, the states and the individuals, have now become the servants and the serfs and the slaves of the federal government. When an individual is a tributary, when he owes, when he has to pay, when he is forced to pay, when he cannot do anything but pay, he is a serf. He is a slave. He is a servant. How do we know when God's hand is stretched out against America? When we become a nation of serfs and slaves just like Judah and just like Jerusalem. Look in verse two. Verse two says, "She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she hath none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her and they have become her enemies." Number two. We know that the hand of God is against us as a nation when we become isolated, unwelcome, and disrespected. Note, if you would please, she weepeth sore in the night. Her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she had none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They have become her enemies.

Evidence 2: Isolation and Disrespect

A nation under judgment loses true friends and respect, as its leaders and policies become foolish and treacherous.

Let me ask you a question. Where are the nations and the countries that are really, truly, and genuinely our friends? Where is the respect that America had 100 years ago? What nation? What country? actually respects our government, our policies, and our leaders. The truth is, our president, his cabinet, and our political leaders are irresponsible buffoons and lack the common sense and courtesy of the average country boy. It's the truth. Most Americans don't even respect the politicians. You remember the poll that I gave you some months ago where a question was asked, who do you think more of, a toenail fungus or Congress? And the toenail fungus won. Another one was, who do you think more of, hemorrhoids or Congress? And the hemorrhoids won. Obviously, something is wrong. Do you realize there was a time when America's foreign policy was to walk softly and carry a big stick? Now our foreign policy is to walk softly, bow to foreigners, apologize for our ways, and give in, give up, and surrender. Is it any wonder that our so-called friends deal treacherously with us and we deal treacherously with them?

There is no character. Because like Israel of old, we no longer possess or exercise that which originally set us apart from other nations. You say, well, what was it that set us apart from other nations? Well, hold Lamentations 1, and go to your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4. Deuteronomy chapter 4, and let's begin reading there with verse 5. Deuteronomy 4 and verse 5. Look, if you would, please, this set Israel apart.

And if I had time today, I could go over our founding documents and the original charters and constitutions of the states and prove this to you. But watch in Deuteronomy, chapter four, beginning there, verse five, God says to Israel, "Behold, I've taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land, whither you go to possess it." Now look what he says about these statutes and judgments. "Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people for what nation is there so great who have God so nigh to them, as the Lord our God is in all the things that we call upon Him for. And what nation is there so great that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day?

Evidence 3: Dwelling Among the Heathen

God's judgment scatters a people among the heathen; in modern times, this occurs through immigration and the loss of cultural and religious distinctiveness.

Thirdly, we know the hand of the Lord is against us as a nation when we dwell among the heathen. What did he say? She dwelleth among the heathen. Wow. I want you to turn, hold Lamentations, but turn back to Psalm 44. Let me show you two passages here. Psalm 44. And first of all, I want you to look at verse 11. Psalm 44 and verse 11. Look at what the Scripture says, Psalm 44 verse 11.

Here's the complaint, but yet it's the truth of what happened. He says, "Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat and hast scattered us among the heathen." The hand of God in judgment, it scattered them among the heathen. Skip down to verse 14. "Thou makest us a reproach," that's verse 13, verse 14, "Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people." In other words, God has put them there. God's made them a reproach and God has scattered them.

Now, we know exactly what God did to Judah and Jerusalem, how He slew many of them. He sent the rest into captivity into Babylon among the heathen, the poor He left in the land. So here's the question we have to ask. Do we dwell among the heathen? Well, the answer to that is yes. Unhappily, we do not need to be transported to a foreign nation to dwell among the heathen. It appears that they're being transported here. And I'm not just simply talking about and referring to the multitude of illegal aliens that have and continue to invade our land.

What about the multitudes of foreigners and especially Muslims that have been brought into our country by our own government? And now these very same Muslims that our own government has brought into this country are demanding that we adopt Islam and submit ourselves to Sharia law. Do you realize there are certain sections in this country that have been literally taken over by foreigners. When I say that, I was just trying to think of the group of people that were from, not Vietnam, Laos, I believe, that settled in the northern part. And there's a whole congregation of them. I use the word congregation not as a church because they're heathen. But it was one of these men who were known for their violence. It was one of these very men who went deer hunting and saw a man in the stand that he wanted to hunt deer from and he shot and killed the man so he could use the stand. Yeah. Mom. Yeah. Yeah.

I'm just simply pointing out in certain sections of our country, these places are controlled by foreigners. Look at what has happened in England, what has happened in Canada and in France. And if any of you have seen the pictures, look what is happening in New York City when streets are blocked by Muslims for afternoon prayers. Do you realize a Muslim doesn't need to pray in the streets? They have mosques. They have other buildings. Why would they do that? Because it is a sign of dominion and control when they can successfully stop traffic and successfully stop anyone else from doing what they're doing in order to prove that they are in control and their demands must be met. I just read, listen to this. I just read where every 10th child now born in England is a Muslim. The most prominent name in England today in 2014 is Mohammed.

Multiculturalism, diversity and multi-religions are not signs of success, advancement and prominence. They are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us. Because Judah and Jerusalem dwelt among the heathen. Yes, multiculturalism, diversity, multi-religions are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us. If you look back in Lamentations chapter 1 in verse 4, here's the fourth truth. He says, "The ways of Zion do mourn because none come to the solemn feast.

Evidence 4: A Nation of Hypocrites and Apostates

When the true worship of God is neglected and churches are filled with hypocrites, it is a sign of God's hand against a nation.

All her gates are desolate. Her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness." Now listen carefully. We know the hand of the Lord is against us when we become a nation of hypocrites and apostates. Go back to verse four, the ways of Zion do mourn because what? None come to the solemn feasts. All our gates are desolate. Our priests are sighing, our virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

If you and I totally disregard the heathen that are being imported into this country legally and illegally, we must consider the fact that as a whole, most professing Christians and most professing Christian churches have apostatized and for all practical purposes have become heathenistic and pagan in faith and in practice. The truth is, folks, we dwell among the heathen because the hand of the Lord is against us and our churches today are filled with hypocrites and apostates. I could go off over scripture after scripture. But do you remember that passage in 1 John 2, verses three and four? In 1 John 2, he says,

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:3-4

"Hereby, we do know that we know him when we keep his commandments,"

but when you get to verse four, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:3-4

"He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him."

What? If you were to take God's word and you measure most preachers and most professing Christians, they're not. They're not anywhere near what God demands.

How many in America really and truly honor the ways of Zion? Now, I'm not talking about earthly Zion. I'm talking about heavenly Zion. I want you to look, hold Lamentations 1, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, and just hold that passage because we'll look there in just a moment. We'll look in Hebrews, chapter 12, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. There's a difference between earthly Zion and heavenly Zion. And Hebrews chapter 12, beginning there of verse 22, God says, "But you are coming to Mount Zion, and into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels, to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 12:22-24

What does the Bible say? The Bible says there is a heavenly Zion. We live in a time when God's house is neglected, His word is rejected. His ordinances are despised. His worship is perverted. His preachers mocked. His people ridiculed and persecuted. His name is blasphemed and profaned. Very few today are willing to identify themselves with Jesus Christ. Since you're in Hebrews 12, look right over to Hebrews chapter 13. Let me show you. Here's what the Word of God demands, Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 12. Hebrews 13 verse 12. The Bible says, "Wherefore Jesus, also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." That is without the gates of Jerusalem, the fleshly Jerusalem or the earthly Jerusalem. Now what does the Bible say in verse 13? "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach." So the Bible is teaching that basically Jesus Christ and true Christianity is without the camp. And if we stay true to Christ, He is saying that inevitably, invariably, we're going to suffer reproach with Christ.

I've got news for you folks. You go to the average church today. There's not enough gospel preached to convert a gnat.

Professing Christians are absolutely, totally ignorant of the Word of God. We know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we live in a land of hypocrites and apostates. And when the sovereign God of heaven and Earth is rejected and despised. None come to the solemn feast. Nobody wants the truth. Well, hardly anyone wants the truth. Fifthly, I want you to look at verse 5.

"Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper. For the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy." Fifthly, we know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we are overpowered and controlled by our enemies. What does God say? Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper.

Evidence 5: Enemies in Power

God's judgment is evident when adversaries become rulers and prosper, as a curse for disobedience.

Now, let me tell you something. It is one thing to be surrounded by your enemies. And it is something quite different to have your enemies in positions of power and control and ruling as chief among us. I want you to hold Lamentations chapter one, but I want you to turn back to Deuteronomy 17. Deuteronomy 17 because I want you to see that God demands Christian rulers. Look what he says concerning the king or the civil ruler. Not only does God demand that each one be a Christian, but he demands that each one have his own personal copy of the word or the law of God and reading it daily. Deuteronomy 17 beginning there with verse 14. "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, number one, whom the Lord thy God shalt choose, number two, one from among thy brethren shalt thou set as king over thee, number three, thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses. Forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, you shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away. Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites. And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them, that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom.

He and his children in the midst of Israel." So the Word of God then demands a Christian ruler and demands that he be one who reads and studies the law of God on a daily basis. Listen to this. On October the 12th, 1816, John Jay, who was also the first Supreme Court Justice, said this, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." That was 1816. The Supreme Court Justice said this is a Christian nation. And it's in our interest that we select and prefer Christians for rulers.

Now, someone is going to object and say, "Oh, but Brother Weaver, somewhere in the United States Constitution, it says that there is to be no religious test to hold office." Well, you'll find that in Article six of the Constitution, let me read it to you. "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all the executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution, but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification of any public trust or office under the United States." Now you have to remember that the Constitution was written in 1787. The phrase "no religious test" in 1787 in the parlance of that day would mean no denominational test.

In other words, in 2014 what it means is that you do not have to be a Baptist or a Presbyterian or a Methodist or an Anglican. It was not excluding Christian beliefs because all you've got to do is look at the original state constitutions and the original state constitutions required you to be a Christian, to be a ruler. So when the Constitution says that there is to be no religious test, all it meant was no denominational test. In other words, you did not have to be a certain denomination to be a ruler. That's all it meant. Without going into detail, since you're in the book of Deuteronomy, go in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 28. Let me just show you. Because here's a question, since God demands Christian rulers, and since the original state constitutions demanded Christian rulers, and since even the first Supreme Court justice said it's our interest to select Christian rulers, why do we not have Christian rulers? Well, look in Deuteronomy 28, beginning there with verse 43. Deuteronomy 28, verse 43. God says, "The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high." This is the curse of God. "And thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee. Thou shalt not lend to him.

He shall be the head. Thou shalt be the tail. Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed, because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee. And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder and upon thy seed forever, because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things. And he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he destroy thee." The hand of God is against us.

It is evident when we know and when we see that our enemies are in power and are chief and have control. In Psalm 106, verse 41, don't turn there. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:41

"And He, God, gave them into the hand of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them."

How do we know the hand of God is against America? Because our enemies that hate Christ and hate Christianity rule over us. Sixthly, very quickly. Look, if you would, at verse six of Lamentations, chapter one, verse six, Lamentations, chapter one, "And from the daughter of Zion, all her beauty is departed.

Evidence 6: Widespread Distress and Discouragement

A nation under judgment is characterized by a populace that is distressed, in debt, and discontented, with cowardly leaders.

Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture. They are gone without strength before the pursuer." We know the hand of the Lord is against us when the people as a whole are distressed, discouraged and depressed. Let me ask you a question. How can an individual function when one is discouraged, depressed and distressed? It's impossible. Everyone in this room has been discouraged at one time or the other. You've been depressed at one time. You know what you do?

You sit around with your hands folded, twirling your thoughts. You don't want to do anything. You can't function. If that is true of an individual, how can such an attitude and disposition affect an entire nation? You see, according to verse six, it is not just a few individuals that are given to distress and discouragement and depression. No, no, no. It's practically the entire population. Jeremiah intimates by these words, that none would dare to contend with their enemies or stand up against them.

They were so discouraged and so depressed. Instead of fighting, they fled and they proved that they were wholly heartless and lifeless. Think how discouraging it must have been for these Judahites to realize that their kingdom was removed. The priesthood had ceased, their temple, their beautiful house was burned to the ground, the palaces of the kings and the nobles were demolished, and everything in church and state which they considered glorious was now gone. Everything had changed, nothing was the same, and everything that they had loved and appreciated had disappeared. May I remind you, those of you who are my age and older, you know that everything is changed. You know that everything that we once held sacred and dear is gone. And he said,

"Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture and they are gone without strength before the pursuer." What? Even the rulers were worthless. Oh, that's an enlightened thought, isn't it? They were without courage, they were fearful, they were timorous. That describes our politicians. No character and cowards to the hilt. The hand of God was against them. By the way, if you will turn very quickly in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 22 and we've got to hurry, 1 Samuel 22.

Look, if you would, please, at verses one and two. We know that the hand of God was against King Saul as well, because God had already said he was going to destroy his kingdom. And I want you to see one of the manifestations that happened when the hand of God was against King Saul. Look in 1 Samuel, chapter 22, beginning there, verse one, the Bible says, "David therefore departed thence and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him." Now watch verse two. "And everyone that was in distress and everyone that was in debt and everyone that was discontented or discouraged gathered themselves unto him and he became a captain over them. And there were with him about 400 men." Wow. In other words, there's a revolution. Everyone who was in debt, everyone who was distressed, everyone who was discontent came to David.

The same scenario is prevalent in America today. Do you realize that now in America there are over 92 million Americans that are out of work? There are over 100 million that are on welfare. There are over 300 million that are in debt up to their eyeballs. And the truth of the matter is, practically the entire nation is distrustful of our political leaders of every stripe. And the truth of the matter is the hand of God, the hand of God is against us. Look in verse 7.

Evidence 7: Mocking of Faith

When a nation's faith and religious observances are mocked, it reflects God's delivering them over to reproach.

"Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and her miseries, all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock her sabbaths." Number seven, we know the hand of God is against us when our faith is mocked and ridiculed. Note, if you would, what the Bible says they did mock at her sabbaths. We must remember that the sabbaths pictured and symbolized their deliverance and their redemption. Now they had been defeated and enslaved, so how could they speak of deliverance and redemption? Let me just give you a couple of verses. Let me just quote them to save time. In Deuteronomy 5 and verse 15, here's what God said about the Sabbaths. "And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm. Therefore the Lord commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day." Why did he command them to keep the Hebrew Sabbath? Because it symbolized their deliverance and redemption from Egypt.

Well, what happened when they got captured by Nebuchadnezzar and enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar? Listen, if you would, to Psalm 137, verses 1 through 4. Listen now. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hang our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For they that carried us away captive required of us a song, and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" What were they doing? They were mocking. Sing us one of those songs of Zion.

Come on, make mirth, be happy. Don't you remember? You are the special people. You were delivered. You were redeemed. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? I trust you are now beginning to understand why Christians are mocked and ridiculed. The enemy believes that we have been captured and defeated. Therefore, they believe they are free to gloat and rejoice. Such gloating and rejoicing is temporary.

But yet the truth is, they're doing it. In Ezekiel 22, verses one through five, let me just read it. I want to show you where the hand of the Lord is against us. He gives us over to reproach among the enemies. Ezekiel 22, verse one: "Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Now thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? Yea, thou shalt show her all her abominations. Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord God, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made, and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years. Listen, therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all the countries, those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed."

What did God do to Judah, Jerusalem? He delivered them over to mocking. You know, the hand of the Lord is against us when everything holy and righteous and biblical is mocked and ridiculed. Eighthly, very quickly in verses 10 and 11. Watch verse 10. "The adversary has spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things. For she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation." All her people sigh, and they seek bread that they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul. See, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile. Eighthly, we know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we are destroyed by inflation and worthless money. What did Judah have to do? She had to barter. She had to trade her precious things just for bread to eat. Bread was no longer plentiful, nor was it inexpensive. It took everything they had just to stay alive.

Evidence 8: Inflation and Worthless Money

An unbiblical monetary system that forces people to barter precious things for basic needs is a sign of God's judgment.

Do you realize that is a prevalent complaint today? I read recently, remember who all I've told this, but I just read recently. In 1970, one parent was able to work and provide everything the household needed. And still they could save 11% of their earnings. In the 1970s. Today it takes both parents working. And they still can't make it. And they have absolutely no savings. None. In Nehemiah, chapter five, the same thing occurred when the people had to sell themselves into slavery just to have something to eat.

Because either there was no real money or their money was worthless, so we know then that the hand of God is against us when we have a fraudulent, dishonest, and unbiblical monetary system. The Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 11, "A just weight and balance are the Lord's. All the weights of the bag are his work." One last passage. I want you to look in Leviticus chapter 19. Leviticus chapter 19. And I want you to notice beginning there with verse 35. Leviticus 19 and verse 35. Look what God says. Leviticus 19 verse 35. "You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight or in measure. Just balances, just weights. And a just ephah and a just hin shall you have. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Therefore, shall you observe all my statutes and all my judgments and do them. I am the Lord." God demands honest money. And we know the hand of the Lord is against us. How do we have an honest monetary system?

Applications: God's Immutability and Call to Repentance

God does not change; He judges nations today for the same sins. Believers must examine circumstances biblically, repent, and pursue holiness.

Now, let me make just a couple of quick applications. The first one. God is not changed. God is immutable. The sins that he judged in Israel and in Judah are the same sins that he judges today. His hand is still stretched out in judgment against all of those that violate his law. Read the book of Jeremiah and notice the question that God asks often, especially in Jeremiah chapter 5.

I think he asked it three times there. "Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" God has not changed. The second one is this. We need to examine our circumstances, our situation, our environment in light of Scripture. And when you do, you can't help but see an amazing parallel between that which happened in Judah and Jerusalem and that which is happening right today before our eyes. God is a God of judgment. And the third application is this, if you really understand what I've just preached today, we must repent. And we must cry to him for grace and mercy and help. And we must determine in our lives that we're going to be biblical and we're going to be holy and we're going to be godly to the extent of our ability and the grace that he gives us.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for teaching us, helping us, open our eyes, awaken us, and turn us, O God. And we shall be turned, and we'll give Thee the praise and the glory in Christ's holy and blessed name. Amen. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Sovereign Judgment on Nations

Summary: God actively stretches out His hand in anger against nations that rebel against Him, as demonstrated in the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem.

Evidence: Weaver cites Isaiah 5:25, Isaiah 9:21, and Jeremiah 15:6 to show God's hand stretched out in anger, and Lamentations 1 as the record of this judgment.

The Hand of the Lord as Divine Power

Summary: The hand of the Lord represents God's power to execute His will, whether in blessing or judgment, and is inseparable from His nature.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Stephen Charnock on God's power and references Numbers 11:23 and 2 Kings 3:15 to illustrate the hand of the Lord in both promise and blessing.

Parallels Between Ancient Israel and Modern America

Summary: The sins and judgments that befell Judah are mirrored in contemporary America, indicating that God's hand is against the nation today.

Evidence: Weaver repeatedly draws direct comparisons, such as America's debt making it a servant to lenders, the influx of foreigners, and the mocking of Christianity.

The Necessity of Christian Rulers

Summary: God requires civil rulers to be believers who study His law, and the absence of such rulers is a sign of judgment.

Evidence: Weaver expounds Deuteronomy 17:14-20 and quotes John Jay to argue that America was founded as a Christian nation requiring Christian leaders.

Repentance as the Only Remedy

Summary: In light of God's immutable judgment, the only appropriate response is national and personal repentance, crying out for mercy, and pursuing biblical holiness.

Evidence: In his applications, Weaver states, 'we must repent... cry to him for grace and mercy... determine in our lives that we're going to be biblical and... holy.'

Key Arguments

God's hand is against a nation when it becomes enslaved, whether to foreign or domestic powers.

Summary: Weaver argues that modern Americans are serfs to the federal government and international bankers, evidenced by property taxes and national debt.

Evidence: He states, 'try not paying your property taxes... you're going to discover who's really in control' and cites Ecclesiastes 10:7 about servants on horses.

A nation under judgment loses respect and true friends internationally.

Summary: America's foreign policy of appeasement and its leaders' foolishness have led to isolation and mockery, similar to Judah's experience.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'our president, his cabinet, and our political leaders are irresponsible buffoons' and notes polls showing Congress is less respected than toenail fungus.

Dwelling among the heathen is a sign of judgment, occurring today through immigration and multiculturalism.

Summary: The influx of foreigners, especially Muslims, and the loss of Christian distinctiveness indicate God's hand against America.

Evidence: Weaver mentions Muslims blocking streets for prayer as a sign of dominion and states, 'Multiculturalism, diversity and multi-religions are not signs of success... they are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us.'

Apostasy and hypocrisy in the church are evidence of national judgment.

Summary: Most professing Christians and churches have abandoned biblical truth, fulfilling the description of none coming to the solemn feasts.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 John 2:3-4 and Hebrews 13:12-13 to argue that true Christianity is 'without the camp' and that the average church lacks the gospel.

God's judgment is seen when enemies rule over a nation.

Summary: The presence of non-Christian rulers and the prosperity of adversaries is a direct curse for disobedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28.

Evidence: Weaver reads Deuteronomy 28:43-48 and Psalm 106:41, concluding, 'our enemies that hate Christ and hate Christianity rule over us.'

Widespread economic distress and a fraudulent monetary system are signs of God's hand.

Summary: Inflation, debt, and the need for both parents to work reflect the biblical curse of bartering precious things for bread.

Evidence: Weaver compares modern economic struggles to Lamentations 1:11 and cites Proverbs 16:11 and Leviticus 19:35-36 on just weights and measures.

Scripture References

Lamentations 1:1-7

Context: The primary text describing the desolation of Jerusalem, read at the beginning of the sermon.

Isaiah 5:25

Context: Cited to show God's hand stretched out in anger against His people.

Isaiah 9:21

Context: Another reference to God's hand stretched out still in judgment.

Jeremiah 15:6

Context: God declares He will stretch out His hand to destroy because they have forsaken Him.

Numbers 11:23

Context: Used to illustrate that God's hand is not shortened and can bring His word to pass.

2 Kings 3:15

Context: The hand of the Lord came upon Elisha in blessing, showing the hand can be for good.

Ruth 1:13

Context: Naomi says the hand of the Lord has gone out against her, showing judgment on an individual.

1 Samuel 3:11-14

Context: God's judgment on Eli's house for not restraining his sons, showing judgment on a family.

1 Samuel 5:6

Context: The hand of the Lord was heavy on Ashdod, showing judgment on a city.

Deuteronomy 2:15

Context: The hand of the Lord was against the Israelites to destroy them, showing judgment on a people.

1 Samuel 12:15

Context: Warning to Israel that if they rebel, God's hand will be against them as it was against their fathers.

Ecclesiastes 10:7

Context: Servants on horses and princes walking, illustrating the upside-down order of society.

Deuteronomy 4:5-9

Context: God's law set Israel apart as a wise nation; forsaking it leads to judgment.

Psalm 44:11, 14

Context: God scattered Israel among the heathen and made them a byword, a sign of judgment.

1 John 2:3-4

Context: Those who claim to know God but do not keep His commandments are liars, indicating hypocrisy.

Hebrews 12:22-24

Context: Believers come to heavenly Zion, contrasting with the desolate earthly Zion.

Hebrews 13:12-13

Context: Jesus suffered outside the gate; believers must go to Him bearing reproach.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Context: Requirements for a king: chosen by God, an Israelite, not multiplying wealth, and reading the law daily.

Deuteronomy 28:43-48

Context: Curses for disobedience, including strangers rising high and enemies ruling over Israel.

Psalm 106:41

Context: God gave His people into the hand of the heathen, and those who hated them ruled over them.

Historical References

Stephen Charnock, 'The Attributes of God'

Context: Quoted to define the power of God as the ability to bring to pass whatever He pleases.

John Jay, first Supreme Court Justice, 1816

Context: Quoted stating that it is the duty of a Christian nation to select Christian rulers.

U.S. Constitution, Article VI

Context: The 'no religious test' clause is interpreted as meaning no denominational test, not excluding Christians.

Federal Reserve System

Context: Described as international bankers whose goal is to destroy and bankrupt America.

Muslim immigration and Sharia law demands

Context: Mentioned as evidence of dwelling among the heathen, with Muslims demanding adoption of Islamic law.

Economic statistics: 92 million out of work, 100 million on welfare

Context: Cited to illustrate widespread distress and debt in modern America.

Important Quotes

How doth a city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces? How has she become tributary?

Significance: Opening verse of Lamentations that sets the theme of Jerusalem's desolation under God's judgment.

The power of God is that ability and strength whereby he can bring to pass whatsoever he pleases.

Significance: Charnock's definition of God's power, foundational to understanding the hand of the Lord.

I have seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

Significance: Ecclesiastes quote used to illustrate the inverted social order where rulers have become servants.

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.

Significance: John Jay's statement affirming America's Christian foundation and the need for Christian leaders.

Multiculturalism, diversity and multi-religions are not signs of success, advancement and prominence. They are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us.

Significance: Direct application of Lamentations to modern cultural trends as evidence of judgment.

Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Significance: Repeated question from Jeremiah emphasizing God's unchanging nature in judging nations.

Discussion Questions

In what ways does the concept of being a 'serf or slave' apply to modern citizens, and how should Christians respond?

Context: Weaver argues that Americans are serfs to the federal government and debt. This question explores the biblical and practical implications.

How can we discern whether the loss of international respect is a sign of God's judgment or simply political failure?

Context: Weaver points to America's isolation and foolish foreign policy as evidence of judgment. This question probes the distinction.

What does it mean for a nation to 'dwell among the heathen' today, and how should the church respond to multiculturalism?

Context: Weaver equates immigration and diversity with judgment. This question challenges believers to think biblically about cultural engagement.

How can we identify true apostasy versus genuine struggles in the church, and what is our responsibility?

Context: Weaver claims most churches are filled with hypocrites. This question encourages discernment and action.

What does the Bible teach about the role of civil government, and how should Christians evaluate rulers?

Context: Weaver expounds Deuteronomy 17 and John Jay's quote. This question explores the biblical standard for leaders.

In what ways does economic hardship reflect God's judgment, and how should believers respond to inflation and debt?

Context: Weaver links worthless money to judgment. This question considers personal and collective responses.

Applications

Recognize God's Immutability in Judgment

Summary: Understand that God does not change; the sins He judged in Israel He judges today, so we must take national sins seriously.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'God is not changed. God is immutable. The sins that he judged in Israel and in Judah are the same sins that he judges today.'

Examine Circumstances Biblically

Summary: Evaluate current events and national conditions through the lens of Scripture to discern God's hand.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We need to examine our circumstances, our situation, our environment in light of Scripture.'

Repent and Pursue Holiness

Summary: In response to judgment, believers must repent, cry out for mercy, and commit to biblical, holy living.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'we must repent... cry to him for grace and mercy... determine in our lives that we're going to be biblical and we're going to be holy.'

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Clean Transcript

How to Know the Hand of God is Against a Nation

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Lamentations, chapter one. We're going to read the first seven verses. And let me just say, I'm going to be quoting a lot of scriptures today only because I'm going to be pressed for time. I will ask you to turn to some, but I want you to listen as I quote them, because obviously they are related to the truths that I'll be expounding. Look in the book of Lamentations, chapter one, beginning there with verse one, and we'll read through verse seven.
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"How doth a city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces? How has she become tributary? She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her. All of her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They are become her enemies. Judah is going into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen, and findeth no rest.
#2 | 0:29 to 1:02 | cleaned
All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper, for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy, and from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed.
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Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all of her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock at her sabbaths." The title of the message today is "How to Know When the Hand of God is Against a Nation." There is absolutely no dispute that the hand of God was against Judah and Jerusalem. In fact, the entire book of Lamentations is written concerning the downfall and the destruction of the nation. Moreover, there are specific passages that state undeniably that God was moving to destroy that nation.
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Let me just give you a few quotes. Listen carefully. Here is Isaiah 5, verse 25: "Therefore, as the anger of the Lord kindled against His people, He had stretched forth His hand against them and had smitten them. And the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." So obviously God's hand is stretched out in anger. When you get to Isaiah 9 and verse 21, the Bible says this: "Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." And then in Jeremiah 15 in verse 6, God says this: "They have forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward. Therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee and destroy thee.
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I am weary with repenting." So in each one of these passages, the Bible refers to God's hand being stretched out against them. So it's important then that we understand our terms. When we're talking about the hand of the Lord, what exactly are we discussing? Well, the phrase "the hand of the Lord" is usually presented to discuss the power of God. The hand is the instrument of power, of work, and blessing. I want to give you two quotes, two paragraphs, both by Stephen Charnock in his book, "The Attributes of God." He says this concerning the power of God: "The power of God is that ability and strength whereby he can bring to pass whatsoever he pleases.
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whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. As holiness is the beauty of all of God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfection of the divine nature. How vain would be His eternal counsels if power did not step in to execute them. Without power, His mercy would be feeble pity. His promise is an empty sound.
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His threatening is a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible. It can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature." And then the second paragraph: "Power is also used as a name of God. The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, Mark 14:62, that is at the right hand of God. God and power are so inseparable that they are reciprocated. As His essence is immense, not to be confined to place, as it is eternal, not to be measured in time, so it is almighty not to be limited in regard to action." So when you're talking about the hand of God, you're referring then to the power of God. And interestingly enough, as you study scripture, you're going to find that God's hand may be upon us, either in blessing or in anger.
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You see, it's the hand of the Lord that guarantees his promises as well as his threatenings. In Numbers 11 in verse 23, the Bible says, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? And shalt thou see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not?" Obviously, God's hand is not waxed short, and God's hand is quite capable of bringing to pass whatever God has decreed.
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Now, when you get to 2 Kings 3 in verse 15, regarding Elisha, here we read about the hand of the Lord being upon him, but I want you to understand in this instance, it was the hand of blessing. In 2 Kings 3 verse 15, Elisha said, "But now bring me a minstrel." And it came to pass when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. So when the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, in this instance, it was a hand of blessing and salvation and deliverance. For Elisha was telling the kings before him how God would deliver them and their armies and give their enemies into their hands. So when you and I talk about the hand of the Lord, normally we're referring to the anger of God, His righteous judgment.
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Now, as you study the Bible, here's an interesting thing. You will find that the hand of the Lord can be against individuals, families, cities, and nations. Let me give you a verse to document each one of these truths. You remember how Naomi and her husband went into a foreign land and their two sons. You remember how the husband died and the two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, died.
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I think her husband's name was Elimelech. And all she had left were her two daughters-in-law. So Naomi hears that there's food back in Israel and she's going to leave Moab and go back. And in Ruth 1 in verse 13, she says to her daughters-in-law, talking about she could not have any more sons, she said, "Would you tarry for them till they were grown?
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Would you stay for them from having husbands? Nay, my daughters, it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me." So in the loss of her husband and the loss of her two sons, she says the hand of the Lord is going out against me. So it's not just the hand of the Lord against individuals. It's also the hand of the Lord against certain families as well. Eli's family was to be destroyed because of the hand of the Lord against them because of their sins and their rebellion.
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So in 1 Samuel 3 verses 11 through 14, listen carefully. "And the Lord said unto Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. And when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth.
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because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever." So here God, in his righteous anger and indignation, is not just simply destroying an individual, but an entire house, an entire family. So God's hand can be directed against individuals and families. It can also be directed against entire cities. You remember when the Philistines had captured the Ark, had defeated Israel, and they were taking that Ark and they were placing it in the house of Dagon, their god, and of course you remember how Dagon fell over before the Ark, and finally he broke in two.
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But the Bible says in 1 Samuel 5 and verse 6, listen now, "But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods even from Ashdod unto the coast thereof." But the hand of the Lord was heavy against them. So it doesn't matter where the Ark went in Philistia, among the Philistines, all of their cities were afflicted by the hand of God being against them. God's hand was certainly against the men that came from Egypt. The Israelite men who refused to obey God, God destroyed them and they never got the opportunity to enter into Canaan. And in Deuteronomy 2 and verse 15, the Bible says, "For indeed, the hand of the Lord was against them to destroy them from among the host, and they were consumed." So here's the hand of the Lord against individuals. Against families. Against cities. Against people. I don't have to quote any scriptures to show you that the hand of the Lord was against all of those nations whom the Israelites defeated and conquered in Canaan land.
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Obviously the hand of the Lord was against them, for they were defeated and conquered. But God gave a warning to Israel. I want you to see this, and then I want us to start back looking in Lamentations chapter 1. So if you will turn your Bibles holding Lamentations chapter 1. If you will look in 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. I want you to see the warning that God gave to the nation of Israel. 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15. Watch this carefully, because you're going to see this in Lamentations chapter 1. In 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 15, God says this, "But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as it was against your fathers." So God gave them a warning. God says, look, if you refuse to obey me, if you rebel against me, my hand will be stretched out against you exactly the way you were stretched out against your fathers.
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So here's my question, and this was a thought that came to my mind as I read through Lamentations chapter one. We know that God's hand was stretched out against the nation of Judah, the entire southern kingdom. We know that it was stretched out against their capital, Jerusalem. So here's my question. What are the evidences? What are the manifestations? That God's righteous anger is being exhibited when his hand is stretched out against a nation.
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Let me cut it down to the very bare minimum. How can we tell whether or not God's hand is stretched out against America? How can we tell whether or not God's hand is stretched out against England or Canada? The reason I quoted so many scriptures is I've got eight things I want to show you this morning. Eight truths, eight manifestations, and I will have to be very quick on each one of them because of time. But I want you to begin looking at verse one. So an answer, how do we know that God's hand is stretched out against a nation or against the people? Or how do we know whether or not God's hand is stretched out against America? Verse one, "How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people?
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How has she become as a widow? She that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces. How has she become tributary?" Number one. We know that God's hand is against us when we become a nation of serfs and slaves. Note, if you would please, how Jerusalem now sits solitary. It has been depopulated. She's become a widow, so to speak. She was once great among the nations, but now she has become a tributary. In the context, Judah and Jerusalem had become a tributary to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. They were his servants. They were his slaves. They were his serfs.
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You remember he killed most of the people. Less than 5,000 he took into captivity in Babylon. The remaining poor he left in the land to work the land for him, for himself, they were his servants. They were his slaves. They were his servants. So here, Judah and Jerusalem had been conquered by foreign power.
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Now, I can hear you with an objection and that objection is this. Well, we've not been conquered by a foreign power and therefore we're not serfs or slaves. Well, let me ask you a direct question. Does it really matter whether or not we're serfs or slaves to a foreign power or to a domestic power? Does it really matter whether you've been conquered by an enemy from without or an enemy from within?
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A serf is a serf and a slave is a slave. Does it really matter whether or not we've been conquered by a foreign power or not? The truth is, we are a conquered people. Let me just try to enlarge upon this just momentarily. You say, how can you say we're a conquered people? Well, have you ever considered, and I realize the money issue, and I'm not getting into that right now, but have you ever considered how much money that America as a nation owes China? What about our foreign debt? Do you realize that the Chinese could actually devastate us economically by refusing to buy any more of our debt or hold any more of our debt? So actually the Bible says the borrower is servant to the lender. And even if you don't want to consider China and Japan, and by the way, I think I read where Japan holds 1.8 billion dollars, so-called, of our debt. No, it's 1.8 trillion, not billion, it's trillion. China has more than that. If you don't want to consider that, consider the fact that the Federal Reserve is neither Federal nor Reserve, and yet they're in control of our so-called money supply, and they are international bankers.
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Their goal is not to help and strengthen America. Their goal is to destroy and bankrupt us. You say, but I'm still not a serf. I'm still not a slave. I'm nobody's servant. Well, if you believe that you're not a serf, and if you believe that you do not hold your property at the discretion of your liege lord, try not paying your property taxes. Or try to sell your property.
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Or your crops or your produce or your land without his permission. And all of a sudden you're going to discover who's really in control. You see, the problem is this. We're living in a day when the servant has become the master and the master has become the servant. It was Solomon, the wise man who said this in Ecclesiastes 10 and verse 7. He said, "I have seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants upon the earth." What's he saying? Everything's turned upside down. Servants were riding horses and princes were walking.
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It's the same thing today. Our servant, the servant of the states, the federal government, has become our master. And the masters, the states and the individuals, have now become the servants and the serfs and the slaves of the federal government. When an individual is a tributary, when he owes, when he has to pay, when he is forced to pay, when he cannot do anything but pay, he is a serf. He is a slave. He is a servant.
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How do we know when God's hand is stretched out against America? When we become a nation of serfs and slaves just like Judah and just like Jerusalem. Look in verse two. Verse two says, "She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she hath none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her and they have become her enemies." Number two. We know that the hand of God is against us as a nation when we become isolated, unwelcome, and disrespected. Note, if you would please, she weepeth sore in the night. Her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she had none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They have become her enemies.
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Let me ask you a question. Where are the nations and the countries that are really, truly, and genuinely our friends? Where is the respect that America had 100 years ago? What nation? What country? actually respects our government, our policies, and our leaders. The truth is, our president, his cabinet, and our political leaders are irresponsible buffoons and lack the common sense and courtesy of the average country boy. It's the truth. Most Americans don't even respect the politicians. You remember the poll that I gave you some months ago where a question was asked, who do you think more of, a toenail fungus or Congress? And the toenail fungus won. Another one was, who do you think more of, hemorrhoids or Congress? And the hemorrhoids won. Obviously, something is wrong. Do you realize there was a time when America's foreign policy was to walk softly and carry a big stick? Now our foreign policy is to walk softly, bow to foreigners, apologize for our ways, and give in, give up, and surrender. Is it any wonder that our so-called friends deal treacherously with us and we deal treacherously with them?
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There is no character. Because like Israel of old, we no longer possess or exercise that which originally set us apart from other nations. You say, well, what was it that set us apart from other nations? Well, hold Lamentations 1, and go to your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 4. Deuteronomy chapter 4, and let's begin reading there with verse 5. Deuteronomy 4 and verse 5. Look, if you would, please, this set Israel apart.
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And if I had time today, I could go over our founding documents and the original charters and constitutions of the states and prove this to you. But watch in Deuteronomy, chapter four, beginning there, verse five, God says to Israel, "Behold, I've taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land, whither you go to possess it." Now look what he says about these statutes and judgments. "Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people for what nation is there so great who have God so nigh to them, as the Lord our God is in all the things that we call upon Him for. And what nation is there so great that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day?
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Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons." Note, if you would, God said, it's my law that sets you apart. It's my law that makes you unique. It's my law that makes you special. We know the hand of the Lord was against Judah and Jerusalem because they forsook His law and His statutes. We also know that God's hand is against America because we have forsaken His law and His statutes.
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Now, I want you to go back to Lamentations chapter one and look, if you would please, at verse three. Here's a third thing. Watch carefully. Let's read verse three. He says, "Judah is going into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen and findeth no rest. All her persecutors overtook her between the straits."
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Thirdly, we know the hand of the Lord is against us as a nation when we dwell among the heathen. What did he say? She dwelleth among the heathen. Wow. I want you to turn, hold Lamentations, but turn back to Psalm 44. Let me show you two passages here. Psalm 44. And first of all, I want you to look at verse 11. Psalm 44 and verse 11. Look at what the Scripture says, Psalm 44 verse 11.
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Here's the complaint, but yet it's the truth of what happened. He says, "Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat and hast scattered us among the heathen." The hand of God in judgment, it scattered them among the heathen. Skip down to verse 14. "Thou makest us a reproach," that's verse 13, verse 14, "Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people." In other words, God has put them there. God's made them a reproach and God has scattered them.
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Now, we know exactly what God did to Judah and Jerusalem, how He slew many of them. He sent the rest into captivity into Babylon among the heathen, the poor He left in the land. So here's the question we have to ask. Do we dwell among the heathen? Well, the answer to that is yes. Unhappily, we do not need to be transported to a foreign nation to dwell among the heathen. It appears that they're being transported here. And I'm not just simply talking about and referring to the multitude of illegal aliens that have and continue to invade our land.
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What about the multitudes of foreigners and especially Muslims that have been brought into our country by our own government? And now these very same Muslims that our own government has brought into this country are demanding that we adopt Islam and submit ourselves to Sharia law. Do you realize there are certain sections in this country that have been literally taken over by foreigners. When I say that, I was just trying to think of the group of people that were from, not Vietnam, Laos, I believe, that settled in the northern part.
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And there's a whole congregation of them. I use the word congregation not as a church because they're heathen. But it was one of these men who were known for their violence. It was one of these very men who went deer hunting and saw a man in the stand that he wanted to hunt deer from and he shot and killed the man so he could use the stand. Yeah. Mom. Yeah. Yeah.
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I'm just simply pointing out in certain sections of our country, these places are controlled by foreigners. Look at what has happened in England, what has happened in Canada and in France. And if any of you have seen the pictures, look what is happening in New York City when streets are blocked by Muslims for afternoon prayers. Do you realize a Muslim doesn't need to pray in the streets? They have mosques. They have other buildings.
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Why would they do that? Because it is a sign of dominion and control when they can successfully stop traffic and successfully stop anyone else from doing what they're doing in order to prove that they are in control and their demands must be met. I just read, listen to this. I just read where every 10th child now born in England is a Muslim. The most prominent name in England today in 2014 is Mohammed.
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Multiculturalism, diversity and multi-religions are not signs of success, advancement and prominence. They are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us. Because Judah and Jerusalem dwelt among the heathen. Yes, multiculturalism, diversity, multi-religions are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us. If you look back in Lamentations chapter 1 in verse 4, here's the fourth truth. He says, "The ways of Zion do mourn because none come to the solemn feast.
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All her gates are desolate. Her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness." Now listen carefully. We know the hand of the Lord is against us when we become a nation of hypocrites and apostates. Go back to verse four, the ways of Zion do mourn because what? None come to the solemn feasts. All our gates are desolate. Our priests are sighing, our virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
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If you and I totally disregard the heathen that are being imported into this country legally and illegally, we must consider the fact that as a whole, most professing Christians and most professing Christian churches have apostatized and for all practical purposes have become heathenistic and pagan in faith and in practice. The truth is, folks, we dwell among the heathen because the hand of the Lord is against us and our churches today are filled with hypocrites and apostates. I could go off over scripture after scripture.
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But do you remember that passage in 1 John 2, verses three and four? In 1 John 2, he says, "Hereby, we do know that we know him when we keep his commandments," but when you get to verse four, the Bible says, "He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him." What? If you were to take God's word and you measure most preachers and most professing Christians, they're not. They're not anywhere near what God demands.
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How many in America really and truly honor the ways of Zion? Now, I'm not talking about earthly Zion. I'm talking about heavenly Zion. I want you to look, hold Lamentations 1, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, and just hold that passage because we'll look there in just a moment. We'll look in Hebrews, chapter 12, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. There's a difference between earthly Zion and heavenly Zion. And Hebrews chapter 12, beginning there of verse 22, God says, "But you are coming to Mount Zion, and into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels, to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel."
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What does the Bible say? The Bible says there is a heavenly Zion. We live in a time when God's house is neglected, His word is rejected. His ordinances are despised. His worship is perverted. His preachers mocked. His people ridiculed and persecuted. His name is blasphemed and profaned. Very few today are willing to identify themselves with Jesus Christ. Since you're in Hebrews 12, look right over to Hebrews chapter 13. Let me show you. Here's what the Word of God demands, Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 12. Hebrews 13 verse 12. The Bible says, "Wherefore Jesus, also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." That is without the gates of Jerusalem, the fleshly Jerusalem or the earthly Jerusalem. Now what does the Bible say in verse 13? "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach." So the Bible is teaching that basically Jesus Christ and true Christianity is without the camp. And if we stay true to Christ, He is saying that inevitably, invariably, we're going to suffer reproach with Christ.
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I've got news for you folks. You go to the average church today. There's not enough gospel preached to convert a gnat.
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Professing Christians are absolutely, totally ignorant of the Word of God. We know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we live in a land of hypocrites and apostates. And when the sovereign God of heaven and Earth is rejected and despised. None come to the solemn feast. Nobody wants the truth. Well, hardly anyone wants the truth. Fifthly, I want you to look at verse 5.
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"Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper. For the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy." Fifthly, we know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we are overpowered and controlled by our enemies. What does God say? Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper.
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Now, let me tell you something. It is one thing to be surrounded by your enemies. And it is something quite different to have your enemies in positions of power and control and ruling as chief among us. I want you to hold Lamentations chapter one, but I want you to turn back to Deuteronomy 17. Deuteronomy 17 because I want you to see that God demands Christian rulers. Look what he says concerning
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the king or the civil ruler. Not only does God demand that each one be a Christian, but he demands that each one have his own personal copy of the word or the law of God and reading it daily. Deuteronomy 17 beginning there with verse 14. "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, number one, whom the Lord thy God shalt choose, number two, one from among thy brethren shalt thou set as king over thee, number three, thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
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But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses. Forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, you shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away. Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites. And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them, that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom.
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He and his children in the midst of Israel." So the Word of God then demands a Christian ruler and demands that he be one who reads and studies the law of God on a daily basis. Listen to this. On October the 12th, 1816, John Jay, who was also the first Supreme Court Justice, said this, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." That was 1816. The Supreme Court Justice said this is a Christian nation. And it's in our interest that we select and prefer Christians for rulers.
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Now, someone is going to object and say, "Oh, but Brother Weaver, somewhere in the United States Constitution, it says that there is to be no religious test to hold office." Well, you'll find that in Article six of the Constitution, let me read it to you. "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all the executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution, but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification of any public trust or office under the United States." Now you have to remember that the Constitution was written in 1787. The phrase "no religious test" in 1787 in the parlance of that day would mean no denominational test.
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In other words, in 2014 what it means is that you do not have to be a Baptist or a Presbyterian or a Methodist or an Anglican. It was not excluding Christian beliefs because all you've got to do is look at the original state constitutions and the original state constitutions required you to be a Christian, to be a ruler. So when the Constitution says that there is to be no religious test, all it meant was no denominational test. In other words, you did not have to be a certain denomination to be a ruler. That's all it meant.
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Without going into detail, since you're in the book of Deuteronomy, go in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 28. Let me just show you. Because here's a question, since God demands Christian rulers, and since the original state constitutions demanded Christian rulers, and since even the first Supreme Court justice said it's our interest to select Christian rulers, why do we not have Christian rulers? Well, look in Deuteronomy 28, beginning there with verse 43. Deuteronomy 28, verse 43. God says, "The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high." This is the curse of God. "And thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee. Thou shalt not lend to him.
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He shall be the head. Thou shalt be the tail. Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed, because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee. And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder and upon thy seed forever, because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things. Therefore thou shalt serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things. And he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he destroy thee." The hand of God is against us.
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It is evident when we know and when we see that our enemies are in power and are chief and have control. In Psalm 106, verse 41, don't turn there. The Bible says, "And He, God, gave them into the hand of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them." How do we know the hand of God is against America? Because our enemies that hate Christ and hate Christianity rule over us. Sixthly, very quickly. Look, if you would, at verse six of Lamentations, chapter one, verse six, Lamentations, chapter one, "And from the daughter of Zion, all her beauty is departed.
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Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture. They are gone without strength before the pursuer." We know the hand of the Lord is against us when the people as a whole are distressed, discouraged and depressed. Let me ask you a question. How can an individual function when one is discouraged, depressed and distressed? It's impossible. Everyone in this room has been discouraged at one time or the other. You've been depressed at one time. You know what you do?
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You sit around with your hands folded, twirling your thoughts. You don't want to do anything. You can't function. If that is true of an individual, how can such an attitude and disposition affect an entire nation? You see, according to verse six, it is not just a few individuals that are given to distress and discouragement and depression. No, no, no. It's practically the entire population. Jeremiah intimates by these words, that none would dare to contend with their enemies or stand up against them.
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They were so discouraged and so depressed. Instead of fighting, they fled and they proved that they were wholly heartless and lifeless. Think how discouraging it must have been for these Judahites to realize that their kingdom was removed. The priesthood had ceased, their temple, their beautiful house was burned to the ground, the palaces of the kings and the nobles were demolished, and everything in church and state which they considered glorious was now gone. Everything had changed, nothing was the same, and everything that they had loved and appreciated had disappeared. May I remind you, those of you who are my age and older, you know that everything is changed. You know that everything that we once held sacred and dear is gone. And he said,
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"Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture and they are gone without strength before the pursuer." What? Even the rulers were worthless. Oh, that's an enlightened thought, isn't it? They were without courage, they were fearful, they were timorous. That describes our politicians. No character and cowards to the hilt. The hand of God was against them. By the way, if you will turn very quickly in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 22 and we've got to hurry, 1 Samuel 22.
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Look, if you would, please, at verses one and two. We know that the hand of God was against King Saul as well, because God had already said he was going to destroy his kingdom. And I want you to see one of the manifestations that happened when the hand of God was against King Saul. Look in 1 Samuel, chapter 22, beginning there, verse one, the Bible says, "David therefore departed thence and escaped to the cave of Adullam.
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And when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him." Now watch verse two. "And everyone that was in distress and everyone that was in debt and everyone that was discontented or discouraged gathered themselves unto him and he became a captain over them. And there were with him about 400 men." Wow. In other words, there's a revolution. Everyone who was in debt, everyone who was distressed, everyone who was discontent came to David.
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The same scenario is prevalent in America today. Do you realize that now in America there are over 92 million Americans that are out of work? There are over 100 million that are on welfare. There are over 300 million that are in debt up to their eyeballs. And the truth of the matter is, practically the entire nation is distrustful of our political leaders of every stripe. And the truth of the matter is the hand of God, the hand of God is against us. Look in verse 7.
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"Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and her miseries, all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock her sabbaths." Number seven, we know the hand of God is against us when our faith is mocked and ridiculed. Note, if you would, what the Bible says they did mock at her sabbaths. We must remember that the sabbaths pictured and symbolized their deliverance and their redemption. Now they had been defeated and enslaved, so how could they speak of deliverance and redemption?
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Let me just give you a couple of verses. Let me just quote them to save time. In Deuteronomy 5 and verse 15, here's what God said about the Sabbaths. "And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm. Therefore the Lord commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day." Why did he command them to keep the Hebrew Sabbath? Because it symbolized their deliverance and redemption from Egypt.
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Well, what happened when they got captured by Nebuchadnezzar and enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar? Listen, if you would, to Psalm 137, verses 1 through 4. Listen now. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hang our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For they that carried us away captive required of us a song, and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" What were they doing? They were mocking. Sing us one of those songs of Zion.
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Come on, make mirth, be happy. Don't you remember? You are the special people. You were delivered. You were redeemed. How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? I trust you are now beginning to understand why Christians are mocked and ridiculed. The enemy believes that we have been captured and defeated. Therefore, they believe they are free to gloat and rejoice. Such gloating and rejoicing is temporary.
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But yet the truth is, they're doing it. In Ezekiel 22, verses one through five, let me just read it. I want to show you where the hand of the Lord is against us. He gives us over to reproach among the enemies. Ezekiel 22, verse one: "Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Now thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? Yea, thou shalt show her all her abominations. Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord God, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made, and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years. Listen, therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all the countries, those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed."
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What did God do to Judah, Jerusalem? He delivered them over to mocking. You know, the hand of the Lord is against us when everything holy and righteous and biblical is mocked and ridiculed. Eighthly, very quickly in verses 10 and 11. Watch verse 10. "The adversary has spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things. For she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation." All her people sigh, and they seek bread that they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul. See, O Lord, and consider, for I am become vile. Eighthly, we know that the hand of the Lord is against us when we are destroyed by inflation and worthless money. What did Judah have to do? She had to barter. She had to trade her precious things just for bread to eat. Bread was no longer plentiful, nor was it inexpensive. It took everything they had just to stay alive.
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Do you realize that is a prevalent complaint today? I read recently, remember who all I've told this, but I just read recently. In 1970, one parent was able to work and provide everything the household needed. And still they could save 11% of their earnings. In the 1970s. Today it takes both parents working. And they still can't make it. And they have absolutely no savings. None. In Nehemiah, chapter five, the same thing occurred when the people had to sell themselves into slavery just to have something to eat.
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Because either there was no real money or their money was worthless, so we know then that the hand of God is against us when we have a fraudulent, dishonest, and unbiblical monetary system. The Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse 11, "A just weight and balance are the Lord's. All the weights of the bag are his work." One last passage. I want you to look in Leviticus chapter 19. Leviticus chapter 19. And I want you to notice beginning there with verse 35. Leviticus 19 and verse 35. Look what God says. Leviticus 19 verse 35. "You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight or in measure. Just balances, just weights. And a just ephah and a just hin shall you have. I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
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Therefore, shall you observe all my statutes and all my judgments and do them. I am the Lord." God demands honest money. And we know the hand of the Lord is against us. How do we have an honest monetary system?
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Now, let me make just a couple of quick applications. The first one. God is not changed. God is immutable. The sins that he judged in Israel and in Judah are the same sins that he judges today. His hand is still stretched out in judgment against all of those that violate his law. Read the book of Jeremiah and notice the question that God asks often, especially in Jeremiah chapter 5.
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I think he asked it three times there. "Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" God has not changed. The second one is this. We need to examine our circumstances, our situation, our environment in light of Scripture. And when you do, you can't help but see an amazing parallel between that which happened in Judah and Jerusalem and that which is happening right today before our eyes. God is a God of judgment. And the third application is this, if you really understand what I've just preached today, we must repent. And we must cry to him for grace and mercy and help. And we must determine in our lives that we're going to be biblical and we're going to be holy and we're going to be godly to the extent of our ability and the grace that he gives us.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow before Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You for teaching us, helping us, open our eyes, awaken us, and turn us, O God. And we shall be turned, and we'll give Thee the praise and the glory in Christ's holy and blessed name. Amen. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:13:08Z

How to Know the Hand of God is Against a Nation

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines Lamentations 1:1-7 to identify eight biblical evidences that God's hand of judgment is against a nation, drawing parallels between ancient Judah and modern America. He argues that God's immutable character means He judges nations today for the same sins, and calls for repentance and a return to biblical obedience.

Introduction: The Hand of God Against Judah

Weaver establishes that God's hand was undeniably against Judah, citing Lamentations and other scriptures where God's hand is stretched out in anger.

Scripture Reading — Lamentations 1:1-7

"How doth a city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces? How has she become tributary? She weepeth sore in the night and her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her. All of her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They are become her enemies. Judah is going into captivity because of affliction and because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen, and findeth no rest. All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feast. All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief. Her enemies prosper, for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her children are going into captivity before the enemy, and from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed. Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all of her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her. The adversary saw her and did mock at her sabbaths."

Let me just give you a few quotes. Listen carefully. Here is Isaiah 5, verse 25:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 5:25

"Therefore, as the anger of the Lord kindled against His people, He had stretched forth His hand against them and had smitten them. And the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

So obviously God's hand is stretched out in anger. When you get to Isaiah 9 and verse 21, the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 5:25

"Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

And then in Jeremiah 15 in verse 6, God says this: "They have forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward. Therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee and destroy thee.

Defining the Hand of the Lord

The hand of the Lord refers to God's power, which can be exercised in blessing or judgment, as seen in examples like Elisha and Naomi.

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 3:15

"But now bring me a minstrel."

Scope of God's Hand: Individuals, Families, Cities, Nations

Scripture shows God's hand against individuals (Naomi), families (Eli), cities (Ashdod), and nations (Canaanites), with a warning to Israel in 1 Samuel 12:15.

But the Bible says in 1 Samuel 5 and verse 6, listen now,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 5:6

"But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods even from Ashdod unto the coast thereof."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 5:6

"For indeed, the hand of the Lord was against them to destroy them from among the host, and they were consumed."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 12:15

"But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as it was against your fathers."

So God gave them a warning. God says, look, if you refuse to obey me, if you rebel against me, my hand will be stretched out against you exactly the way you were stretched out against your fathers.

Evidence 1: A Nation of Serfs and Slaves

When a nation becomes tributary and its people are enslaved, whether to foreign or domestic powers, it indicates God's judgment.

Evidence 2: Isolation and Disrespect

A nation under judgment loses true friends and respect, as its leaders and policies become foolish and treacherous.

Evidence 3: Dwelling Among the Heathen

God's judgment scatters a people among the heathen; in modern times, this occurs through immigration and the loss of cultural and religious distinctiveness.

Evidence 4: A Nation of Hypocrites and Apostates

When the true worship of God is neglected and churches are filled with hypocrites, it is a sign of God's hand against a nation.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:3-4

"Hereby, we do know that we know him when we keep his commandments,"

but when you get to verse four, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:3-4

"He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him."

What? If you were to take God's word and you measure most preachers and most professing Christians, they're not. They're not anywhere near what God demands.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 12:22-24

What does the Bible say? The Bible says there is a heavenly Zion. We live in a time when God's house is neglected, His word is rejected. His ordinances are despised. His worship is perverted. His preachers mocked. His people ridiculed and persecuted. His name is blasphemed and profaned. Very few today are willing to identify themselves with Jesus Christ. Since you're in Hebrews 12, look right over to Hebrews chapter 13. Let me show you. Here's what the Word of God demands, Hebrews chapter 13, beginning there with verse 12. Hebrews 13 verse 12. The Bible says, "Wherefore Jesus, also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." That is without the gates of Jerusalem, the fleshly Jerusalem or the earthly Jerusalem. Now what does the Bible say in verse 13? "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach." So the Bible is teaching that basically Jesus Christ and true Christianity is without the camp. And if we stay true to Christ, He is saying that inevitably, invariably, we're going to suffer reproach with Christ.

I've got news for you folks. You go to the average church today. There's not enough gospel preached to convert a gnat.

Evidence 5: Enemies in Power

God's judgment is evident when adversaries become rulers and prosper, as a curse for disobedience.

It is evident when we know and when we see that our enemies are in power and are chief and have control. In Psalm 106, verse 41, don't turn there. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:41

"And He, God, gave them into the hand of the heathen, and they that hated them ruled over them."

Evidence 6: Widespread Distress and Discouragement

A nation under judgment is characterized by a populace that is distressed, in debt, and discontented, with cowardly leaders.

Evidence 7: Mocking of Faith

When a nation's faith and religious observances are mocked, it reflects God's delivering them over to reproach.

Evidence 8: Inflation and Worthless Money

An unbiblical monetary system that forces people to barter precious things for basic needs is a sign of God's judgment.

Applications: God's Immutability and Call to Repentance

God does not change; He judges nations today for the same sins. Believers must examine circumstances biblically, repent, and pursue holiness.

How to Know the Hand of God is Against a Nation

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	428142310413
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: Promises Of The Law
Genre	Sermon
Date	2014-01-19
Dictation Name
Book	Book 042: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: God's Answer to America's Problems — Chapter 14
Source Timed Segments	76

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Hand of God Against Judah: Weaver establishes that God's hand was undeniably against Judah, citing Lamentations and other scriptures where God's hand is stretched out in anger.
Defining the Hand of the Lord: The hand of the Lord refers to God's power, which can be exercised in blessing or judgment, as seen in examples like Elisha and Naomi.
Scope of God's Hand: Individuals, Families, Cities, Nations: Scripture shows God's hand against individuals (Naomi), families (Eli), cities (Ashdod), and nations (Canaanites), with a warning to Israel in 1 Samuel 12:15.
Evidence 1: A Nation of Serfs and Slaves: When a nation becomes tributary and its people are enslaved, whether to foreign or domestic powers, it indicates God's judgment.
Evidence 2: Isolation and Disrespect: A nation under judgment loses true friends and respect, as its leaders and policies become foolish and treacherous.
Evidence 3: Dwelling Among the Heathen: God's judgment scatters a people among the heathen; in modern times, this occurs through immigration and the loss of cultural and religious distinctiveness.
Evidence 4: A Nation of Hypocrites and Apostates: When the true worship of God is neglected and churches are filled with hypocrites, it is a sign of God's hand against a nation.
Evidence 5: Enemies in Power: God's judgment is evident when adversaries become rulers and prosper, as a curse for disobedience.
Evidence 6: Widespread Distress and Discouragement: A nation under judgment is characterized by a populace that is distressed, in debt, and discontented, with cowardly leaders.
Evidence 7: Mocking of Faith: When a nation's faith and religious observances are mocked, it reflects God's delivering them over to reproach.
Evidence 8: Inflation and Worthless Money: An unbiblical monetary system that forces people to barter precious things for basic needs is a sign of God's judgment.
Applications: God's Immutability and Call to Repentance: God does not change; He judges nations today for the same sins. Believers must examine circumstances biblically, repent, and pursue holiness.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

God's hand is against a nation when it becomes enslaved, whether to foreign or domestic powers.

Weaver argues that modern Americans are serfs to the federal government and international bankers, evidenced by property taxes and national debt.

He states, 'try not paying your property taxes... you're going to discover who's really in control' and cites Ecclesiastes 10:7 about servants on horses.

A nation under judgment loses respect and true friends internationally.

America's foreign policy of appeasement and its leaders' foolishness have led to isolation and mockery, similar to Judah's experience.

Weaver says, 'our president, his cabinet, and our political leaders are irresponsible buffoons' and notes polls showing Congress is less respected than toenail fungus.

Dwelling among the heathen is a sign of judgment, occurring today through immigration and multiculturalism.

The influx of foreigners, especially Muslims, and the loss of Christian distinctiveness indicate God's hand against America.

Weaver mentions Muslims blocking streets for prayer as a sign of dominion and states, 'Multiculturalism, diversity and multi-religions are not signs of success... they are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us.'

Apostasy and hypocrisy in the church are evidence of national judgment.

Most professing Christians and churches have abandoned biblical truth, fulfilling the description of none coming to the solemn feasts.

Weaver cites 1 John 2:3-4 and Hebrews 13:12-13 to argue that true Christianity is 'without the camp' and that the average church lacks the gospel.

God's judgment is seen when enemies rule over a nation.

The presence of non-Christian rulers and the prosperity of adversaries is a direct curse for disobedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28.

Weaver reads Deuteronomy 28:43-48 and Psalm 106:41, concluding, 'our enemies that hate Christ and hate Christianity rule over us.'

Widespread economic distress and a fraudulent monetary system are signs of God's hand.

Inflation, debt, and the need for both parents to work reflect the biblical curse of bartering precious things for bread.

Weaver compares modern economic struggles to Lamentations 1:11 and cites Proverbs 16:11 and Leviticus 19:35-36 on just weights and measures.

Scripture References

Lamentations 1:1-7: The primary text describing the desolation of Jerusalem, read at the beginning of the sermon.
Isaiah 5:25: Cited to show God's hand stretched out in anger against His people.
Isaiah 9:21: Another reference to God's hand stretched out still in judgment.
Jeremiah 15:6: God declares He will stretch out His hand to destroy because they have forsaken Him.
Numbers 11:23: Used to illustrate that God's hand is not shortened and can bring His word to pass.
2 Kings 3:15: The hand of the Lord came upon Elisha in blessing, showing the hand can be for good.
Ruth 1:13: Naomi says the hand of the Lord has gone out against her, showing judgment on an individual.
1 Samuel 3:11-14: God's judgment on Eli's house for not restraining his sons, showing judgment on a family.
1 Samuel 5:6: The hand of the Lord was heavy on Ashdod, showing judgment on a city.
Deuteronomy 2:15: The hand of the Lord was against the Israelites to destroy them, showing judgment on a people.
1 Samuel 12:15: Warning to Israel that if they rebel, God's hand will be against them as it was against their fathers.
Ecclesiastes 10:7: Servants on horses and princes walking, illustrating the upside-down order of society.
Deuteronomy 4:5-9: God's law set Israel apart as a wise nation; forsaking it leads to judgment.
Psalm 44:11, 14: God scattered Israel among the heathen and made them a byword, a sign of judgment.
1 John 2:3-4: Those who claim to know God but do not keep His commandments are liars, indicating hypocrisy.
Hebrews 12:22-24: Believers come to heavenly Zion, contrasting with the desolate earthly Zion.
Hebrews 13:12-13: Jesus suffered outside the gate; believers must go to Him bearing reproach.
Deuteronomy 17:14-20: Requirements for a king: chosen by God, an Israelite, not multiplying wealth, and reading the law daily.
Deuteronomy 28:43-48: Curses for disobedience, including strangers rising high and enemies ruling over Israel.
Psalm 106:41: God gave His people into the hand of the heathen, and those who hated them ruled over them.

Historical References

Stephen Charnock, 'The Attributes of God': Quoted to define the power of God as the ability to bring to pass whatever He pleases.
John Jay, first Supreme Court Justice, 1816: Quoted stating that it is the duty of a Christian nation to select Christian rulers.
U.S. Constitution, Article VI: The 'no religious test' clause is interpreted as meaning no denominational test, not excluding Christians.
Federal Reserve System: Described as international bankers whose goal is to destroy and bankrupt America.
Muslim immigration and Sharia law demands: Mentioned as evidence of dwelling among the heathen, with Muslims demanding adoption of Islamic law.
Economic statistics: 92 million out of work, 100 million on welfare: Cited to illustrate widespread distress and debt in modern America.

Important Quotes

How doth a city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations and princess among the provinces? How has she become tributary?

Opening verse of Lamentations that sets the theme of Jerusalem's desolation under God's judgment.

The power of God is that ability and strength whereby he can bring to pass whatsoever he pleases.

Charnock's definition of God's power, foundational to understanding the hand of the Lord.

I have seen servants upon horses and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

Ecclesiastes quote used to illustrate the inverted social order where rulers have become servants.

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.

John Jay's statement affirming America's Christian foundation and the need for Christian leaders.

Multiculturalism, diversity and multi-religions are not signs of success, advancement and prominence. They are signs that the hand of the Lord is against us.

Direct application of Lamentations to modern cultural trends as evidence of judgment.

Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Repeated question from Jeremiah emphasizing God's unchanging nature in judging nations.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways does the concept of being a 'serf or slave' apply to modern citizens, and how should Christians respond?

[Context]

Weaver argues that Americans are serfs to the federal government and debt. This question explores the biblical and practical implications.

[Question]

How can we discern whether the loss of international respect is a sign of God's judgment or simply political failure?

[Context]

Weaver points to America's isolation and foolish foreign policy as evidence of judgment. This question probes the distinction.

[Question]

What does it mean for a nation to 'dwell among the heathen' today, and how should the church respond to multiculturalism?

[Context]

Weaver equates immigration and diversity with judgment. This question challenges believers to think biblically about cultural engagement.

[Question]

How can we identify true apostasy versus genuine struggles in the church, and what is our responsibility?

[Context]

Weaver claims most churches are filled with hypocrites. This question encourages discernment and action.

[Question]

What does the Bible teach about the role of civil government, and how should Christians evaluate rulers?

[Context]

Weaver expounds Deuteronomy 17 and John Jay's quote. This question explores the biblical standard for leaders.

[Question]

In what ways does economic hardship reflect God's judgment, and how should believers respond to inflation and debt?

[Context]

Weaver links worthless money to judgment. This question considers personal and collective responses.

Applications

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