I've had several different posts on politics bouncing around in my head for about four years now. I'm sure I'll eventually get around to posting some of those thoughts.
However, with some current events taking place in our nation, I wanted to give some simple responses to current events for people around me.
Yes, I will be using scripture for this (did you really doubt that).
In fact, I'll be using my favorite Psalm.
My personal perspective on politics will be for another time. This is about reassurance for the downcast and a reminder for those who spend way too much time on a topic that has so little meaning in the bigger picture.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 146 has been a favorite of mine for well over a decade. The content of it is full of the praise of God and logical instruction in how a child of God should view the world and where he should look for help. I had the privilege of presenting this Psalm several years ago, and the study of it prior to that time showed me things in the passage that I had never seen before. One of the wonders of the word of God is that you can look through it so often and still find new things on each reading.
For brevity of content and time, I'm going to leave off a few parts of the Psalm and just focus on the parts that deal with politics.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
The Psalmist goes right away to the highest level of earthly trust that a man can have: a powerful ruling benefactor. Those who put their reliance on themselves, their family, their jobs, etc don't have anything to stand on, since those things are so easily overcome. Having a prince or a monarch, someone whose power is not easily removable, there to support you is the most steady form of help that a person can have on Earth.
However, right away we're told that placing trust in a person like that is truly meaningless.
I look around at so many people I know; so many people that claim the name of Christ, and see how much time they are spending on the topic of politics and how tightly they tie themselves to a man or a party. Now I see so many of them dejected, frustrated, or confused.
Why have you put so much trust there? Why do you spend so much time and effort on things that will never satisfy (Isa 55:2)?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
That right there is the simple description for how much the VERY BEST kind of help a man can have on this Earth, and how vain and futile it really is.
Looking at the verses so far; it's pretty bleak. There are practically no people like the one described in the Psalm even available for you today, and even then they have no lasting help to give.
I have to ask again. What is your preoccupation with politics? Sure, there is a small place that this can and should hold in the life of someone, but I see so many who it has become an idol for.
Your candidate can't really help or save you (and that is the same for those who support the front-runners or those who lose). There is neither place for crowing in victory or depression in defeat. If you find yourself taking part in either you have a problem with your priorities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
"Happy;" how about that for a result? If you place your reliance and trust on God, looking to Him for your help; you'll be happy.
This is really simple. What more needs to be said?
The more reliance and emphasis you place on these other things (in particular the politics of this fallen and sin cursed world); the more you will dilute your happiness. It will not, indeed cannot, satisfy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
In case the promise of happiness wasn't enough for you; the Psalmist decided to give us a list of actions of God, so we could further see why we should look to Him alone for help. He is the Creator and the Maintainer of everything, especially the truth.
You want to think of power? You think that the "most powerful man in the free world" is significant? Try thinking instead about the God that made the world.
While you're busy worrying about and fixating on a system composed of lies, misinformation, and compromise; He keeps truth alive and unaltered in a world that seeks to bury it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
He doesn't just give a list of His actions; He also gives a description of His character and how it shapes His actions. Look at how He wants you to view and evaluate His acts! This list tells you who His priorities are for His actions: the unfortunate and the righteous.
Further, there is real comfort in knowing that not only can your source of help aid you but also deal with those people who would seek to do you harm. God doesn't just defend the righteous; He deals judgment on the wicked.
Lots of politicians speak about fixing problems. They make pledges and promises to get people to support them. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt for a moment and say that maybe they mean that. But then they have to have the actual power to accomplish that goal, and they have to work through a system to make that happen, and they have to have the resources available to do that.
In other words, even when they want to, those earthly "princes" can do so little. Meanwhile, God supports all of those unfortunate people from His own unstoppable will and endless supply of ability.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, for those of you who are experiencing a strong emotional response today; stop and evaluate.
The world is no darker or lighter today than yesterday. Nothing has changed at all.
God still reigns, and His throne is unchallenged. Nothing here strengthens or weakens it by the smallest margin. If you've taken the name of Christian; neither your home nor your nation are truly on this Earth, and too much emphasis on it deprives you of time and energy that can be spent on things of far more profit.
Let these words be the ones that occupy your mind today.
Isaiah 52:7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
