It's a famous passage, one that has been claimed by many US citizens for generations. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." It seems that every four years at the time of the presidential election, the awareness of this verse is raised by religious leaders. It's used often times to gain support for certain candidates and to repel support for others. As it gets closer to November, the rhetoric will get louder.
The promise was originally directed at Israel. It was part of their promise. God promised certain provisions and protections if the Israelites would remain faithful to God. The second part of this verse is generally not quoted. It says, "the people he chose for his inheritance." Obviously the reference is to the nation of Israel not the US. So to claim this promise as a US citizen is actually a stretch.
However the principle of this promise is applicable to God's people. If you look at nation as a people group, the interpretation changes slightly. It concerns me that today many people put more faith in the government than they do the Lord. They rely on the government to provide everything thing for them, to form the safety net for them, to solve all their problems. Alan Hirsch, in his book, The Forgotten Ways, notes that the rise of the nation-state as the mediator of protection and provision has led to the secularization of culture in the Western world. In other words, the church in the West has been taken from the center of the culture and increasingly pushed to the margins by the reliance on government to provide for all one's personal needs. Thus the church loses it's influence and God is lessened in our daily life.
The psalmist goes on to say the size and strength of a king's army can't save him. A soldier's strength or weaponry can't save him. He also says the the eyes of the Lord are on those who place their hope and faith in Him. I learned a long time ago that if you put your hope in people or governments get ready to be let down. The last few years many followers of Christ placed their hope in Republican candidates for national office only to be disappointed by the results.
The answer isn't placing our hope in a political candidate be it Republican or Democrat. The answer is placing our hope in the Lord, waiting in hope for the Lord. He is our help and our shield. Our hearts will rejoice when we place our full trust in God. The government will never show you love or even make you feel loved. But when we allow God to receive our full focus of trust, we will experience His presence of genuine love.
God, forget the government or people, I'm placing my trust in you.
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