Hope in the LORD
Psalm 33:10-22—The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Well, we’ve made it through another election cycle, sort of. Whether you are disappointed, or are exultant in the outcomes, how important to receive this reminder from the LORD to not put your trust and confidence in the things, people, and political systems and ideologies of this world: No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. Those of you who are glad, guard your hearts against arrogance. Those of you who are disappointed, guard your hearts against anger and resentment. No matter what side of the aisle, your King is Christ. He rules over all things. He has prepared an eternal kingdom in heaven for you.
Whether you are disappointed, or exultant by last week’s elections, it is crucial for each one of you to keep in mind the words of the psalmist: The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
You can make all the plans you want, but that’s all they are…plans. Where the plans of man are like trying to engrave in jello, God’s plans are engraved in solid granite that can never be eroded or destroyed. And what is God’s plan? To keep his ever-watchful eye on you to protect you in all your ways, keeping you alive in any and every famine of life, and finally to deliver you from both physical and eternal death!
Remember, my friends, to put your Hope In the LORD. By God’s grace through faith, you belong to the nation whose God is the LORD. And just so we’re clear, that nation is NOT America. While there are many Christians still living in this richly blessed land, this is neither a Christian nation nor is it the Lord’s nation any more than any other nation on the face of the earth. The only nation which once was able to claim this was the nation of Israel. But when Jesus came and saved the world, the nation of Israel as God’s chosen instrument had served its purpose—kicking and screaming nonetheless! So, who are the people he chose for his inheritance? They are all believers of all time. They are you and me, chosen by God’s grace in eternity. That is why Paul writes: Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21).
So, continue to put your Hope In the LORD. He is ever watching over you. His love for you is unfailing. His plan to bless you in all your ways and bring you safely home to heaven is unstoppable. Therefore, We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.