Poor Governing


Psalm 58
To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David.
1Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.
3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.
6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
10The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

One of my greatest annoyances is the constant barrage of information about the 2016 presidential election that is happening in the U.S. right now. It’s only annoying because it’s been going on for almost 2 years already. I’m over it. And – it has been an intense and unusual political season. This year has been one for the history books. While I’m not a very “political” person, I will admit to a certain fascination with the whole process so far and not a small amount of concern as we face a truly despicable choice in November. As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t going to be a good option once we enter the voting booth. And that is something like David was facing as he wrote this Psalm.

Psalm 58 bemoans the God instituted leadership of Israel. Saul was seeking to end David’s life, so he had good reason for his disgust with the king. But he still doesn’t take matters into his own hands. David still entrusts the situation into God’s hands. But – he is not happy with the king and expresses his sadness in harsh terms. He remains truly honest about his circumstance and doesn’t hold back how he feels from God.

I’m fairly certain (based on the buzz on social media) that I am not alone in my angst over the leadership in the U.S. But we are always and forever in the hands of God almighty. And all world leaders are in those positions because of God’s divine will. I may not always like it, but I am bound to that truth. Perhaps some of that angst can be dispelled in our trust in God’s divine plan. Things may look like they have spiraled out of control, but that is simply not true. God is still in full control and we can relax in His care because “surely there is a God who judges on earth.” It was true for David and it is still true for us.

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