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A Psalm for Election Day

November 8, 2016

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”

It’s always been this way. American politics in 2016 (or any other year) is full of absolutely nothing new. Nations rage. People plot and scheme and set themselves for gathering power. And, as another Psalm notes, there are no good human beings, much less countries. We’ve all turned to our own ways and desires, swearing that we’ll cast off the cords that God has bound us with, regardless of how we vote or who wins.

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”

But God’s not worried, not in the least. He’s in heaven, laughing. Puny pointless attempts to bend the sovereign hand of the Lord almighty fold in the face of the resounding call; the King has already been decreed and enthroned.

There’s a ruler, and he’s not being elected today. The Father put him in place millenia ago and he’s not going anywhere. Clinton, Trump, Putin, Nero, Pharaoh, and even Satan himself shake with fear when God speaks.

I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

When God speaks he says that his Son – Jesus of Nazareth – both inherits and rules every nation on the earth. His rule is so powerful that he can crack a nation into pieces like you could a clay pot or crystal vase. He is, after all, the only begotten Son of God. He takes after his dad. He laughs at any attempt to go against his will.

Election day? Let’s have a good laugh.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2

The lesson for this election day? Watch out, presidents, congressmen and women, supreme court judges, mayors, and leaders regardless of political party or religious affiliation. Bow and kiss the Son, because he’s the one who’s really in charge today. All your power and pomp and circumstance and billion dollar campaigning is worthless if you are not among those who have taken refuge in him.

The same goes for us Americans casting our votes today. When it comes down to it what really matters isn’t who you vote for. It’s whether or not you’ve come to Jesus and knelt before his throne, submitting yourself to him as the true ruler.

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