Mind Meld of A Different Kind

PSALM 33 (condensed)

Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;

it is fitting for the pure to praise him.

Sing a new song of praise to him;

play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

For the word of the Lord holds true,

and we can trust everything he does.

Let the whole world fear the Lord,

and let everyone stand in awe of him.

For when he spoke, the world began!

It appeared at his command.

The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations

and thwarts all their schemes.

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;

his intentions can never be shaken.

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,

whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

The Lord looks down from heaven

and sees the whole human race.

He made their hearts,

so he understands everything they do.

Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— f

or all its strength, it cannot save you.

We put our hope in the Lord.

He is our help and our shield.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,

for our hope is in you alone.

Who belongs to whom?
We have just come through Independence Day celebrations where many of us lamented how far our country has traveled from our godly heritage. I agree our country has drifted from the laws of God and we have gone our own way. We are like the people at the end of the book of Judges where each one did what was right in their own eyes. It is frustrating to observe this.

It is equally frustrating to hear people who think we are God’s unique country. The way some people talk, it is as if God cannot do anything in the world without us. It is an attitude of, “God is ours” or “We have a handle on God” that is so troublesome. Even when disguised by words like “God bless America” our attitude often adds, “because we deserve God’s blessing.” Too often this “we own God” attitude is found even among Christians.

We cannot own God. When the Psalmist writes “what joy for the nation whose God is the LORD,” he is not talking about ownership but submission. Just as 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, when God’s people humble themselves and pray, and seek God’s face, then God will hear from heaven and come heal their land.

Whining about where our country is going does not do any good. Humbling ourselves and realizing we do not deserve God’s blessing and daily seeking God’s face is what will bring about change. What if all God’s people stopped complaining about the direction our country is going and started praying, seeking God and demonstrating God’s love to other people. I believe God would heal our land.

Father, forgive me for whining about the course America is headed down; instead help me to humble myself. Help me to seek you daily. Help me to share your love with every person I meet. Please come and heal our land. – Dan Jones

Put the warhorse in its place
Warhorses are just that because they can. They could sustain an ancient warrior in battle. In fact, better be a soldier on a warhorse than one of the countless schmucks on foot! Warhorses I think about today are the two legged variety, in particular political warhorses. These are the men and woman of long years in government service who have accomplished much for the sake of my country.

Then, of course, there is my great grandmother Sherman. She was a warhorse. Survived a rough and tumble life, got things done, held it together, she did. I never knew her except as a plucky old warhorse.

But David tells me not to count on warhorses to help me survive the perpetually scheming, scrambling, and struggling world. Literally he’s telling me not to depend on my nation’s mighty military to save me in a world of Islamic terrorists. Figuratively, he’s telling me not to trust my hardworking representative in congress to save me from economic vagaries, or my great grandmother to pass down the wisdom that will save me from bad choices.

David wouldn’t want me to go out and shoot the old warhorse! He rode his share of them into battle. And he surrounded himself with trusted political warhorses. But he understood that is was God, not his military or political machine that frustrated the plans of the nations. It was the Maker who understood the motives and plans of the powerful.

Warhorses are to be wisely used, but not finally trusted. The last word belongs to the one who spoke the first word. Ultimately, and miraculously, his plans will work themselves out through the freely made choices of those who, to us, look like they are in control.

Eternal God, I trust your unshakable intentions for this world. I will hope in you and look to you to weave my life into your perfect plans. - Mike Leamon