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“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”
Proverbs 14:34 NIV
We could certainly all use some wisdom, and today’s verse is from Solomon’s collected wise sayings, Proverbs.
What makes a nation great? Since the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. 25 years ago today, Americans may have asked that question. There are some that don’t find this nation to be exalted, although we have unparalleled economic prosperity. We have a strong military that is ranked at the top of all nations on earth, yet our status among nations is sub-par to Canada and Switzerland according to a 2025 poll of citizens of G-7 nations.
From a human perspective, things like the cultural influence of a nation or the victories of its athletes may make a country seem exalted. The United States has a huge cultural impact on the rest of the world through music, movies, fashion, technology and lifestyle, and in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, the country’s athletes picked up a whopping 126 medals, 35 more than the next highest ranked country, China.
All of these things may seem to be important, but do they exalt a nation? The ancient Hebrew word translated here as exalt is רוּם (rûm), defined as “to be set on high”. In God’s eye, the only way a nation is truly set on high is through righteousness. That’s where America fails as a nation. The Bible Says had this observation:
Righteousness exalts a nation because a people ordered by justice, truth, mercy, and humility are strengthened from within. National flourishing is not grounded merely in power or wealth, but in moral order.
How can a nation be truly exalted by God? Not through what we consider patriotism, nor through a powerful military, economic strength, or cultural influence. A nation that is filled with citizens who repent of their sin, then receive and pursue God’s righteousness in their lives will be exalted by God.
Bible Hub comments that:
A people are strengthened when justice, integrity, faithfulness, and reverence for God shape public and private life. Israel’s covenant blessings in Deuteronomy 28 showed that obedience to the Lord brought His favor, while rebellion brought discipline. God’s moral order also governs every nation, for rulers and citizens alike remain accountable to Him. True national greatness is not measured merely by wealth, military strength, or influence, but by conformity to God’s righteous will.
Solomon follows his statement that “righteousness exalts a nation” by stating a truth: “sin condemns any people.” No society, regardless of its status amongst the nations, can escape the disgrace and breakdown brought on by widespread sin and wickedness. Sin is like corrosion on metal, eating away at a solid structure until it is weakened to the point of failure.
Once again from The Bible Says:
Sin eventually weakens whatever it governs, whether in a person, a household, or a nation.
We can see the effect of unbridled sin on how it corrupts justice, with some women in the United States applauding a woman who admits to having murdered her three children. Sin and the embrace of sin destroys trust in everything; the justice system, government, law enforcement, churches, even brands — former shining athletic shoe brand Nike has seen its stock price fall almost 80% and has been removed from the Standard & Poor’s 100 list. Why? Many pundits point to the company’s embrace of “wokeness” as the cause — it just didn’t resonate well with much of its market.
Sin invites the judgment of God. Think of the Old Testament accounts of the fall of Samaria and Jerusalem; God’s chosen people, those He made a covenant with, were judged and punished when they became violent, unfaithful, and worshipped idols. Sodom and Gomorrah are examples of how God rained down ruin on two cities that thrived on wickedness.
Enduring Word provides this quote from English theologian Charles Bridges:
i. “No nation is so low as not to sink even lower under sin. The strongest nations are given an indelible blot if they are overcome by sin. What an enemy an ungodly man is to his country. He may talk eloquently about his patriotism, but even if God should elevate him in his work, he will only bring disgrace on his people.” (Bridges)
No nation, no ethnicity, no culture can survive the repercussions of rejecting God’s commands. All of earth’s people need the mercy and cleansing found in Jesus Christ.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You recognizing that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. We ask for Your guidance to seek righteousness in our lives and in our nation. May we commit to praying for our leaders and our nation, strive to be examples of righteousness in our communities, and encourage others to seek Your face and turn towards You. AMEN.
I am grateful and thankful for your support and may God bless you too. In Jesus' name, amen