Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession

God's Answer to America's Problems

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Covenant Theology

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2006-05-14

Synopsis: John Weaver argues that America's manifold problems—economic, governmental, moral—are symptoms of a deeper spiritual rebellion: refusing to hear God's Word. Drawing from Isaiah 55 and multiple Old Testament narratives, he demonstrates that God's consistent answer to national crises is to send a preacher to declare His will, which either converts or condemns. Man's solutions fail because they ignore God's law; true hope lies in repentance and obedience to God's Word.

[John Weaver] As we begin today, let me just point out there is a correlation between the previous messages and today's message. Actually, I took the last two messages and made them part one and part two. This actually could be part three. And although it's not part three, I think you're going to see how they go together, because we spoke, first of all, on America's curse and I showed you the curse was false and foolish preachers who were not preaching or teaching the word of God. And then from the same passage in Jeremiah also showed you America's hope. And the hope was the preaching of the gospel. Now, today, I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled God's answers to America's problems. God's answers to America's problems.

[John Weaver] Look in Isaiah 55, verses eight and nine. God says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my way, said the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. I need not make this statement, but I shall, because you will certainly agree with me that problems abound on every hand. It doesn't matter if we're talking about economic problems, governmental problems, immigration problems. marital problems, discipline problems, educational problems. These are just some of the problems that you and I face on a regular basis. In reality, there are many more problems in our land, and I would say pressing problems, desperate problems, problems that need an answer given to them in order to alleviate the circumstances that we're under.

[John Weaver] And when you think of all of those problems, that's not even considering the corruption and the fraud and the crime and rebellion in this country. I mean, there's enough to really lay us low.

[John Weaver] Now let me just say, the truth is, we have failed. Let me explain what I mean by that statement. I mean that endeavoring to work out our problems politically, governmentally, economically, and in various other areas, we have failed. I mean, we still have the problems. That is why we find ourselves in the mess that we're in today. It's time to face a simple fact. Political parties will not save us. Government will not save us. Furthermore, we cannot extricate ourselves from the mess that we're in. We cannot pull ourselves up by the bootstraps, so to speak. None of that works.

[John Weaver] Do you realize that a problem is not a problem if you know the answer? The only time you have a problem is when you really do not know the answer to the problem. I read the text today to show you that God's answers to our problems are different than man's answers. Look back, if you would, in Isaiah 55. He said in verse 8, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

[John Weaver] Now, what has happened is this. We have found that God's answers are entirely different from man's answers. And as I shared this with you today, the age-old contest between theonomy, that's God's law, and autonomy, that's self-law or man's law, the age-old contest between theonomy and autonomy ought to be brought into clear light. You see, the truth of the matter is this, man has gotten himself into all of these problems because we have faltered our way rather than God's way. We're like Adam. You remember Adam did not want to obey God, he wanted to rebel. And so modern man does not want to obey God, he wants to rebel as well. As the Word of God says, every one of us have turned after the imagination of his own heart. Or as Isaiah said, each of us have turned to our own way. Now the book of Judges says it just a little bit differently, but the theme of the book of Judges is found in Judges 17 and verse 6, when the Bible said in those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

[John Weaver] So instead of listening to God, We've simply done that, which was right in our own eyes. Now, please understand something. I mentioned in the last two message sanctions. There are positive sanctions, there are negative sanctions. We have found, or at least we should have discovered, that man's answers and man's ways really do not work, and that man's answers and man's ways are basically under the negative sanctions of God. That is, they're under the curse of God.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Isaiah 55, but look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 11. I could give you a multitude of passages that will teach this truth, but I want you to see it very succinctly from this passage. Notice Deuteronomy 11, if you would please, verses 27 and 28. Deuteronomy 11, verse 27 and verse 28. In fact, God says in verse 26, Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse. Then he says a blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and a curse if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which you have not known. So God says, look, I've set before you a blessing and a curse.

[John Weaver] Blessings follow obedience and curses follow disobedience. Over and over in the Bible, God enunciates this simple principle.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just remind you that this principle, first and foremost, is national in scope. It is also applicable to individuals, to families, to churches, to communities, but it is also national in scope.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bible, Deuteronomy chapter 28, and I want you to see one word particularly. You know that Deuteronomy 28 is one of the sections where God lists the blessings and the curses. There are certain blessings that will follow obedience and certain curses that will follow disobedience. This is one of my favorite passages. And this is one of my favorite words. Notice, if you would please, the Bible says in verse one, and it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord by God to observe and to do all his commandments, which I command thee this day, the Lord by God will set thee on high above all

[John Weaver] the nations of the earth. Now watch verse two. And all these blessings shall come on thee. And overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God. Now, I'm going to point out the word in verse 2, overtake. Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 15. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord by God, to observe to do all these commandments and the statutes which I command thee this day, then all these curses shall come upon thee and what? Overtake thee. Now, the word overtake occurs then in verse 2 and in verse 15. It occurs in relationship to the blessings as well as in relationship to the curses. The Hebrew word is nasag, which literally means to overtake, to catch hold upon, to catch up with, or to take hold on. Here is the picture that God is saying. God is saying here you are running down the road as fast and as furiously as you can in your obedience, trying to outrun my blessings.

[John Weaver] God says my blessings will overtake you. They will catch up with you. They will knock you down. They'll jump on you and fall all over you. And you can't stop them as long as you obey me. But he said the opposite is also true. If you disobey me, here you are running from God as fast and as furiously as you may run. But God says, my cursedness will catch up with you. They'll jump on you and knock you down and fall all over you. And you can't stop them. Isn't that plain? Isn't that simple?

[John Weaver] Now, the truth of the matter is this, folks. There is no way that you as an individual or as a family or as a church, or as a nation, that we can escape either the positive or the negative sanctions of God. You just cannot outrun God. Period.

[John Weaver] Now, the Puritans used to have an adage that they were fond of saying. I like the adage. The Puritans said this, we have great news for sinners. If we can only find some.

[John Weaver] Now, stop and think about that. You said, Brother Weaver, finding sinners is not difficult. They're on every hand. Well, that's true. But finding sinners who are ready to repent and willing to listen to the word of God. It's a whole horse of a different color. The great news is not just for sinners. The great news is for sinners who are ready and willing and want to repent. You see, likewise, finding answers is not difficult. Do you realize there's an answer to every problem? There's an answer to the immigration problem that we're having in this country. There's an answer to the economic problem. There's an answer to governmental problems. The problem is not that there are no answers. The problem is we can't find anyone who wants to hear what God has to say. Everybody wants to follow what man says. So most of us are just simply not willing or ready to hear what God demands.

[John Weaver] In the 40 plus years that I've been preaching. I've witnessed the demise of many marriages. The loss of families, the loss of material possessions, and even the loss of lives simply because some would not listen to the word of God and would not apply the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you, you may have God's answer or you may have man's answer. What did God say? God said, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. I set before you a blessing. And a cursing. And that's simple. You cannot have both. And you say, well, what I'm going to do is I'm going to take man's answer, what man's answer not only compounds, but exacerbates the problem. And man's answer will ultimately just simply bring you to ruin.

[John Weaver] Let me give you an illustration. Now, I know you younger people will not remember this, but those who are middle-aged and older, there was a generation who listened to Dr. Spock. Dr. Spock owned children. They refused to listen to the Word of God. No, no, they didn't want to discipline their children based upon the teaching of the Word of God. They listened to Dr. Spock. And guess what? We sired a whole generation of rebellious, undisciplined children. And you remember Dr. Spock, before he died, confessed and acknowledged that he was wrong.

[John Weaver] But it was too late. A whole generation, basically, had been ruined.

[John Weaver] Now, one of the things that we have problems with is this. We have been conditioned to listen to man. In other words, we are not conditioned to seek God's answer first. We are conditioned and geared simply to listening to man. For instance, when we get sick, the first thing we do is call the doctor. When we have economic problems, the first thing we do is call the banker. When we don't like things in our city or in our county, we call our councilman. When things go wrong in our lives, we call our psychologist or our analyst or our psychiatrist. In other words, we are geared simply to always looking to men for answers. We normally expect the advice of men to work out our problems. We very seldom check with the Lord first. We very seldom say, well, what does the Bible really have to say about this? What is God's answer to this problem? Let me show you.

[John Weaver] I've quoted this verse frequently. If you look in First Corinthians, chapter 11, you remember the series that I did on the Lord's Supper. When you get to First Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 30, God makes a statement concerning many of those Corinthians there at the church. And he says this. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." Now what is God saying? God is saying if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged of God.

[John Weaver] Here were people who were committing sins. They were eating and drinking at the Lord's table unworthily. That is an unworthy manner. And here some of them were sick, and some of them were dead. Let me tell you something. You can go to every doctor in the world, But if the source of your problem is spiritual and not physical, there's no physical doctor going to be able to help you. In other words, their physical problems, their mental, their emotional, their spiritual problems. Had a spiritual root, not a physical one. And let me tell you, there are many people today. Who are under the care of analysts, psychologists, psychiatrists, our own Prozac, and all these other drugs, if they would just simply repent of their sins and obey God, they'd probably get over a lot of their problems.

[John Weaver] But you see, we're geared to listening to men. We're geared to saying, what does man have to say? But God says man's thoughts are not his thoughts. And man's ways are not his ways.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just give you a couple of illustrations today. I want to show you some problems. And let's try to figure out the answer to the problems. Let's see if God's answer would correspond to man's answer. Okay? Let's take our first problem. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 2. The book of Exodus, chapter 2. The first problem is this. Israel is in Egypt. Israel is enslaved, overworked, mistreated, hated, and despised. That's a problem. So if you look in Exodus chapter 2, beginning there in verse 23, the Bible says this, And it came to pass in the process of time that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of their bondage, and God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. Now, watch if you would please, the children of Israel now are in grave bondage. They are sighing, they're groaning, they're moaning.

[John Weaver] They're under tremendous burdens and pressure. They cry to God and God hears them. Now, here's my question. What does God do? Does God send an angelic host to destroy all the Egyptians? No. Does God send supernatural earthquakes and rend their country to pieces? No. What does God do? Look in chapter 3 in verse 1.

[John Weaver] Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and he came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, and looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, while the bush is not burnt.

[John Weaver] Now skip down to verse 7. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt. and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters. For I know their sorrows, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land into a good land, and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey, unto the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the

[John Weaver] Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites." Now therefore, behold, a crowd of the children of Israel will come to me. And I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppressed them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." What did God do? He sent him a preacher. Isn't that amazing? He didn't send a militia in. He didn't send an angelic host in. He sent them a preacher.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold on, look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 18. I'm going to show you that Moses is called a prophet. He was a preacher of righteousness. In fact, Jesus Christ, the true prophet, is typified by Moses. And if you look in Deuteronomy 18, beginning in verse 17, here's what Moses tells the people. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. Here's what God is saying through Moses. Look, I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto me.

[John Weaver] I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak of them all that I shall command them. Isn't that amazing? God says, Moses, I'm going to raise up a prophet, the true ultimate prophet like unto you. I'm going to put my words in his mouth. He'll speak my words like you speak my words. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 34 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 34 verse 10. Look what the Bible says concerning Moses. Deuteronomy 34 verse 10. And there was not a prophet sent to Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Moses is called a prophet, a preacher. And if you turn over in your Bibles to Hosea chapter 12, Hosea chapter 12. And notice, if you would please, verse 13, I'm just pointing out the fact that Moses is a prophet or a preacher. And Hosea chapter 12 and verse 13, the Bible says, and by a prophet, that is by a preacher, The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet, he was preserved. Now, here's the problem.

[John Weaver] God's people are in slavery and in bondage. They're oppressed. Tyrant reigns over them. And what does God do? He doesn't use a vast military organization. He doesn't use a bureaucracy. He doesn't use a committee. He doesn't use an organization. He sends a preacher. I saw a sign that paraphrased John 316, and I liked it. It said this, For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee. What did God do? God sent a preacher. Why? Why did God send the preacher?

[John Weaver] I'll give you the answer later, but you probably already know it. Let's go to problem two. Problem two, you find the children of Israel already in the promised land. Look in your Bibles to the book of Judges. The book of Judges. The children of Israel are in the promised land, and instead of obeying God, they have disobeyed God. Judges chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. They have been extremely disobedient, and God has delivered them into the hands of their enemies.

[John Weaver] And their oppression now is very severe. Look at Judges 6, verse 1. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them the dens, which are in the mountains, and caves and strongholds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them. And they had camped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou comest to Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude.

[John Weaver] For both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the many nights, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord." You're talking about a problem. That's almost like America today, where our sustenance is eaten up from us and taken from us. What is it? About 60% of The average man's income goes for taxes of some kind. For 70, you say? It's a lot. I mean, my goodness.

[John Weaver] Here's a horrible time that the Israelites are in. I mean, they're even fearful of their lives. They're the ones digging holes and going in the caves and mountains. They're leaving their cities. They don't want to be easy targets. And so they cry to the Lord. What does God do? Look in verse seven. And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried in the Lord because of the many nights that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel. Just stop there. What did God do? God sent them a preacher. You say, what good is a preacher? Well, hang on. How can a preacher deliver the people? Surely, surely. The Lord needed to send a militia, or needed to send at least somebody with military training so the man could lead them in a revolution. No, he just sent a preacher. Now, here's my question. Why did God send a preacher?

[John Weaver] You probably already know the answer, but I'm going to tell you later. Let's go to problem three. Let's go to 1 Samuel chapter 2. 1 Samuel chapter 2. The third problem is corruption in the ministry. The word of God is indeed applicable today. In 1 Samuel chapter 2, you have dishonest, corrupt, immoral and wicked preachers. Abounding everywhere. Just like you do today. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, beginning there in verse 12. 1 Samuel 2 verse 12.

[John Weaver] Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. They knew not the Lord. Look how wicked they were. The priest's custom with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the flesh was in seething and with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand, And he struck it into the pan, or the kettle, or cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh had brought

[John Weaver] up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, and all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burned the fat, the priest's servants came and said to the man that sacrificed, Now look, give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desired, then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it by force.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. Skip down, if you would please, to verse 22. The Bible says, Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they labored the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do you such things?

[John Weaver] For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. For if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him, notwithstanding they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them."

[John Weaver] Skip down to verse 27. And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto thy house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, and to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Verse 29, Wherefore, take you at my sacrifice, and make mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honors thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore, the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord saith, Be it far from me, for of them that honor me will I honor, and they that despise me shall be likely ashamed."

[John Weaver] Now, as you examine the sins of Hoffman and Finnehans and all these others that were associated with them, you will find a striking parallel with the sins of the preachers in America. I've got news for you folks. Preachers in this country are falling like flies to immorality, to fraud, to corruption, to compromise? Why are they falling like that? Let me tell you why. Because they have denigrated, despised, and denounced and denied the law of God. God's law is His standard. Now look, if God's law is not your standard, That means you're going to have to make or manufacture your own standard. And how many men are going to make a standard that is displeasing to their flesh and displeasing to their lust? None by nature. They're going to make a standard that they like and will let them do whatever they want and get by with it.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Here it is. What did God do in this situation? Well, the answer is this. God sent him a prophet. God sent him a preacher. You say, but what do you mean, Brother Weaver? God destroyed Avni and Phinehas. Yes, he did. Later on. But God still sent a prophet. Look in 1 Samuel 3 and verse 1. And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days.

[John Weaver] There was no open vision. Now skip down to Samuel 3, verse 20. And all Israel, from Dan, even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. God sent a preacher. Why did God send a preacher? I'm sure you probably already know the answer, but I'll tell you later, let's go to problem four. Problem four, I want you to turn to 2 Samuel chapter 11. 2 Samuel chapter 11.

[John Weaver] Now, the problems that we're talking about. Prevail in our country today. In problem number four. the highest governmental leader has sinned. In fact, he is not only guilty of treason. That's certainly applicable today, isn't it? But he's also guilty of adultery. That, too, is applicable today. He's also guilty of murder. That, as well, is applicable today. The interesting thing is, this civil ruler had tried to hide his sin and rebellion.

[John Weaver] His commander-in-chief knew about it, and the king was in danger of being blackmailed. Well, look in 1 Samuel chapter 11. You know the story there, beginning with verse 1. And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem." And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David said and inquired after the woman.

[John Weaver] And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Now, you know the story. Surely, such a wicked, sinful man should be dethroned kicked out of the office and put to death. And the truth is that is what would have normally happened. However, God did an unusual thing. What did he do? Well, look at 2 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 1.

[John Weaver] And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. What? God sent preacher. The highest civil leader in the land commits treason, murder, and adultery. And what does God do? God sends a preacher. Why? Why did God send the preacher? Well, you probably already know the answer, but I'll give it to you later. Let's go to problem five. Problem number five, and you will find this in your Bibles, in 1 Kings chapter 19, you want to turn there. Problem number five is this.

[John Weaver] Wicked, vile persons have taken control of the government. Oh, is that one applicable? Wicked, vile persons have taken control of the government. They are oppressing the people. They're killing and stealing and ruling tyrannically. God's preachers are being killed, imprisoned, destroyed. False preachers are being elevated and are feeding at the governmental trough. Wow. The problem is, this was not just in Israel, it prevailed throughout the entire region.

[John Weaver] And I'm sure that you can read about this in first Kings chapter 19. If you look there, please, beginning with verse one, first Kings 19, verse one. And they have told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and with all how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying, so let the gods do so to me. And more also, if I make not my life is the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. So Elijah now has killed all 400 prophets of Baal. Cut off their heads. Jezebel, as wicked and vile as she can be, said, by this time tomorrow, you'll be like them. I'll have you killed as well. You remember the story. The prophets of God who were not killed were hidden in a cave, being fed with bread and water, while the prophets of Baal were feeding sumptuously at the king's table.

[John Weaver] Oh, I tell you what. You talk about problems and tyranny. Well, what does God do? Well, look at first Kings chapter 19 and let's begin there with verse 11. You remember, Elijah goes before the Lord and God speaks to Elijah and he says, go forth and stand upon the Mount before the Lord and behold, the Lord passed by in a great and strong wind, rent the mountains and breaking pieces of rocks before the Lord. but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice." And it was so when Elijah heard it, and he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entering of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

[John Weaver] And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with a sword. And I, even I only am left, and may seek my life to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus. Now look, and when thou comest, Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, and Jehu the son of Nimsi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Nahola, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." Now, what did God do? God said, alright Elijah, if your time is about over, fine. You go and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, you anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, and you want Elisha to take your place. Now, the question is, why did God do this? Why did God do that? Well, God is sending a preacher. What good is a preacher? Well, I'll give you the answer a little bit later, but you probably already know it.

[John Weaver] All right. Let's look back in our Bibles to Isaiah 55. Look at it. Isaiah 55. In each instance and each of the problems, God sent a preacher. No matter how grave, no matter how difficult, The problem was, God sent a preacher. Why? Look in verse 8. God says in Isaiah 55, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. So God then sends a preacher. Why?

[John Weaver] Because God's answers are not the same as man's answers. And God sends his preacher. Are you listening? To declare his word. And his answer to the problems.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go back to problem one. What was problem one? The children of Israel were in Egypt, enslaved by Pharaoh. And what did God do? God sent Moses. And Moses said, thus saith the Lord, let my people go. Well, what did Pharaoh do? Pharaoh refused to let Israel go. I know not, the Lord said to Pharaoh, neither will I let Israel go. The Egyptians then refused to hear and to heed the word of God. And what did God do? God destroyed Pharaoh, the firstborn. He destroyed Egypt. He destroyed the gods of Egypt. God did not need an army. God did not need a militia. He only sent a preacher. Why?

[John Weaver] Because God's quite capable of cleaning people's plow by himself. He doesn't really need any help. You see, the truth is this. God does use us occasionally. And we're happy that we can be used by God. But the truth of the matter is God does not need us. God can act alone. And when you read in the Bible, it is God who moved through Egypt and destroyed the firstborn. So why did God send the preacher? God sent the preacher to declare His will and declare His word. And when the people refused, God judged them. God destroyed them.

[John Weaver] Go back to problem two. The preacher. In fact, turn in your Bibles of Judges chapter six, go back there. Israel is in the land, but disobedient. They are under severe oppression. Everything they have is being stolen and taken from them. So they cry to the Lord in Judges chapter six, look at it. Beginning there in verse 7, And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the many nights, that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, who said unto them, This is why God sent a preacher, so he could declare God's answer to the problem. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, now out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and draved them out from before you, and gave you their land. And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God, fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell, but you have not obeyed my voice.

[John Weaver] Now what did the preacher do? He said, the problem is with you. The problem is you're sinful, you're wicked, you're rebelling. You're just not obeying God. There's God's answer and there's man's answer. Which one are you taking? You want to know why you're cursed? You know why your enemies are on top? You want to know why you have economic problems? You want to know why your land is invaded? I'll tell you why. You disobeyed me. That's why God sent a preacher. Because he said, I want you to hear my answer. to your problem. Go to problem number three. God's true preacher, Bill Samuel, was raised up to confront Hockney and Phinehas and the other false priests. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 3, beginning there in verse 11. 1 Samuel 3, verse 11. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone that hear it that shall tingle.

[John Weaver] And that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. 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 into the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice or offering forever.

[John Weaver] And what is God doing? God's telling his preacher what to tell Eli and what to tell the others. What is it? It's a message of death and destruction. You say, well. The result is God killed them, yes, but before he did, He sent a preacher to them to declare His word. You say, but, oh, it didn't work. I mean, they didn't repent. Well, go back in your Bibles, Isaiah 55.

[John Weaver] Let me show you something. Isaiah 55, look at verse 11. What does God say? So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return and leave void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. It shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it." God's Word is going to always prosper into that which He sends it. It's going to always accomplish His mission. You've got to understand that God doesn't always send His Word for reconciliation. Sometimes He sends it for condemnation. Did God's Word work? Oh, yes. They were condemned. And they were destroyed. So God doesn't always send his word for reconciliation. Sometimes he sends it for condemnation. And Samuel proclaimed the word of the Lord, it happened to be a word of condemnation, and it did work for God did destroy them. Problem number four.

[John Weaver] The highest civil ruler in the land had committed treason, adultery, murder. If you'll look back in your Bibles, the second Samuel chapter 12, I told you that David should have been put to death. And that is true. He was guilty of treason, he was guilty of adultery, he's guilty of murder. All of those merit the death penalty in the Bible. You say, well, why was he not put to death? Well, you'll find out in verse 13, 2 Samuel 12, verse 13. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord hath also put away thy sin, thou shalt not die. It took a special pardon from God to keep David from being executed. But that does not mean that David escaped his sins. He did not. He certainly reaped the consequences of his sins.

[John Weaver] And he suffered immeasurably in his family. But what did God do? God corrected the problem in the highest civil leader in the land by sending him a preacher. And God gave that civil ruler repentance and faith. Isn't that interesting? God doesn't have to kill all the civil rulers. He can convert them. He can save them. But what did God do? He sent a preacher. In problem number five.

[John Weaver] Elijah said, I'm the only one left. Oh, no, says God, you're not the only one. But I tell you what, Elijah, you go and anoint Hazael, you go and anoint Jehu, and you go and anoint Elisha. Now, here's why. Look in your Bibles to Second Kings, Chapter 10. Let me ask you this question. Why did God tell Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria? And Jehu, king over Israel. By the way, God is sovereign over other nations. He is sovereign over every nation. And he puts kings and rulers up on those heathen nations just like he does the so-called professing Christian nations. So why did God send Elijah to anoint these men as king and Elisha as prophet in his stead?

[John Weaver] Well, he did so in order to sanction the destruction of his enemies. Look in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 10 and verse 32 and 33. In those days, the Lord began to cut Israel short and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel. from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gaddites, the Reubenites, the Manassites, from Aurora, which is by the River Arnon, even Gilead and the Bashan. What did he do? He sent Hazael to take care of rebellious northern Israel. And then if you look at 2 Kings chapter 6. 2 Kings chapter 6.

[John Weaver] You will find Elisha, by the way, did not use the sword, but he oversaw the use of the sword. What did Jehu do? Jehu was used to destroy the house of Ahab. So Jehu is anointed over Israel. Jehu destroys Ahab and his family. Hazael is anointed over Syria. He takes care of northern rebellious Israel. And when you get to 2 Kings 6 and 2 Kings 13, you'll find Elisha now takes care of armies.

[John Weaver] Notice, if you would, verse 14. Therefore sitting thither horses and chariots and a great host, and they came by night and encompassed the city about. This is a story where the young man of Wolkin said to Elisha, we're surrounded by our enemies. Elisha said, I pray thee, Lord, open the young man's eyes. And what did he see? He saw chariots of fire in the mountains. He said they'd be far more for us than those who are against us. And then Elisha prayed and asked God to smite those Syrians with blindness. And God did so. And then Elisha led them to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said, shall I smite them, my Lord? Shall I smite them? Elisha said, no, you would not smite those that you took in battle, would you?

[John Weaver] No, feed them and let them go. The Bible said from that time forth, those came not back into the land of Israel. And then if you look at 2 Kings chapter 13, Elisha is dying. 2 Kings chapter 13. And notice if you would please, verse 14. Now Elijah was fallen sick of the sickness wherewith he died, and Joash the king of Israel came down on him and wept over his face and said, O my father, my father, the charity of Israel and the horsemen thereof. And Elijah said to him, Take bow and arrows. And he took on him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon the bow. And Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands, and he said, open the window eastward, and he opened it. Then Elisha said, shoot, and he shot.

[John Weaver] And he said, the arrow of the Lord's deliverance, the arrow of deliverance from Syria, for thou shalt smite the Syrians at Aphek till thou have consumed them. And he said, take the arrows, and he took them, and he said unto the king of Israel, smite upon the ground, and he smoked thrice. three times and stayed, watch, and the man of God was wroth with him and said, Thou should have smitten five or six times, then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, now whereas thou shalt only smite Israel but thrice.

[John Weaver] So Elisha did not necessarily wield the sword, but he oversaw the use of it. So why did God send the preacher? And problem number five, to sanction the destruction of his enemies, and to say, thus saith the Lord." Here is what God will do.

[John Weaver] Now, the problems we face in America, listen, the problems we face in America are not our main problem. The problems we see in America are merely the symptoms And unhappily, most people had rather deal with the symptom than the root of the problem. Every problem has a solution. Our real problem is. We don't hear what God has to say. We don't want to hear his answer to the problem, we do not want to hear his solution to the problem. What we want is man's answers, and all man's answers do is to get us deeper and deeper in trouble. In five instances, God never changed.

[John Weaver] He just sent a preacher. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 36. 2 Chronicles 36 and look at verses 14 through 17. 2 Chronicles 36, verse 14. Watch this very carefully now. This is very important. 2 Chronicles 36, verse 14. Moreover, the chief of the priests of the people transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the Lord, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. So what are the people doing?

[John Weaver] Sinning, rebelling, being wicked, ungodly. Verse 15, And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up in times and sending. Why was God sending these preachers? Here's why. Because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But what did the people do? But they mocked the messengers of God. and despised his God's words and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy.

[John Weaver] Therefore, he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees who slew their young men with a sword and the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age. He gave them all into his hand. Let me tell you something, folks, there comes a time When we continue to refuse to hear God's words, then God's mercy comes to an end, and He sends forth His judgment.

[John Weaver] I have wonderful news for Americans who are willing and ready to repent and obey God. If I could just find some. God has the answer. God has the solution. I have wonderful news for individuals, for families, for churches and for nations that will hear and heed the word of God.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you something, if you paid close attention To Second Chronicles 36 and verse 15, you discovered a very important truth. And that is this, when God has compassion upon a people, what does he do? He sends them preachers. By the way, the opposite is also true. When God is going to judge a people, what does he do? Well, number one, he can remove his preacher from the land like he did Elijah. Or number two, he can do like he did in the time of Jeremiah, he kept Jeremiah in the land, he just shut his mouth. Now, let me show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah, chapter three. Jeremiah, chapter three, I told you based upon Second Chronicles, chapter 36, That when God had compassion upon a people, he always sent them preachers. When God judged a people, he always took their preachers out of the land or shut their mouths. Well, look what the Bible says in Jeremiah, chapter three, beginning there in verse 14.

[John Weaver] God says, Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. Now, look at God's promise. If they will repent, if they will turn, if they will listen, God says, and I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Did you hear that? And I will give you pastors according to my heart. who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." One of the greatest mercies that we could possibly have, and one of the greatest demonstrations that God has not entirely passed us by in this country, is the fact that we still have a few men who are preaching faithfully the Word of God. And I will give you pastors, according to mine heart, who shall feed you with wisdom and knowledge and understanding. Listen to this. God's Word will do one of two things.

[John Weaver] It will either convert or condemn. It's just that simple. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. When the word of God goes forth, it does not return void. It will accomplish that which God purposes for it, whether it is reconciliation or condemnation. Individually, familially, ecclesiastically, nationally, governmentally, ever how you want to say it. Our problem, our real problem, is we're not listening to God.

[John Weaver] He said, for my ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts. For as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. And when I want you to know something, said God, when I want you to know my will and my way and my word, I will send you a preacher.

[John Weaver] Do you remember our Lord? On the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter didn't know what to say. He said, Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's build three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elijah. And about that time, a cloud covered them and a voice came from that cloud and said, This is my beloved son. Want hear ye him? We need to hear the word and the answers from God. Because those are the true and only real genuine answers.

[John Weaver] Have wonderful news for people. If I can just find some who will listen. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you to help us. Thank you for your word. Thank you for not passing us by. Thank you for the true preachers in this country who are faithfully proclaiming your word. And Father, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that thou wist indeed honor those men and honor that word that's being preached that's true and accurate. And Father, I pray that you'd grant us repentance and faith and call us back to thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen and amen.

God's Answer to America's Problems

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	73006175953
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession
Genre	Sermon
Date	2006-05-14
Dictation Name
Book	Book 042: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: God's Answer to America's Problems — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	82

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Failure of Man's Answers

Weaver connects this message to previous sermons on America's curse and hope, asserting that problems abound and human efforts—political, governmental, economic—have failed to solve them.

As we begin today, let me just point out there is a correlation between the previous messages and today's message. Actually, I took the last two messages and made them part one and part two. This actually could be part three. And although it's not part three, I think you're going to see how they go together, because we spoke, first of all, on America's curse and I showed you the curse was false and foolish preachers who were not preaching or teaching the word of God. And then from the same passage in Jeremiah also showed you America's hope. And the hope was the preaching of the gospel. Now, today, I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled God's answers to America's problems. God's answers to America's problems.

Look in Isaiah 55, verses eight and nine. God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

I need not make this statement, but I shall, because you will certainly agree with me that problems abound on every hand. It doesn't matter if we're talking about economic problems, governmental problems, immigration problems, marital problems, discipline problems, educational problems. These are just some of the problems that you and I face on a regular basis. In reality, there are many more problems in our land, and I would say pressing problems, desperate problems, problems that need an answer given to them in order to alleviate the circumstances that we're under.

And when you think of all of those problems, that's not even considering the corruption and the fraud and the crime and rebellion in this country. I mean, there's enough to really lay us low. Now let me just say, the truth is, we have failed. Let me explain what I mean by that statement. I mean that endeavoring to work out our problems politically, governmentally, economically, and in various other areas, we have failed. I mean, we still have the problems. That is why we find ourselves in the mess that we're in today. It's time to face a simple fact. Political parties will not save us. Government will not save us. Furthermore, we cannot extricate ourselves from the mess that we're in. We cannot pull ourselves up by the bootstraps, so to speak. None of that works.

God's Ways vs. Man's Ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God's answers differ entirely from man's; the contest between theonomy (God's law) and autonomy (self-law) explains why man's ways bring curses.

Do you realize that a problem is not a problem if you know the answer? The only time you have a problem is when you really do not know the answer to the problem. I read the text today to show you that God's answers to our problems are different than man's answers. Look back, if you would, in Isaiah 55. He said in verse 8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Now, what has happened is this. We have found that God's answers are entirely different from man's answers. And as I shared this with you today, the age-old contest between theonomy, that's God's law, and autonomy, that's self-law or man's law, the age-old contest between theonomy and autonomy ought to be brought into clear light. You see, the truth of the matter is this, man has gotten himself into all of these problems because we have followed our way rather than God's way. We're like Adam. You remember Adam did not want to obey God, he wanted to rebel. And so modern man does not want to obey God, he wants to rebel as well. As the Word of God says, every one of us have turned after the imagination of his own heart. Or as Isaiah said, each of us have turned to our own way. Now the book of Judges says it just a little bit differently, but the theme of the book of Judges is found in Judges 17 and verse 6, when the Bible said in those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

The Principle of Blessings and Curses (Deuteronomy 11, 28)

Obedience brings blessings that overtake us; disobedience brings curses that overtake us. This principle is national in scope.

Now, I want you to hold Isaiah 55, but look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 11. I could give you a multitude of passages that will teach this truth, but I want you to see it very succinctly from this passage. Notice Deuteronomy 11, if you would please, verses 27 and 28. Deuteronomy 11, verse 27 and verse 28. In fact, God says in verse 26,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:26-28

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse."

Then he says a blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and a curse if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which you have not known. So God says, look, I've set before you a blessing and a curse.

Blessings follow obedience and curses follow disobedience. Over and over in the Bible, God enunciates this simple principle. Now, let me just remind you that this principle, first and foremost, is national in scope. It is also applicable to individuals, to families, to churches, to communities, but it is also national in scope.

Now, I want you to look in your Bible, Deuteronomy chapter 28, and I want you to see one word particularly. You know that Deuteronomy 28 is one of the sections where God lists the blessings and the curses. There are certain blessings that will follow obedience and certain curses that will follow disobedience. This is one of my favorite passages. And this is one of my favorite words. Notice, if you would please, the Bible says in verse one,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all his commandments, which I command thee this day, the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth."

Now watch verse two.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God."

Now, I'm going to point out the word in verse 2, overtake. Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 15.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments and the statutes which I command thee this day, then all these curses shall come upon thee and what? Overtake thee."

Now, the word overtake occurs then in verse 2 and in verse 15. It occurs in relationship to the blessings as well as in relationship to the curses. The Hebrew word is nasag, which literally means to overtake, to catch hold upon, to catch up with, or to take hold on. Here is the picture that God is saying. God is saying here you are running down the road as fast and as furiously as you can in your obedience, trying to outrun my blessings.

God says my blessings will overtake you. They will catch up with you. They will knock you down. They'll jump on you and fall all over you. And you can't stop them as long as you obey me. But he said the opposite is also true. If you disobey me, here you are running from God as fast and as furiously as you may run. But God says, my curses will catch up with you. They'll jump on you and knock you down and fall all over you. And you can't stop them. Isn't that plain? Isn't that simple?

Now, the truth of the matter is this, folks. There is no way that you as an individual or as a family or as a church, or as a nation, that we can escape either the positive or the negative sanctions of God. You just cannot outrun God. Period.

The Conditioned Reliance on Man's Counsel

People instinctively turn to doctors, bankers, psychologists rather than seeking God's answer first, even when problems have spiritual roots.

Now, one of the things that we have problems with is this. We have been conditioned to listen to man. In other words, we are not conditioned to seek God's answer first. We are conditioned and geared simply to listening to man. For instance, when we get sick, the first thing we do is call the doctor. When we have economic problems, the first thing we do is call the banker. When we don't like things in our city or in our county, we call our councilman. When things go wrong in our lives, we call our psychologist or our analyst or our psychiatrist. In other words, we are geared simply to always looking to men for answers. We normally expect the advice of men to work out our problems. We very seldom check with the Lord first. We very seldom say, well, what does the Bible really have to say about this? What is God's answer to this problem? Let me show you.

I've quoted this verse frequently. If you look in First Corinthians, chapter 11, you remember the series that I did on the Lord's Supper. When you get to First Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 30, God makes a statement concerning many of those Corinthians there at the church. And he says this.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 11:30

"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

Now what is God saying? God is saying if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged of God. Here were people who were committing sins. They were eating and drinking at the Lord's table unworthily. That is an unworthy manner. And here some of them were sick, and some of them were dead. Let me tell you something. You can go to every doctor in the world, but if the source of your problem is spiritual and not physical, there's no physical doctor going to be able to help you. In other words, their physical problems, their mental, their emotional, their spiritual problems had a spiritual root, not a physical one. And let me tell you, there are many people today who are under the care of analysts, psychologists, psychiatrists, on Prozac, and all these other drugs, if they would just simply repent of their sins and obey God, they'd probably get over a lot of their problems.

But you see, we're geared to listening to men. We're geared to saying, what does man have to say? But God says man's thoughts are not his thoughts. And man's ways are not his ways.

Five Biblical Problems and God's Single Answer: A Preacher

In five Old Testament crises—Israel's bondage, Midianite oppression, corrupt priesthood, David's sin, and Jezebel's tyranny—God sent a preacher to declare His word.

Now, let me just give you a couple of illustrations today. I want to show you some problems. And let's try to figure out the answer to the problems. Let's see if God's answer would correspond to man's answer. Okay? Let's take our first problem. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 2. The book of Exodus, chapter 2. The first problem is this. Israel is in Egypt. Israel is enslaved, overworked, mistreated, hated, and despised. That's a problem. So if you look in Exodus chapter 2, beginning there in verse 23, the Bible says this,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:23-25; 3:1-10

"And it came to pass in the process of time that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of their bondage, and God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."

Now, watch if you would please, the children of Israel now are in grave bondage. They are sighing, they're groaning, they're moaning.

They're under tremendous burdens and pressure. They cry to God and God hears them. Now, here's my question. What does God do? Does God send an angelic host to destroy all the Egyptians? No. Does God send supernatural earthquakes and rend their country to pieces? No. What does God do? Look in chapter 3 in verse 1.

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and he came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, and looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." Now skip down to verse 7. "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters. For I know their sorrows, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land into a good land, and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey, unto the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the

Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites." Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me. And I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppressed them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." What did God do? He sent him a preacher. Isn't that amazing? He didn't send a militia in. He didn't send an angelic host in. He sent them a preacher.

Now, I want you to hold on, look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 18. I'm going to show you that Moses is called a prophet. He was a preacher of righteousness. In fact, Jesus Christ, the true prophet, is typified by Moses. And if you look in Deuteronomy 18, beginning in verse 17, here's what Moses tells the people. "And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken." Here's what God is saying through Moses. Look, I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto me.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 18:17-18

"I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command them."

Isn't that amazing? God says, Moses, I'm going to raise up a prophet, the true ultimate prophet like unto you. I'm going to put my words in his mouth. He'll speak my words like you speak my words. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 34 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 34 verse 10. Look what the Bible says concerning Moses. Deuteronomy 34 verse 10. "And there was not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." Moses is called a prophet, a preacher. And if you turn over in your Bibles to Hosea chapter 12, Hosea chapter 12. And notice, if you would please, verse 13, I'm just pointing out the fact that Moses is a prophet or a preacher. And Hosea chapter 12 and verse 13, the Bible says, "And by a prophet, that is by a preacher, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet, he was preserved." Now, here's the problem.

God's people are in slavery and in bondage. They're oppressed. Tyrant reigns over them. And what does God do? He doesn't use a vast military organization. He doesn't use a bureaucracy. He doesn't use a committee. He doesn't use an organization. He sends a preacher. I saw a sign that paraphrased John 3:16, and I liked it. It said this, "For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee." What did God do? God sent a preacher. Why? Why did God send the preacher?

I'll give you the answer later, but you probably already know it. Let's go to problem two. Problem two, you find the children of Israel already in the promised land. Look in your Bibles to the book of Judges. The book of Judges. The children of Israel are in the promised land, and instead of obeying God, they have disobeyed God. Judges chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. They have been extremely disobedient, and God has delivered them into the hands of their enemies.

And their oppression now is very severe. Look at Judges 6, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Judges 6:1-7

"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them the dens, which are in the mountains, and caves and strongholds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them. And they had camped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou comest to Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude.

For both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord." You're talking about a problem. That's almost like America today, where our sustenance is eaten up from us and taken from us. What is it? About 60% of the average man's income goes for taxes of some kind. For 70, you say? It's a lot. I mean, my goodness.

Here's a horrible time that the Israelites are in. I mean, they're even fearful of their lives. They're the ones digging holes and going in the caves and mountains. They're leaving their cities. They don't want to be easy targets. And so they cry to the Lord. What does God do? Look in verse seven. "And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel." Just stop there. What did God do? God sent them a preacher. You say, what good is a preacher? Well, hang on. How can a preacher deliver the people? Surely, surely the Lord needed to send a militia, or needed to send at least somebody with military training so the man could lead them in a revolution. No, he just sent a preacher. Now, here's my question. Why did God send a preacher?

You probably already know the answer, but I'm going to tell you later. Let's go to problem three. Let's go to 1 Samuel chapter 2. 1 Samuel chapter 2. The third problem is corruption in the ministry. The word of God is indeed applicable today. In 1 Samuel chapter 2, you have dishonest, corrupt, immoral and wicked preachers abounding everywhere. Just like you do today. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, beginning there in verse 12. 1 Samuel 2 verse 12.

"Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. They knew not the Lord." Look how wicked they were. "The priest's custom with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the flesh was in seething and with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand, and he struck it into the pan, or the kettle, or cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, and all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burned the fat, the priest's servants came and said to the man that sacrificed, Now look, give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth, then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it by force."

"Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord." Skip down, if you would please, to verse 22. The Bible says, "Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him, notwithstanding they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them."

Skip down to verse 27. "And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, and to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Verse 29, Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore, the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord saith, Be it far from me, for of them that honor me will I honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

Now, as you examine the sins of Hophni and Phinehas and all these others that were associated with them, you will find a striking parallel with the sins of the preachers in America. I've got news for you folks. Preachers in this country are falling like flies to immorality, to fraud, to corruption, to compromise. Why are they falling like that? Let me tell you why. Because they have denigrated, despised, and denounced and denied the law of God. God's law is His standard. Now look, if God's law is not your standard, that means you're going to have to make or manufacture your own standard. And how many men are going to make a standard that is displeasing to their flesh and displeasing to their lust? None by nature. They're going to make a standard that they like and will let them do whatever they want and get by with it.

Now, let me ask you a question. Here it is. What did God do in this situation? Well, the answer is this. God sent him a prophet. God sent him a preacher. You say, but what do you mean, Brother Weaver? God destroyed Hophni and Phinehas. Yes, he did. Later on. But God still sent a prophet. Look in 1 Samuel 3 and verse 1. "And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 3:1, 20

There was no open vision." Now skip down to 1 Samuel 3, verse 20. "And all Israel, from Dan, even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord." God sent a preacher. Why did God send a preacher? I'm sure you probably already know the answer, but I'll tell you later, let's go to problem four. Problem four, I want you to turn to 2 Samuel chapter 11. 2 Samuel chapter 11.

Now, the problems that we're talking about prevail in our country today. In problem number four, the highest governmental leader has sinned. In fact, he is not only guilty of treason. That's certainly applicable today, isn't it? But he's also guilty of adultery. That, too, is applicable today. He's also guilty of murder. That, as well, is applicable today. The interesting thing is, this civil ruler had tried to hide his sin and rebellion.

His commander-in-chief knew about it, and the king was in danger of being blackmailed. Well, look in 2 Samuel chapter 11. You know the story there, beginning with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1, 13

"And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."

And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1, 13

"And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

Now, you know the story. Surely, such a wicked, sinful man should be dethroned, kicked out of the office and put to death. And the truth is that is what would have normally happened. However, God did an unusual thing. What did he do? Well, look at 2 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 1. "And the Lord sent Nathan unto David." What? God sent a preacher. The highest civil leader in the land commits treason, murder, and adultery. And what does God do? God sends a preacher. Why? Why did God send the preacher? Well, you probably already know the answer, but I'll give it to you later. Let's go to problem five. Problem number five, and you will find this in your Bibles, in 1 Kings chapter 19, you want to turn there. Problem number five is this.

Wicked, vile persons have taken control of the government. Oh, is that one applicable? Wicked, vile persons have taken control of the government. They are oppressing the people. They're killing and stealing and ruling tyrannically. God's preachers are being killed, imprisoned, destroyed. False preachers are being elevated and are feeding at the governmental trough. Wow. The problem is, this was not just in Israel, it prevailed throughout the entire region.

And I'm sure that you can read about this in 1 Kings chapter 19. If you look there, please, beginning with verse one, 1 Kings 19, verse one.

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 19:1-2, 11-16

"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying, so let the gods do so to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."

So Elijah now has killed all 400 prophets of Baal. Cut off their heads. Jezebel, as wicked and vile as she can be, said, by this time tomorrow, you'll be like them. I'll have you killed as well. You remember the story. The prophets of God who were not killed were hidden in a cave, being fed with bread and water, while the prophets of Baal were feeding sumptuously at the king's table. Oh, I tell you what. You talk about problems and tyranny. Well, what does God do? Well, look at 1 Kings chapter 19 and let's begin there with verse 11. You remember, Elijah goes before the Lord and God speaks to Elijah and he says, "Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord and behold, the Lord passed by in a great and strong wind, rent the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice." And it was so when Elijah heard it, and he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entering of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?"

And he said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with a sword. And I, even I only am left, and they seek my life to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus. Now look, and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, and Jehu the son of Nimshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." Now, what did God do? God said, alright Elijah, if your time is about over, fine. You go and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, you anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, and you anoint Elisha to take your place. Now, the question is, why did God do this? Why did God do that? Well, God is sending a preacher. What good is a preacher? Well, I'll give you the answer a little bit later, but you probably already know it.

Why God Sends Preachers: To Declare His Answer

God sends preachers to proclaim His will; when people reject it, He judges. His Word always accomplishes its purpose—either reconciliation or condemnation.

Because God's answers are not the same as man's answers. And God sends his preacher. Are you listening? To declare his word. And his answer to the problems.

Now, let's go back to problem one. What was problem one? The children of Israel were in Egypt, enslaved by Pharaoh. And what did God do? God sent Moses. And Moses said, "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go." Well, what did Pharaoh do? Pharaoh refused to let Israel go. "I know not the Lord," said Pharaoh, "neither will I let Israel go." The Egyptians then refused to hear and to heed the word of God. And what did God do? God destroyed Pharaoh, the firstborn. He destroyed Egypt. He destroyed the gods of Egypt. God did not need an army. God did not need a militia. He only sent a preacher. Why?

Because God's quite capable of cleaning people's plow by himself. He doesn't really need any help. You see, the truth is this. God does use us occasionally. And we're happy that we can be used by God. But the truth of the matter is God does not need us. God can act alone. And when you read in the Bible, it is God who moved through Egypt and destroyed the firstborn. So why did God send the preacher? God sent the preacher to declare His will and declare His word. And when the people refused, God judged them. God destroyed them.

Go back to problem two. The preacher. In fact, turn in your Bibles to Judges chapter six, go back there. Israel is in the land, but disobedient. They are under severe oppression. Everything they have is being stolen and taken from them. So they cry to the Lord in Judges chapter six, look at it. Beginning there in verse 7, "And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, who said unto them, This is why God sent a preacher, so he could declare God's answer to the problem. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land. And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God, fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell, but you have not obeyed my voice."

Now what did the preacher do? He said, the problem is with you. The problem is you're sinful, you're wicked, you're rebelling. You're just not obeying God. There's God's answer and there's man's answer. Which one are you taking? You want to know why you're cursed? You know why your enemies are on top? You want to know why you have economic problems? You want to know why your land is invaded? I'll tell you why. You disobeyed me. That's why God sent a preacher. Because he said, I want you to hear my answer to your problem. Go to problem number three. God's true preacher, little Samuel, was raised up to confront Hophni and Phinehas and the other false priests. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 3, beginning there in verse 11. 1 Samuel 3, verse 11. "And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone that hear it shall tingle.

And that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. 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 or offering forever." And what is God doing? God's telling his preacher what to tell Eli and what to tell the others. What is it? It's a message of death and destruction. You say, well, the result is God killed them, yes, but before he did, He sent a preacher to them to declare His word. You say, but, oh, it didn't work. I mean, they didn't repent. Well, go back in your Bibles, Isaiah 55.

Let me show you something. Isaiah 55, look at verse 11. What does God say?

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 55:11

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. It shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it."

God's Word is going to always prosper into that which He sends it. It's going to always accomplish His mission. You've got to understand that God doesn't always send His Word for reconciliation. Sometimes He sends it for condemnation. Did God's Word work? Oh, yes. They were condemned. And they were destroyed. So God doesn't always send his word for reconciliation. Sometimes he sends it for condemnation. And Samuel proclaimed the word of the Lord, it happened to be a word of condemnation, and it did work for God did destroy them. Problem number four.

The Real Problem: Refusing to Hear God

America's problems are symptoms; the root is unwillingness to hear God's Word. When God has compassion, He sends preachers; when He judges, He removes them.

Now, the problems we face in America, listen, the problems we face in America are not our main problem. The problems we see in America are merely the symptoms. And unhappily, most people had rather deal with the symptom than the root of the problem. Every problem has a solution. Our real problem is we don't hear what God has to say. We don't want to hear his answer to the problem, we do not want to hear his solution to the problem. What we want is man's answers, and all man's answers do is to get us deeper and deeper in trouble. In five instances, God never changed.

He just sent a preacher. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 36. 2 Chronicles 36 and look at verses 14 through 17. 2 Chronicles 36, verse 14. Watch this very carefully now. This is very important. 2 Chronicles 36, verse 14. "Moreover, the chief of the priests and the people transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the Lord, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem." So what are the people doing?

Sinning, rebelling, being wicked, ungodly. Verse 15, "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes and sending." Why was God sending these preachers? Here's why. Because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But what did the people do? "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy.

Therefore, he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees who slew their young men with a sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age. He gave them all into his hand." Let me tell you something, folks, there comes a time when we continue to refuse to hear God's words, then God's mercy comes to an end, and He sends forth His judgment. I have wonderful news for Americans who are willing and ready to repent and obey God. If I could just find some. God has the answer. God has the solution. I have wonderful news for individuals, for families, for churches and for nations that will hear and heed the word of God.

Now, let me tell you something, if you paid close attention to Second Chronicles 36 and verse 15, you discovered a very important truth. And that is this, when God has compassion upon a people, what does he do? He sends them preachers. By the way, the opposite is also true. When God is going to judge a people, what does he do? Well, number one, he can remove his preacher from the land like he did Elijah. Or number two, he can do like he did in the time of Jeremiah, he kept Jeremiah in the land, he just shut his mouth. Now, let me show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah, chapter three. Jeremiah, chapter three, I told you based upon Second Chronicles, chapter 36, that when God had compassion upon a people, he always sent them preachers. When God judged a people, he always took their preachers out of the land or shut their mouths. Well, look what the Bible says in Jeremiah, chapter three, beginning there in verse 14.

God says, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion." Now, look at God's promise. If they will repent, if they will turn, if they will listen, God says, "and I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Did you hear that? "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." One of the greatest mercies that we could possibly have, and one of the greatest demonstrations that God has not entirely passed us by in this country, is the fact that we still have a few men who are preaching faithfully the Word of God. And I will give you pastors, according to mine heart, who shall feed you with wisdom and knowledge and understanding. Listen to this. God's Word will do one of two things.

Conclusion: God's Mercy in Sending Preachers

God's promise to give pastors who feed with knowledge is a sign of mercy. The same Word that converts also condemns; we must hear God's beloved Son.

It will either convert or condemn. It's just that simple. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. When the word of God goes forth, it does not return void. It will accomplish that which God purposes for it, whether it is reconciliation or condemnation. Individually, familially, ecclesiastically, nationally, governmentally, ever how you want to say it. Our problem, our real problem, is we're not listening to God.

He said, "For my ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts. For as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." And when I want you to know something, said God, when I want you to know my will and my way and my word, I will send you a preacher. Do you remember our Lord? On the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter didn't know what to say. He said, "Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's build three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elijah." And about that time, a cloud covered them and a voice came from that cloud and said, "This is my beloved son. Hear ye him." We need to hear the word and the answers from God. Because those are the true and only real genuine answers.

Have wonderful news for people. If I can just find some who will listen. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you to help us. Thank you for your word. Thank you for not passing us by. Thank you for the true preachers in this country who are faithfully proclaiming your word. And Father, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that thou wouldst indeed honor those men and honor that word that's being preached that's true and accurate. And Father, I pray that you'd grant us repentance and faith and call us back to thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen and amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Insufficiency of Man's Solutions

Summary: Human political, economic, and social efforts cannot solve America's problems because they ignore God's law and rely on autonomous reasoning.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Political parties will not save us. Government will not save us. Furthermore, we cannot extricate ourselves from the mess that we're in.'

The Principle of Sanctions: Blessings and Curses

Summary: Obedience to God's commandments brings blessings that overtake us; disobedience brings curses that overtake us, both individually and nationally.

Evidence: From Deuteronomy 28:2,15, Weaver explains the Hebrew word 'nasag' meaning to overtake, illustrating that God's blessings or curses will catch up with us.

God's Answer Is a Preacher

Summary: In every biblical crisis examined, God's response was to send a preacher to declare His word, not a military or political solution.

Evidence: Weaver traces five Old Testament examples: Moses, the unnamed prophet in Judges, Samuel, Nathan, and Elijah/Elisha.

The Dual Effect of God's Word

Summary: God's Word always accomplishes its purpose—either converting the repentant or condemning the rebellious; it never returns void.

Evidence: Citing Isaiah 55:11, Weaver says, 'God doesn't always send His Word for reconciliation. Sometimes He sends it for condemnation.'

The Root Problem: Refusal to Hear God

Summary: America's real problem is not its symptoms but its unwillingness to listen to God's answers; people prefer man's counsel.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Our real problem is we don't hear what God has to say. We don't want to hear his answer to the problem.'

God's Compassion Evidenced by Sending Preachers

Summary: When God has compassion, He sends preachers; when He judges, He removes them or shuts their mouths. The presence of faithful preachers is a mercy.

Evidence: From 2 Chronicles 36:15 and Jeremiah 3:14-15, Weaver argues that God's sending of messengers demonstrates compassion.

Key Arguments

Man's ways are under God's curse

Summary: Because man follows his own way rather than God's, his solutions are under negative sanctions and ultimately fail.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'man's answers and man's ways really do not work, and that man's answers and man's ways are basically under the negative sanctions of God.'

God's method is to send a preacher, not a committee

Summary: In every crisis, God's answer was a prophet to declare His word, not a human institution or military force.

Evidence: Weaver quips, 'For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee.' He then lists five biblical examples.

The preacher's role is to declare God's answer

Summary: The preacher's job is to proclaim 'Thus saith the Lord,' revealing the spiritual root of problems and calling for repentance.

Evidence: In Judges 6, the prophet says, 'Thus saith the Lord God of Israel... you have not obeyed my voice.'

God's Word either converts or condemns

Summary: The same message that brings life to the repentant brings judgment to the rebellious; it always accomplishes God's purpose.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'God's Word will do one of two things. It will either convert or condemn.'

Refusal to hear God leads to judgment without remedy

Summary: When people persistently mock and reject God's messengers, His wrath arises until there is no remedy, as in 2 Chronicles 36.

Evidence: Weaver reads, 'they mocked the messengers of God... until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy.'

The presence of faithful preachers is a sign of God's mercy

Summary: God's promise to give pastors according to His heart is a demonstration that He has not entirely abandoned a people.

Evidence: Weaver cites Jeremiah 3:15: 'And I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.'

Scripture References

Isaiah 55:8-9

Context: God's thoughts and ways are higher than man's; His answers differ from human solutions.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Context: God sets before Israel a blessing for obedience and a curse for disobedience.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

Context: Blessings and curses will overtake those who obey or disobey; the Hebrew word 'nasag' means to catch hold upon.

Exodus 2:23-25; 3:1-10

Context: Israel cries out in bondage; God sends Moses, a prophet, to deliver them.

Deuteronomy 18:17-18

Context: God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, putting His words in his mouth.

Deuteronomy 34:10

Context: Moses is called a prophet whom the Lord knew face to face.

Hosea 12:13

Context: By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and preserved them.

Judges 6:1-7

Context: Israel oppressed by Midian cries to the Lord; He sends a prophet to declare their disobedience.

1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-29

Context: Corrupt priests Hophni and Phinehas sin; God sends a man of God to Eli with a message of judgment.

1 Samuel 3:1, 20

Context: Samuel is established as a prophet of the Lord in a time when the word was precious.

2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1, 13

Context: David's sin with Bathsheba; God sends Nathan the prophet; David repents and is pardoned.

1 Kings 19:1-2, 11-16

Context: Elijah flees Jezebel; God sends him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha to execute judgment.

Isaiah 55:11

Context: God's Word will not return void but will accomplish His purpose.

2 Kings 10:32-33

Context: Hazael smites Israel as part of God's judgment.

2 Kings 6:14-23

Context: Elisha oversees the defeat of the Syrian army through divine intervention.

2 Kings 13:14-19

Context: Elisha directs King Joash in shooting the arrow of the Lord's deliverance against Syria.

2 Chronicles 36:14-17

Context: People mocked God's messengers until wrath came without remedy; God sent the Chaldeans to destroy them.

Jeremiah 3:14-15

Context: God promises to give pastors according to His heart who will feed with knowledge and understanding if people repent.

1 Corinthians 11:30

Context: Many are weak and sickly among the Corinthians because of unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper; spiritual root of physical problems.

Judges 17:6

Context: In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Historical References

Dr. Spock's child-rearing philosophy

Context: Weaver cites Dr. Spock as an example of man's advice that led to a generation of rebellious children, contrasting it with biblical discipline.

Puritan adage about sinners

Context: Weaver quotes the Puritans: 'We have great news for sinners. If we can only find some,' emphasizing the scarcity of those willing to repent.

Important Quotes

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Significance: Foundational text establishing that God's solutions differ radically from human reasoning.

Political parties will not save us. Government will not save us. Furthermore, we cannot extricate ourselves from the mess that we're in.

Significance: Summarizes the sermon's thesis that human institutions are powerless to solve America's problems.

God's answers to our problems are different than man's answers.

Significance: Core argument that divine solutions are not merely better but categorically distinct.

Blessings follow obedience and curses follow disobedience.

Significance: Simple statement of the sanctions principle that undergirds the entire message.

God says my blessings will overtake you. They will catch up with you. They will knock you down. They'll jump on you and fall all over you. And you can't stop them as long as you obey me.

Significance: Vivid illustration of the inevitability of divine sanctions, both positive and negative.

For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee.

Significance: Memorable paraphrase highlighting God's method of sending a preacher rather than a human organization.

And I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Significance: God's promise of faithful shepherds as a sign of mercy and the means of restoration.

Discussion Questions

Why does Weaver argue that political and governmental solutions cannot solve America's problems?

Context: Weaver claims that man's answers are under God's curse and that only God's Word through preachers provides true solutions.

How does the principle of blessings and curses from Deuteronomy 28 apply to nations today?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that the overtaking nature of sanctions is national in scope, not just individual.

In what ways are we conditioned to seek man's counsel before God's Word, and how can we change that?

Context: Weaver lists doctors, bankers, psychologists as default human authorities we turn to instead of Scripture.

Why does God send a preacher rather than a military or political solution in the five Old Testament examples?

Context: Each crisis (bondage, oppression, corruption, sin, tyranny) was addressed by a prophet declaring God's word.

What does it mean that God's Word either converts or condemns, and how should that affect our hearing of sermons?

Context: Weaver explains that the same message can bring life or judgment depending on the hearer's response.

How can we discern whether the presence of faithful preachers is a sign of God's mercy or impending judgment?

Context: Weaver notes that God sends preachers in compassion but also sometimes sends them with a message of condemnation.

What does it look like for a nation to 'mock the messengers of God' today, and what are the consequences?

Context: From 2 Chronicles 36, Weaver warns that persistent rejection of God's messengers leads to judgment without remedy.

How does the promise of pastors according to God's heart (Jeremiah 3:15) give hope for America?

Context: Weaver presents this as a conditional promise if people repent, linking it to the need for faithful preaching.

Applications

Seek God's answer first in every problem

Summary: Instead of instinctively turning to human experts, believers should consult Scripture and seek God's will as the primary response to crises.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We very seldom check with the Lord first. We very seldom say, well, what does the Bible really have to say about this?'

Repent of disobedience to avert curses

Summary: Individuals and nations must turn from sin and obey God's commandments to escape the overtaking curses described in Deuteronomy 28.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'if they would just simply repent of their sins and obey God, they'd probably get over a lot of their problems.'

Value and support faithful preachers

Summary: Recognize that God's mercy is demonstrated by the presence of pastors who feed with knowledge; pray for and honor those who proclaim God's Word accurately.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'One of the greatest mercies that we could possibly have... is the fact that we still have a few men who are preaching faithfully the Word of God.'

Hear God's Word with readiness to obey

Summary: Approach preaching not as mere information but as God's answer that demands a response of repentance and faith, lest it become condemnation.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'We need to hear the word and the answers from God. Because those are the true and only real genuine answers.'

Distinguish between symptoms and root problems

Summary: Address the spiritual root of societal issues—rebellion against God—rather than merely treating surface symptoms with human solutions.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The problems we see in America are merely the symptoms... Our real problem is we don't hear what God has to say.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:13:18Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:20:55Z

Clean Transcript

God's Answer to America's Problems

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

As we begin today, let me just point out there is a correlation between the previous messages and today's message. Actually, I took the last two messages and made them part one and part two. This actually could be part three. And although it's not part three, I think you're going to see how they go together, because we spoke, first of all, on America's curse and I showed you the curse was false and foolish preachers who were not preaching or teaching the word of God. And then from the same passage in Jeremiah also showed you America's hope. And the hope was the preaching of the gospel. Now, today, I'm going to bring a message which I've entitled God's answers to America's problems. God's answers to America's problems.
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Look in Isaiah 55, verses eight and nine. God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." I need not make this statement, but I shall, because you will certainly agree with me that problems abound on every hand. It doesn't matter if we're talking about economic problems, governmental problems, immigration problems, marital problems, discipline problems, educational problems. These are just some of the problems that you and I face on a regular basis. In reality, there are many more problems in our land, and I would say pressing problems, desperate problems, problems that need an answer given to them in order to alleviate the circumstances that we're under.
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And when you think of all of those problems, that's not even considering the corruption and the fraud and the crime and rebellion in this country. I mean, there's enough to really lay us low.
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Now let me just say, the truth is, we have failed. Let me explain what I mean by that statement. I mean that endeavoring to work out our problems politically, governmentally, economically, and in various other areas, we have failed. I mean, we still have the problems. That is why we find ourselves in the mess that we're in today. It's time to face a simple fact. Political parties will not save us. Government will not save us. Furthermore, we cannot extricate ourselves from the mess that we're in. We cannot pull ourselves up by the bootstraps, so to speak. None of that works.
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Do you realize that a problem is not a problem if you know the answer? The only time you have a problem is when you really do not know the answer to the problem. I read the text today to show you that God's answers to our problems are different than man's answers. Look back, if you would, in Isaiah 55. He said in verse 8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
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Now, what has happened is this. We have found that God's answers are entirely different from man's answers. And as I shared this with you today, the age-old contest between theonomy, that's God's law, and autonomy, that's self-law or man's law, the age-old contest between theonomy and autonomy ought to be brought into clear light. You see, the truth of the matter is this, man has gotten himself into all of these problems because we have followed our way rather than God's way. We're like Adam. You remember Adam did not want to obey God, he wanted to rebel. And so modern man does not want to obey God, he wants to rebel as well. As the Word of God says, every one of us have turned after the imagination of his own heart. Or as Isaiah said, each of us have turned to our own way. Now the book of Judges says it just a little bit differently, but the theme of the book of Judges is found in Judges 17 and verse 6, when the Bible said in those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
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So instead of listening to God, we've simply done that which was right in our own eyes. Now, please understand something. I mentioned in the last two messages sanctions. There are positive sanctions, there are negative sanctions. We have found, or at least we should have discovered, that man's answers and man's ways really do not work, and that man's answers and man's ways are basically under the negative sanctions of God. That is, they're under the curse of God.
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Now, I want you to hold Isaiah 55, but look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 11. I could give you a multitude of passages that will teach this truth, but I want you to see it very succinctly from this passage. Notice Deuteronomy 11, if you would please, verses 27 and 28. Deuteronomy 11, verse 27 and verse 28. In fact, God says in verse 26, "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse." Then he says a blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and a curse if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which you have not known. So God says, look, I've set before you a blessing and a curse.
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Blessings follow obedience and curses follow disobedience. Over and over in the Bible, God enunciates this simple principle.
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Now, let me just remind you that this principle, first and foremost, is national in scope. It is also applicable to individuals, to families, to churches, to communities, but it is also national in scope.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bible, Deuteronomy chapter 28, and I want you to see one word particularly. You know that Deuteronomy 28 is one of the sections where God lists the blessings and the curses. There are certain blessings that will follow obedience and certain curses that will follow disobedience. This is one of my favorite passages. And this is one of my favorite words. Notice, if you would please, the Bible says in verse one, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all his commandments, which I command thee this day, the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all
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the nations of the earth." Now watch verse two. "And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God." Now, I'm going to point out the word in verse 2, overtake. Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 15. "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments and the statutes which I command thee this day, then all these curses shall come upon thee and what? Overtake thee." Now, the word overtake occurs then in verse 2 and in verse 15. It occurs in relationship to the blessings as well as in relationship to the curses. The Hebrew word is nasag, which literally means to overtake, to catch hold upon, to catch up with, or to take hold on. Here is the picture that God is saying. God is saying here you are running down the road as fast and as furiously as you can in your obedience, trying to outrun my blessings.
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God says my blessings will overtake you. They will catch up with you. They will knock you down. They'll jump on you and fall all over you. And you can't stop them as long as you obey me. But he said the opposite is also true. If you disobey me, here you are running from God as fast and as furiously as you may run. But God says, my curses will catch up with you. They'll jump on you and knock you down and fall all over you. And you can't stop them. Isn't that plain? Isn't that simple?
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Now, the truth of the matter is this, folks. There is no way that you as an individual or as a family or as a church, or as a nation, that we can escape either the positive or the negative sanctions of God. You just cannot outrun God. Period.
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Now, the Puritans used to have an adage that they were fond of saying. I like the adage. The Puritans said this, we have great news for sinners. If we can only find some.
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Now, stop and think about that. You said, Brother Weaver, finding sinners is not difficult. They're on every hand. Well, that's true. But finding sinners who are ready to repent and willing to listen to the word of God, it's a whole horse of a different color. The great news is not just for sinners. The great news is for sinners who are ready and willing and want to repent. You see, likewise, finding answers is not difficult. Do you realize there's an answer to every problem? There's an answer to the immigration problem that we're having in this country. There's an answer to the economic problem. There's an answer to governmental problems. The problem is not that there are no answers. The problem is we can't find anyone who wants to hear what God has to say. Everybody wants to follow what man says. So most of us are just simply not willing or ready to hear what God demands.
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In the 40 plus years that I've been preaching, I've witnessed the demise of many marriages, the loss of families, the loss of material possessions, and even the loss of lives simply because some would not listen to the word of God and would not apply the truth.
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Now, let me tell you, you may have God's answer or you may have man's answer. What did God say? God said, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. I set before you a blessing and a cursing. And that's simple. You cannot have both. And you say, well, what I'm going to do is I'm going to take man's answer, but man's answer not only compounds, but exacerbates the problem. And man's answer will ultimately just simply bring you to ruin.
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Let me give you an illustration. Now, I know you younger people will not remember this, but those who are middle-aged and older, there was a generation who listened to Dr. Spock. Dr. Spock owned children. They refused to listen to the Word of God. No, no, they didn't want to discipline their children based upon the teaching of the Word of God. They listened to Dr. Spock. And guess what? We sired a whole generation of rebellious, undisciplined children. And you remember Dr. Spock, before he died, confessed and acknowledged that he was wrong.
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But it was too late. A whole generation, basically, had been ruined.
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Now, one of the things that we have problems with is this. We have been conditioned to listen to man. In other words, we are not conditioned to seek God's answer first. We are conditioned and geared simply to listening to man. For instance, when we get sick, the first thing we do is call the doctor. When we have economic problems, the first thing we do is call the banker. When we don't like things in our city or in our county, we call our councilman. When things go wrong in our lives, we call our psychologist or our analyst or our psychiatrist. In other words, we are geared simply to always looking to men for answers. We normally expect the advice of men to work out our problems. We very seldom check with the Lord first. We very seldom say, well, what does the Bible really have to say about this? What is God's answer to this problem? Let me show you.
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I've quoted this verse frequently. If you look in First Corinthians, chapter 11, you remember the series that I did on the Lord's Supper. When you get to First Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 30, God makes a statement concerning many of those Corinthians there at the church. And he says this. "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." Now what is God saying? God is saying if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged of God.
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Here were people who were committing sins. They were eating and drinking at the Lord's table unworthily. That is an unworthy manner. And here some of them were sick, and some of them were dead. Let me tell you something. You can go to every doctor in the world, but if the source of your problem is spiritual and not physical, there's no physical doctor going to be able to help you. In other words, their physical problems, their mental, their emotional, their spiritual problems had a spiritual root, not a physical one. And let me tell you, there are many people today who are under the care of analysts, psychologists, psychiatrists, on Prozac, and all these other drugs, if they would just simply repent of their sins and obey God, they'd probably get over a lot of their problems.
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But you see, we're geared to listening to men. We're geared to saying, what does man have to say? But God says man's thoughts are not his thoughts. And man's ways are not his ways.
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Now, let me just give you a couple of illustrations today. I want to show you some problems. And let's try to figure out the answer to the problems. Let's see if God's answer would correspond to man's answer. Okay? Let's take our first problem. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 2. The book of Exodus, chapter 2. The first problem is this. Israel is in Egypt. Israel is enslaved, overworked, mistreated, hated, and despised. That's a problem. So if you look in Exodus chapter 2, beginning there in verse 23, the Bible says this, "And it came to pass in the process of time that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of their bondage, and God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." Now, watch if you would please, the children of Israel now are in grave bondage. They are sighing, they're groaning, they're moaning.
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They're under tremendous burdens and pressure. They cry to God and God hears them. Now, here's my question. What does God do? Does God send an angelic host to destroy all the Egyptians? No. Does God send supernatural earthquakes and rend their country to pieces? No. What does God do? Look in chapter 3 in verse 1.
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"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and he came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, and looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
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Now skip down to verse 7. "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters. For I know their sorrows, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land into a good land, and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey, unto the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the
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Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites." Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me. And I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppressed them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." What did God do? He sent him a preacher. Isn't that amazing? He didn't send a militia in. He didn't send an angelic host in. He sent them a preacher.
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Now, I want you to hold on, look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 18. I'm going to show you that Moses is called a prophet. He was a preacher of righteousness. In fact, Jesus Christ, the true prophet, is typified by Moses. And if you look in Deuteronomy 18, beginning in verse 17, here's what Moses tells the people. "And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken." Here's what God is saying through Moses. Look, I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto me.
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"I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command them." Isn't that amazing? God says, Moses, I'm going to raise up a prophet, the true ultimate prophet like unto you. I'm going to put my words in his mouth. He'll speak my words like you speak my words. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 34 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 34 verse 10. Look what the Bible says concerning Moses. Deuteronomy 34 verse 10. "And there was not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." Moses is called a prophet, a preacher. And if you turn over in your Bibles to Hosea chapter 12, Hosea chapter 12. And notice, if you would please, verse 13, I'm just pointing out the fact that Moses is a prophet or a preacher. And Hosea chapter 12 and verse 13, the Bible says, "And by a prophet, that is by a preacher, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet, he was preserved." Now, here's the problem.
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God's people are in slavery and in bondage. They're oppressed. Tyrant reigns over them. And what does God do? He doesn't use a vast military organization. He doesn't use a bureaucracy. He doesn't use a committee. He doesn't use an organization. He sends a preacher. I saw a sign that paraphrased John 3:16, and I liked it. It said this, "For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee." What did God do? God sent a preacher. Why? Why did God send the preacher?
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I'll give you the answer later, but you probably already know it. Let's go to problem two. Problem two, you find the children of Israel already in the promised land. Look in your Bibles to the book of Judges. The book of Judges. The children of Israel are in the promised land, and instead of obeying God, they have disobeyed God. Judges chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. They have been extremely disobedient, and God has delivered them into the hands of their enemies.
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And their oppression now is very severe. Look at Judges 6, verse 1. "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them the dens, which are in the mountains, and caves and strongholds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them. And they had camped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou comest to Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude.
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For both they and their camels were without number, and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord." You're talking about a problem. That's almost like America today, where our sustenance is eaten up from us and taken from us. What is it? About 60% of the average man's income goes for taxes of some kind. For 70, you say? It's a lot. I mean, my goodness.
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Here's a horrible time that the Israelites are in. I mean, they're even fearful of their lives. They're the ones digging holes and going in the caves and mountains. They're leaving their cities. They don't want to be easy targets. And so they cry to the Lord. What does God do? Look in verse seven. "And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel." Just stop there. What did God do? God sent them a preacher. You say, what good is a preacher? Well, hang on. How can a preacher deliver the people? Surely, surely the Lord needed to send a militia, or needed to send at least somebody with military training so the man could lead them in a revolution. No, he just sent a preacher. Now, here's my question. Why did God send a preacher?
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You probably already know the answer, but I'm going to tell you later. Let's go to problem three. Let's go to 1 Samuel chapter 2. 1 Samuel chapter 2. The third problem is corruption in the ministry. The word of God is indeed applicable today. In 1 Samuel chapter 2, you have dishonest, corrupt, immoral and wicked preachers abounding everywhere. Just like you do today. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 2, beginning there in verse 12. 1 Samuel 2 verse 12.
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"Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. They knew not the Lord." Look how wicked they were. "The priest's custom with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the flesh was in seething and with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand, and he struck it into the pan, or the kettle, or cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh hook brought
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up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, and all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burned the fat, the priest's servants came and said to the man that sacrificed, Now look, give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth, then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it by force."
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"Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord." Skip down, if you would please, to verse 22. The Bible says, "Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do you such things?
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For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him, notwithstanding they hearken not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them."
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Skip down to verse 27. "And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, and to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Verse 29, Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore, the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord saith, Be it far from me, for of them that honor me will I honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
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Now, as you examine the sins of Hophni and Phinehas and all these others that were associated with them, you will find a striking parallel with the sins of the preachers in America. I've got news for you folks. Preachers in this country are falling like flies to immorality, to fraud, to corruption, to compromise. Why are they falling like that? Let me tell you why. Because they have denigrated, despised, and denounced and denied the law of God. God's law is His standard. Now look, if God's law is not your standard, that means you're going to have to make or manufacture your own standard. And how many men are going to make a standard that is displeasing to their flesh and displeasing to their lust? None by nature. They're going to make a standard that they like and will let them do whatever they want and get by with it.
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Now, let me ask you a question. Here it is. What did God do in this situation? Well, the answer is this. God sent him a prophet. God sent him a preacher. You say, but what do you mean, Brother Weaver? God destroyed Hophni and Phinehas. Yes, he did. Later on. But God still sent a prophet. Look in 1 Samuel 3 and verse 1. "And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days.
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There was no open vision." Now skip down to 1 Samuel 3, verse 20. "And all Israel, from Dan, even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord." God sent a preacher. Why did God send a preacher? I'm sure you probably already know the answer, but I'll tell you later, let's go to problem four. Problem four, I want you to turn to 2 Samuel chapter 11. 2 Samuel chapter 11.
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Now, the problems that we're talking about prevail in our country today. In problem number four, the highest governmental leader has sinned. In fact, he is not only guilty of treason. That's certainly applicable today, isn't it? But he's also guilty of adultery. That, too, is applicable today. He's also guilty of murder. That, as well, is applicable today. The interesting thing is, this civil ruler had tried to hide his sin and rebellion.
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His commander-in-chief knew about it, and the king was in danger of being blackmailed. Well, look in 2 Samuel chapter 11. You know the story there, beginning with verse 1. "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem." And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman.
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"And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Now, you know the story. Surely, such a wicked, sinful man should be dethroned, kicked out of the office and put to death. And the truth is that is what would have normally happened. However, God did an unusual thing. What did he do? Well, look at 2 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 1.
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"And the Lord sent Nathan unto David." What? God sent a preacher. The highest civil leader in the land commits treason, murder, and adultery. And what does God do? God sends a preacher. Why? Why did God send the preacher? Well, you probably already know the answer, but I'll give it to you later. Let's go to problem five. Problem number five, and you will find this in your Bibles, in 1 Kings chapter 19, you want to turn there. Problem number five is this.
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Wicked, vile persons have taken control of the government. Oh, is that one applicable? Wicked, vile persons have taken control of the government. They are oppressing the people. They're killing and stealing and ruling tyrannically. God's preachers are being killed, imprisoned, destroyed. False preachers are being elevated and are feeding at the governmental trough. Wow. The problem is, this was not just in Israel, it prevailed throughout the entire region.
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And I'm sure that you can read about this in 1 Kings chapter 19. If you look there, please, beginning with verse one, 1 Kings 19, verse one. "And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying, so let the gods do so to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." So Elijah now has killed all 400 prophets of Baal. Cut off their heads. Jezebel, as wicked and vile as she can be, said, by this time tomorrow, you'll be like them. I'll have you killed as well. You remember the story. The prophets of God who were not killed were hidden in a cave, being fed with bread and water, while the prophets of Baal were feeding sumptuously at the king's table.
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Oh, I tell you what. You talk about problems and tyranny. Well, what does God do? Well, look at 1 Kings chapter 19 and let's begin there with verse 11. You remember, Elijah goes before the Lord and God speaks to Elijah and he says, "Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord and behold, the Lord passed by in a great and strong wind, rent the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice." And it was so when Elijah heard it, and he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entering of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?"
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And he said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with a sword. And I, even I only am left, and they seek my life to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus. Now look, and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, and Jehu the son of Nimshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." Now, what did God do? God said, alright Elijah, if your time is about over, fine. You go and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, you anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, and you anoint Elisha to take your place. Now, the question is, why did God do this? Why did God do that? Well, God is sending a preacher. What good is a preacher? Well, I'll give you the answer a little bit later, but you probably already know it.
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All right. Let's look back in our Bibles to Isaiah 55. Look at it. Isaiah 55. In each instance and each of the problems, God sent a preacher. No matter how grave, no matter how difficult the problem was, God sent a preacher. Why? Look in verse 8. God says in Isaiah 55, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." So God then sends a preacher. Why?
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Because God's answers are not the same as man's answers. And God sends his preacher. Are you listening? To declare his word. And his answer to the problems.
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Now, let's go back to problem one. What was problem one? The children of Israel were in Egypt, enslaved by Pharaoh. And what did God do? God sent Moses. And Moses said, "Thus saith the Lord, let my people go." Well, what did Pharaoh do? Pharaoh refused to let Israel go. "I know not the Lord," said Pharaoh, "neither will I let Israel go." The Egyptians then refused to hear and to heed the word of God. And what did God do? God destroyed Pharaoh, the firstborn. He destroyed Egypt. He destroyed the gods of Egypt. God did not need an army. God did not need a militia. He only sent a preacher. Why?
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Because God's quite capable of cleaning people's plow by himself. He doesn't really need any help. You see, the truth is this. God does use us occasionally. And we're happy that we can be used by God. But the truth of the matter is God does not need us. God can act alone. And when you read in the Bible, it is God who moved through Egypt and destroyed the firstborn. So why did God send the preacher? God sent the preacher to declare His will and declare His word. And when the people refused, God judged them. God destroyed them.
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Go back to problem two. The preacher. In fact, turn in your Bibles to Judges chapter six, go back there. Israel is in the land, but disobedient. They are under severe oppression. Everything they have is being stolen and taken from them. So they cry to the Lord in Judges chapter six, look at it. Beginning there in verse 7, "And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, who said unto them, This is why God sent a preacher, so he could declare God's answer to the problem. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land. And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God, fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell, but you have not obeyed my voice."
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Now what did the preacher do? He said, the problem is with you. The problem is you're sinful, you're wicked, you're rebelling. You're just not obeying God. There's God's answer and there's man's answer. Which one are you taking? You want to know why you're cursed? You know why your enemies are on top? You want to know why you have economic problems? You want to know why your land is invaded? I'll tell you why. You disobeyed me. That's why God sent a preacher. Because he said, I want you to hear my answer to your problem. Go to problem number three. God's true preacher, little Samuel, was raised up to confront Hophni and Phinehas and the other false priests. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel 3, beginning there in verse 11. 1 Samuel 3, verse 11. "And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone that hear it shall tingle.
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And that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. 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 or offering forever."
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And what is God doing? God's telling his preacher what to tell Eli and what to tell the others. What is it? It's a message of death and destruction. You say, well, the result is God killed them, yes, but before he did, He sent a preacher to them to declare His word. You say, but, oh, it didn't work. I mean, they didn't repent. Well, go back in your Bibles, Isaiah 55.
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Let me show you something. Isaiah 55, look at verse 11. What does God say? "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. It shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it." God's Word is going to always prosper into that which He sends it. It's going to always accomplish His mission. You've got to understand that God doesn't always send His Word for reconciliation. Sometimes He sends it for condemnation. Did God's Word work? Oh, yes. They were condemned. And they were destroyed. So God doesn't always send his word for reconciliation. Sometimes he sends it for condemnation. And Samuel proclaimed the word of the Lord, it happened to be a word of condemnation, and it did work for God did destroy them. Problem number four.
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The highest civil ruler in the land had committed treason, adultery, murder. If you'll look back in your Bibles, the second Samuel chapter 12, I told you that David should have been put to death. And that is true. He was guilty of treason, he was guilty of adultery, he's guilty of murder. All of those merit the death penalty in the Bible. You say, well, why was he not put to death? Well, you'll find out in verse 13, 2 Samuel 12, verse 13. "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord hath also put away thy sin, thou shalt not die." It took a special pardon from God to keep David from being executed. But that does not mean that David escaped his sins. He did not. He certainly reaped the consequences of his sins.
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And he suffered immeasurably in his family. But what did God do? God corrected the problem in the highest civil leader in the land by sending him a preacher. And God gave that civil ruler repentance and faith. Isn't that interesting? God doesn't have to kill all the civil rulers. He can convert them. He can save them. But what did God do? He sent a preacher. In problem number five.
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Elijah said, I'm the only one left. Oh, no, says God, you're not the only one. But I tell you what, Elijah, you go and anoint Hazael, you go and anoint Jehu, and you go and anoint Elisha. Now, here's why. Look in your Bibles to Second Kings, Chapter 10. Let me ask you this question. Why did God tell Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria? And Jehu, king over Israel. By the way, God is sovereign over other nations. He is sovereign over every nation. And he puts kings and rulers up on those heathen nations just like he does the so-called professing Christian nations. So why did God send Elijah to anoint these men as king and Elisha as prophet in his stead?
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Well, he did so in order to sanction the destruction of his enemies. Look in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 10 and verse 32 and 33. "In those days, the Lord began to cut Israel short and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel, from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan." What did he do? He sent Hazael to take care of rebellious northern Israel. And then if you look at 2 Kings chapter 6. 2 Kings chapter 6.
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You will find Elisha, by the way, did not use the sword, but he oversaw the use of the sword. What did Jehu do? Jehu was used to destroy the house of Ahab. So Jehu is anointed over Israel. Jehu destroys Ahab and his family. Hazael is anointed over Syria. He takes care of northern rebellious Israel. And when you get to 2 Kings 6 and 2 Kings 13, you'll find Elisha now takes care of armies.
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Notice, if you would, verse 14. "Therefore sent he thither horses and chariots and a great host, and they came by night and encompassed the city about." This is a story where the young man of Elisha said to Elisha, we're surrounded by our enemies. Elisha said, I pray thee, Lord, open the young man's eyes. And what did he see? He saw chariots of fire in the mountains. He said they'd be far more for us than those who are against us. And then Elisha prayed and asked God to smite those Syrians with blindness. And God did so. And then Elisha led them to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said, shall I smite them, my Lord? Shall I smite them? Elisha said, no, you would not smite those that you took in battle, would you?
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No, feed them and let them go. The Bible said from that time forth, those came not back into the land of Israel. And then if you look at 2 Kings chapter 13, Elisha is dying. 2 Kings chapter 13. And notice if you would please, verse 14. "Now Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness wherewith he died, and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him and wept over his face and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof. And Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon the bow. And Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands, and he said, open the window eastward, and he opened it. Then Elisha said, shoot, and he shot.
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And he said, the arrow of the Lord's deliverance, the arrow of deliverance from Syria, for thou shalt smite the Syrians at Aphek till thou have consumed them. And he said, take the arrows, and he took them, and he said unto the king of Israel, smite upon the ground, and he smote thrice, three times and stayed, watch, and the man of God was wroth with him and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times, then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, now whereas thou shalt only smite Syria but thrice."
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So Elisha did not necessarily wield the sword, but he oversaw the use of it. So why did God send the preacher? In problem number five, to sanction the destruction of his enemies, and to say, "Thus saith the Lord." Here is what God will do.
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Now, the problems we face in America, listen, the problems we face in America are not our main problem. The problems we see in America are merely the symptoms. And unhappily, most people had rather deal with the symptom than the root of the problem. Every problem has a solution. Our real problem is we don't hear what God has to say. We don't want to hear his answer to the problem, we do not want to hear his solution to the problem. What we want is man's answers, and all man's answers do is to get us deeper and deeper in trouble. In five instances, God never changed.
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He just sent a preacher. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 36. 2 Chronicles 36 and look at verses 14 through 17. 2 Chronicles 36, verse 14. Watch this very carefully now. This is very important. 2 Chronicles 36, verse 14. "Moreover, the chief of the priests and the people transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the Lord, which he had hallowed in Jerusalem." So what are the people doing?
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Sinning, rebelling, being wicked, ungodly. Verse 15, "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes and sending." Why was God sending these preachers? Here's why. Because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But what did the people do? "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy.
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Therefore, he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees who slew their young men with a sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age. He gave them all into his hand." Let me tell you something, folks, there comes a time when we continue to refuse to hear God's words, then God's mercy comes to an end, and He sends forth His judgment.
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I have wonderful news for Americans who are willing and ready to repent and obey God. If I could just find some. God has the answer. God has the solution. I have wonderful news for individuals, for families, for churches and for nations that will hear and heed the word of God.
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Now, let me tell you something, if you paid close attention to Second Chronicles 36 and verse 15, you discovered a very important truth. And that is this, when God has compassion upon a people, what does he do? He sends them preachers. By the way, the opposite is also true. When God is going to judge a people, what does he do? Well, number one, he can remove his preacher from the land like he did Elijah. Or number two, he can do like he did in the time of Jeremiah, he kept Jeremiah in the land, he just shut his mouth. Now, let me show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah, chapter three. Jeremiah, chapter three, I told you based upon Second Chronicles, chapter 36, that when God had compassion upon a people, he always sent them preachers. When God judged a people, he always took their preachers out of the land or shut their mouths. Well, look what the Bible says in Jeremiah, chapter three, beginning there in verse 14.
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God says, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion." Now, look at God's promise. If they will repent, if they will turn, if they will listen, God says, "and I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Did you hear that? "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." One of the greatest mercies that we could possibly have, and one of the greatest demonstrations that God has not entirely passed us by in this country, is the fact that we still have a few men who are preaching faithfully the Word of God. And I will give you pastors, according to mine heart, who shall feed you with wisdom and knowledge and understanding. Listen to this. God's Word will do one of two things.
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It will either convert or condemn. It's just that simple. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. When the word of God goes forth, it does not return void. It will accomplish that which God purposes for it, whether it is reconciliation or condemnation. Individually, familially, ecclesiastically, nationally, governmentally, ever how you want to say it. Our problem, our real problem, is we're not listening to God.
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He said, "For my ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts. For as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." And when I want you to know something, said God, when I want you to know my will and my way and my word, I will send you a preacher.
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Do you remember our Lord? On the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter didn't know what to say. He said, "Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let's build three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elijah." And about that time, a cloud covered them and a voice came from that cloud and said, "This is my beloved son. Hear ye him." We need to hear the word and the answers from God. Because those are the true and only real genuine answers.
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Have wonderful news for people. If I can just find some who will listen. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you to help us. Thank you for your word. Thank you for not passing us by. Thank you for the true preachers in this country who are faithfully proclaiming your word. And Father, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that thou wouldst indeed honor those men and honor that word that's being preached that's true and accurate. And Father, I pray that you'd grant us repentance and faith and call us back to thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen and amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:13:18Z

God's Answer to America's Problems

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver argues that America's manifold problems—economic, governmental, moral—are symptoms of a deeper spiritual rebellion: refusing to hear God's Word. Drawing from Isaiah 55 and multiple Old Testament narratives, he demonstrates that God's consistent answer to national crises is to send a preacher to declare His will, which either converts or condemns. Man's solutions fail because they ignore God's law; true hope lies in repentance and obedience to God's Word.

Introduction: The Failure of Man's Answers

Weaver connects this message to previous sermons on America's curse and hope, asserting that problems abound and human efforts—political, governmental, economic—have failed to solve them.

Look in Isaiah 55, verses eight and nine. God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God's Ways vs. Man's Ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God's answers differ entirely from man's; the contest between theonomy (God's law) and autonomy (self-law) explains why man's ways bring curses.

The Principle of Blessings and Curses (Deuteronomy 11, 28)

Obedience brings blessings that overtake us; disobedience brings curses that overtake us. This principle is national in scope.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:26-28

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all his commandments, which I command thee this day, the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth."

Now watch verse two.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God."

Now, I'm going to point out the word in verse 2, overtake. Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 15.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15

"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments and the statutes which I command thee this day, then all these curses shall come upon thee and what? Overtake thee."

The Conditioned Reliance on Man's Counsel

People instinctively turn to doctors, bankers, psychologists rather than seeking God's answer first, even when problems have spiritual roots.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 11:30

"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

But you see, we're geared to listening to men. We're geared to saying, what does man have to say? But God says man's thoughts are not his thoughts. And man's ways are not his ways.

Five Biblical Problems and God's Single Answer: A Preacher

In five Old Testament crises—Israel's bondage, Midianite oppression, corrupt priesthood, David's sin, and Jezebel's tyranny—God sent a preacher to declare His word.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:23-25; 3:1-10

"And it came to pass in the process of time that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of their bondage, and God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."

Now, watch if you would please, the children of Israel now are in grave bondage. They are sighing, they're groaning, they're moaning.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 18:17-18

"I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command them."

And their oppression now is very severe. Look at Judges 6, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Judges 6:1-7

"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them the dens, which are in the mountains, and caves and strongholds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them. And they had camped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou comest to Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 3:1, 20

There was no open vision." Now skip down to 1 Samuel 3, verse 20. "And all Israel, from Dan, even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord." God sent a preacher. Why did God send a preacher? I'm sure you probably already know the answer, but I'll tell you later, let's go to problem four. Problem four, I want you to turn to 2 Samuel chapter 11. 2 Samuel chapter 11.

His commander-in-chief knew about it, and the king was in danger of being blackmailed. Well, look in 2 Samuel chapter 11. You know the story there, beginning with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1, 13

"And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1, 13

"And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

And I'm sure that you can read about this in 1 Kings chapter 19. If you look there, please, beginning with verse one, 1 Kings 19, verse one.

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 19:1-2, 11-16

"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying, so let the gods do so to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."

Why God Sends Preachers: To Declare His Answer

God sends preachers to proclaim His will; when people reject it, He judges. His Word always accomplishes its purpose—either reconciliation or condemnation.

Because God's answers are not the same as man's answers. And God sends his preacher. Are you listening? To declare his word. And his answer to the problems.

Let me show you something. Isaiah 55, look at verse 11. What does God say?

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 55:11

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. It shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it."

The Real Problem: Refusing to Hear God

America's problems are symptoms; the root is unwillingness to hear God's Word. When God has compassion, He sends preachers; when He judges, He removes them.

Conclusion: God's Mercy in Sending Preachers

God's promise to give pastors who feed with knowledge is a sign of mercy. The same Word that converts also condemns; we must hear God's beloved Son.

God's Answer to America's Problems

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	73006175953
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession
Genre	Sermon
Date	2006-05-14
Dictation Name
Book	Book 042: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: God's Answer to America's Problems — Chapter 5
Source Timed Segments	82

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Failure of Man's Answers: Weaver connects this message to previous sermons on America's curse and hope, asserting that problems abound and human efforts—political, governmental, economic—have failed to solve them.
God's Ways vs. Man's Ways (Isaiah 55:8-9): God's answers differ entirely from man's; the contest between theonomy (God's law) and autonomy (self-law) explains why man's ways bring curses.
The Principle of Blessings and Curses (Deuteronomy 11, 28): Obedience brings blessings that overtake us; disobedience brings curses that overtake us. This principle is national in scope.
The Conditioned Reliance on Man's Counsel: People instinctively turn to doctors, bankers, psychologists rather than seeking God's answer first, even when problems have spiritual roots.
Five Biblical Problems and God's Single Answer: A Preacher: In five Old Testament crises—Israel's bondage, Midianite oppression, corrupt priesthood, David's sin, and Jezebel's tyranny—God sent a preacher to declare His word.
Why God Sends Preachers: To Declare His Answer: God sends preachers to proclaim His will; when people reject it, He judges. His Word always accomplishes its purpose—either reconciliation or condemnation.
The Real Problem: Refusing to Hear God: America's problems are symptoms; the root is unwillingness to hear God's Word. When God has compassion, He sends preachers; when He judges, He removes them.
Conclusion: God's Mercy in Sending Preachers: God's promise to give pastors who feed with knowledge is a sign of mercy. The same Word that converts also condemns; we must hear God's beloved Son.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Man's ways are under God's curse

Because man follows his own way rather than God's, his solutions are under negative sanctions and ultimately fail.

Weaver says, 'man's answers and man's ways really do not work, and that man's answers and man's ways are basically under the negative sanctions of God.'

God's method is to send a preacher, not a committee

In every crisis, God's answer was a prophet to declare His word, not a human institution or military force.

Weaver quips, 'For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee.' He then lists five biblical examples.

The preacher's role is to declare God's answer

The preacher's job is to proclaim 'Thus saith the Lord,' revealing the spiritual root of problems and calling for repentance.

In Judges 6, the prophet says, 'Thus saith the Lord God of Israel... you have not obeyed my voice.'

God's Word either converts or condemns

The same message that brings life to the repentant brings judgment to the rebellious; it always accomplishes God's purpose.

Weaver states, 'God's Word will do one of two things. It will either convert or condemn.'

Refusal to hear God leads to judgment without remedy

When people persistently mock and reject God's messengers, His wrath arises until there is no remedy, as in 2 Chronicles 36.

Weaver reads, 'they mocked the messengers of God... until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy.'

The presence of faithful preachers is a sign of God's mercy

God's promise to give pastors according to His heart is a demonstration that He has not entirely abandoned a people.

Weaver cites Jeremiah 3:15: 'And I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.'

Scripture References

Isaiah 55:8-9: God's thoughts and ways are higher than man's; His answers differ from human solutions.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28: God sets before Israel a blessing for obedience and a curse for disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15: Blessings and curses will overtake those who obey or disobey; the Hebrew word 'nasag' means to catch hold upon.
Exodus 2:23-25; 3:1-10: Israel cries out in bondage; God sends Moses, a prophet, to deliver them.
Deuteronomy 18:17-18: God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, putting His words in his mouth.
Deuteronomy 34:10: Moses is called a prophet whom the Lord knew face to face.
Hosea 12:13: By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and preserved them.
Judges 6:1-7: Israel oppressed by Midian cries to the Lord; He sends a prophet to declare their disobedience.
1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-29: Corrupt priests Hophni and Phinehas sin; God sends a man of God to Eli with a message of judgment.
1 Samuel 3:1, 20: Samuel is established as a prophet of the Lord in a time when the word was precious.
2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1, 13: David's sin with Bathsheba; God sends Nathan the prophet; David repents and is pardoned.
1 Kings 19:1-2, 11-16: Elijah flees Jezebel; God sends him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha to execute judgment.
Isaiah 55:11: God's Word will not return void but will accomplish His purpose.
2 Kings 10:32-33: Hazael smites Israel as part of God's judgment.
2 Kings 6:14-23: Elisha oversees the defeat of the Syrian army through divine intervention.
2 Kings 13:14-19: Elisha directs King Joash in shooting the arrow of the Lord's deliverance against Syria.
2 Chronicles 36:14-17: People mocked God's messengers until wrath came without remedy; God sent the Chaldeans to destroy them.
Jeremiah 3:14-15: God promises to give pastors according to His heart who will feed with knowledge and understanding if people repent.
1 Corinthians 11:30: Many are weak and sickly among the Corinthians because of unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper; spiritual root of physical problems.
Judges 17:6: In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Historical References

Dr. Spock's child-rearing philosophy: Weaver cites Dr. Spock as an example of man's advice that led to a generation of rebellious children, contrasting it with biblical discipline.
Puritan adage about sinners: Weaver quotes the Puritans: 'We have great news for sinners. If we can only find some,' emphasizing the scarcity of those willing to repent.

Important Quotes

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Foundational text establishing that God's solutions differ radically from human reasoning.

Political parties will not save us. Government will not save us. Furthermore, we cannot extricate ourselves from the mess that we're in.

Summarizes the sermon's thesis that human institutions are powerless to solve America's problems.

God's answers to our problems are different than man's answers.

Core argument that divine solutions are not merely better but categorically distinct.

Blessings follow obedience and curses follow disobedience.

Simple statement of the sanctions principle that undergirds the entire message.

God says my blessings will overtake you. They will catch up with you. They will knock you down. They'll jump on you and fall all over you. And you can't stop them as long as you obey me.

Vivid illustration of the inevitability of divine sanctions, both positive and negative.

For God so loved the world so much that he did not send a committee.

Memorable paraphrase highlighting God's method of sending a preacher rather than a human organization.

And I will give you pastors according to my heart who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

God's promise of faithful shepherds as a sign of mercy and the means of restoration.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why does Weaver argue that political and governmental solutions cannot solve America's problems?

[Context]

Weaver claims that man's answers are under God's curse and that only God's Word through preachers provides true solutions.

[Question]

How does the principle of blessings and curses from Deuteronomy 28 apply to nations today?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that the overtaking nature of sanctions is national in scope, not just individual.

[Question]

In what ways are we conditioned to seek man's counsel before God's Word, and how can we change that?

[Context]

Weaver lists doctors, bankers, psychologists as default human authorities we turn to instead of Scripture.

[Question]

Why does God send a preacher rather than a military or political solution in the five Old Testament examples?

[Context]

Each crisis (bondage, oppression, corruption, sin, tyranny) was addressed by a prophet declaring God's word.

[Question]

What does it mean that God's Word either converts or condemns, and how should that affect our hearing of sermons?

[Context]

Weaver explains that the same message can bring life or judgment depending on the hearer's response.

[Question]

How can we discern whether the presence of faithful preachers is a sign of God's mercy or impending judgment?

[Context]

Weaver notes that God sends preachers in compassion but also sometimes sends them with a message of condemnation.

[Question]

What does it look like for a nation to 'mock the messengers of God' today, and what are the consequences?

[Context]

From 2 Chronicles 36, Weaver warns that persistent rejection of God's messengers leads to judgment without remedy.

[Question]

How does the promise of pastors according to God's heart (Jeremiah 3:15) give hope for America?

[Context]

Weaver presents this as a conditional promise if people repent, linking it to the need for faithful preaching.

Applications

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