Praise the Lord…Do not put your trust in princes(governments), in human beings (elected officials), who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—God is faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever…Praise the Lord.
This scripture, Psalm 146, was the selected Psalm for my Lectio Divina practice today, November 7. Yesterday, America went to the polls. I voted. This morning, as I meditated on this psalm, I thought, “What a great psalm for the day after the mid-term elections!” I was not elated or devastated at the outcomes. Government has its place, but it isn’t as big a place as those in it proclaim or want us to believe. This is a psalm of perspective. All elected representatives, senators, governors, magistrates, councilmen and women, mayors, everyone of them are mere mortals. Someday they will die and their plans will die with them. They have their place, but it’s exponentially less significant than God’s place. This psalm begins and ends with a statement, command, encouragement to “Praise the Lord.” Today, acknowledge Him, remember Him, consider Him. Why? Two reasons stand out. First, He remains faithful forever. In the face of seeming faithlessness God is faithful. Secondly, He reigns forever. In the midst of change, uncertainty, and craziness, God reigns. Oh that elected officials would revere the Lord recognizing that it’s God Who allows them to hold office. Oh that America would return to God, would read and obey His word, would pay attention to Him. God is faithful forever and He reigns forever. Meaning now. He is faithful now, put your trust in Him. He is reigning now, give your allegiance to Him. Considering all He will do, I vote for God. He upholds the cause of the oppressed, He gives food to the hungry, He can heal! He cares about prisoners. He watches over foreigners (immigrants), He lifts up those bowed down. He loves the righteous. He frustrates the way of the wicked. Government is not God. No party is righteous. No party is able to save. Let’s get some perspective, let go of hoping in men and women, parties, governments. Let’s hope in God again. Let’s put our trust in Him. Let’s put energy into listening to Him and obeying Him. He is faithful forever. He reigns forever. He alone can save us. Let’s repent for America. Let’s repent for the American church. Let’s repent for our own turning way. God is faithful. He reigns forever. Today, praise the Lord.