I originally posted this on Monday night, but I've been thinking about it this morning and I'd like to elaborate on my thoughts a bit. When I read the psalm below a couple weeks ago, it really helped me put things in perspective. I feel like there has been so much hope and so much fear surrounding this election and the candidates. Over the summer I read an excellent book written by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw, called Jesus for President. The book challenged me and reminded me that my allegiance was never meant to be given to a leader, a political party, or a nation, but to God and his kingdom. Reading this psalm several days ago, and hearing the message at church Sunday morning reminded me of that yet again. It brings me peace, in the midst of all the fears people seem to have about this election, that God is truly the one in control; he is the one who we should put our trust and our hope in, and he is the one who always has and always will care deeply and passionately about things mentioned in this psalm (justice for the oppressed, food for the hungry, those who are sojourners, widows, and orphans, etc). I'm having such a hard time finding the words to express what I'm feeling. other than to say that, in contrast to many people in America today, I am not scared or nervous about the outcome of this election; I am at peace. The one I give my allegiance to, the one I place my hope and trust in, will never fail.
Psalm 146
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
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