Psalm 33:12 reads, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” A careful study of this passage, compared with a study of America’s origins, reveals the key for how a collection of colonists founded the most powerful and prosperous nation in the history of mankind. It also reveals the reason for the current rapid demise of America.
The Personal Name of God
In this passage the word “LORD” is in all caps, which lets us know that it is translated from the Hebrew word Yahweh. The old KJV translates Yahweh as “Jehovah.” In the Old Testament, Yahweh was the personal name of the God of Israel, and it distinguished Him from the false gods of the pagan nations.
Therefore, the promise of Psalm 33:12 is not to the nation that merely believers there is a god or a higher power. The promise is to the nation who believes in a specific God who has a specific personal name.
Yahweh is from the Hebrew verb “to be,” such as the English, “I am.” It was originally signified by the Hebrew letters for YHWH, but vowels were later added to spell Yahweh. This explains Exodus 3:14 where Moses inquired concerning the name of the One speaking to him from the burning bush. “The voice replied, ‘I Am Who I Am . . . thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”‘” (Ex. 3:14).
Yahweh was the name in which Israel prayed, worshipped, faced her enemies, and spoke blessings. When David went out to face Goliath, he announced to the giant that he was coming against him in the name of Yahweh (1 Sam. 17:45).
The Name of Yahweh Found its Fulfillment in the Name of Jesus
When Jesus appeared on the scene, He clearly identified Himself with Yahweh. To cite just one example, in a conversation between Jesus and certain Jewish leaders, Jesus said to them, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). They responded, “You are not yet fifty years old and have you seen Abraham? Jesus replied, Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
At this point, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him for, in their minds, He had clearly blasphemed by identifying Himself with the great I AM that had spoken to Moses from the burning bush.
That the Old Testament name of Yahweh found fulfillment in the name of Jesus is also borne out by the fact that the first followers of Jesus prayed in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in His name, baptized in His name, and attributed miracles to the power of that name. What Old Testament saints would have attributed to the name of Yahweh, the New Testament believers attributed to the name of Jesus. (For a thorough discussion of this, see chapter 9 of my book, “Discovering the Real Jesus”).
This is significant because all of the first disciples of Jesus were practicing Jews. They attended synagogue and kept the Jewish feasts and festivals. Although they probably spoke Aramaic, the language of the synagogue in Israel was Hebrew and the Scriptures that were read every Sabbath were in the Hebrew tongue. They were, therefore, very aware of the significance of the name of Yahweh. But instead of the name Yahweh, it was the name of Jesus to which they attributed miracles and salvation.
For example, when the authorities in Jerusalem arrested Peter and John and demanded to know by what authority or name they had healed a crippled man, Peter boldly declared: “Let it be known to you all, and to all the house of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole” (Acts 4:7-12). Peter then said: “Nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:7-12).
The name of Jesus was obviously first and foremost in the testimonies of those earliest disciples. They were not interfaith, religious pluralists. They were convinced that God had visited this planet in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus Was Central in the Thinking of Early Americans
Jesus was also first and foremost in the thinking of those who founded America. Although far from perfect, Psalm 33:12 was fulfilled in their actions and thinking. This is borne out by looking at just a few selected examples.
In 1646 the United Colonies of New England was formed for the purpose of settling land disputes and facilitating a common defense for the thousands of new immigrants. The opening of their constitution honors Jesus Christ as the central reason for their being in the New World. They wrote,
Whereas we all came into these parts of America with one and the same end and aim, namely to advance the kingdom of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and enjoy the Liberties of the Gospel in purity and peace (Hyatt, “1726: The Year that Defined America,” 31).
The Great Awakening (1726-70), that transformed Colonial America, was characterized by the exaltation of Jesus Christ. So pervasive was the influence of this Awakening that a British-appointed official wrote to his superiors in England, “If you ask an American who is his master, He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but JESUS CHRIST” (Hyatt, “1726: The Year that Defined America,” 81).
The First Continental Congress, attended by George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry and 53 other delegates, was opened with an extended time of Bible reading and prayer in the name of Jesus. Jacob Duche, an Anglican minister who led the group in prayer, ended his prayer with the following words, “All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son and Savior. Amen. (Hyatt, “1726: The Year that Defined America,” 113).
In 1891 a prayer journal was discovered that George Washington kept in his twenties. It is filled with prayers that are offered in the name of Jesus. One prayer reads, “Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and THY SON, JESUS CHRIST.” (Hyatt, “1726: The Year that Defined America,” 132).
In a meeting with chiefs from the Delaware tribe, Washington encouraged them to learn “above all the religion of Jesus Christ.” The chiefs had brought some of their youth to be educated in American schools. Washington addressed them as “brothers” and said:
“You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention” (Hyatt, “1726:The Year that Defined America,” 172).
John Hancock was president of the Second Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Massachusetts. While serving as governor he proclaimed a day of fasting and prayer and asked the people to:
Implore the Divine forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior . . . and to the spreading of the true religion of our Lord Jesus Christ, in its purity and power, among all the people of the earth (Hyatt, “1726: The Year that Defined America,” 173).
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The philosophy of Jesus is the most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever offered man.” This is why, as president, he took money from the federal treasury to pay for a Christian missionary to the Kaskaskia Native American tribe and to build them a church building in which to worship. Like the other founders, he believed that only by following the moral teachings of Jesus could a nation experience peace, stability and prosperity.
The God of early America was obviously the LORD of Psalm 33:12. Their God was Jesus Christ, who is Yahweh revealed in human form. Sadly, that is no longer the case and is the reason for America’s current demise.
Is There Hope for America?
Anyone who is in the least observant can see that America is coming unraveled. Her major cities are descending into lawless chaos and her schools and colleges have become centers of moral decadence and anti-Christian indoctrination. The reason is obvious, The god of modern America is no longer the LORD but her own twisted and demented way of thinking and living. She has become her own god.
We now know that the “LORD” of Psalm 33:12 has been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Early America’s commitment to Jesus and His teachings explains the basic underlying reason and philosophy for her greatness. The rejection of Jesus and His teachings in modern America explains the reason for her current rapid demise.
Is there hope? Yes! Throughout America’s history, God has intervened with national Awakenings that have directed the attention of the populace back to God through Jesus Christ. Let us, therefore, continue calling this nation back to God and continue asking Him to visit America once again with another Great Jesus Awakening. {eoa}
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This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s books titled, 1726: The Year that Defined America and Discovering the Real Jesus, both available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com. For this original article, visit biblicalawakeningblogspot.com.
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