January 28 - Psalm 9-11
****“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” — Psalm 9:17 (NKJV) ****
Psalm 9:17 is a solemn warning of the eternal consequences of turning away from God. It’s a verse that makes some people uncomfortable because it speaks clearly and unapologetically about God’s judgment. In a time where many prefer to worship a God of love stripped of justice, this scripture forces us to consider the fullness of who God is: God is holy, righteous, sovereign, and the ultimate Judge of all the earth. To “forget God” does not simply mean failing to acknowledge Him occasionally or becoming distracted for a moment. In scripture, forgetting God is a decisive act of rebellion. It is to push God out of public conscience, refusing His authority, redefining morality apart from His Word, and crafting a life or culture where He is no longer welcome. A nation forgets God when it no longer fears Him, trusts Him, acknowledges His blessings, or honors His commands.
As we look at America today, we see a nation striving between two opposing worldviews: one that remembers God, and one that is endeavoring to forget Him. On one side, there are those who still believe that our rights, dignity, and moral order come from the Creator. We hold that biblical truth is foundational to justice and human flourishing. On the other side, there is a growing number of people who insists that humanity must be its own authority. Therefore, they set out to redefine truth, sexuality, identity, marriage, the purpose of government, and even the value of human life.
This divide is not merely political; at its core it is spiritual. When a culture forgets God, confusion takes the place of clarity. What God calls good is labeled evil, and what He calls evil is celebrated as progress. The sanctity of life becomes negotiable. Gender becomes fluid and self-defined. Marriage becomes whatever society votes it to be. Truth itself becomes relative, shifting with the winds of emotion and cultural pressure. When truth becomes subjective, power becomes the new god. Politics turns into a battleground not over policy differences but over morality and identity. We find ourselves in a society that is angry, anxious, and deeply divided because we are detached from the One whose Word brings unity, purpose, and peace.
Psalm 9 also reminds us that God sees and defends the oppressed. When a nation forgets God, those who suffer most are not the powerful but the vulnerable: unborn children, the elderly, the poor, the victims of violence, the confused, and the spiritually lost. Only God’s righteousness can uphold true justice. When a nation forsakes Him, justice becomes distorted. But even in this heavy warning, there is hope. God has not abandoned us. He calls individuals and nations to remember Him. He invites repentance, revival, and renewal. Jesus Christ took on the judgment we deserved so that none who turn to Him must face the eternal separation described in this verse.
So, what do we do as believers in a nation drifting toward forgetfulness? We remember God. We declare His truth with grace and conviction. We raise our children to fear the Lord more than they fear the culture. We pray for leaders to honor God and for hearts to be awakened. We love our neighbors enough to share the gospel with them. May we hold fast to the truth, pray for revival, and shine as lights in a ever darkening world. And may our Lord have mercy on this country we love.