In Tragedy and Travesty

Photo by Dallas Penner on Unsplash

We get numb to the news and tragedy overload overwhelms us into dullness.

It is complicated. We cannot blame this group or that group for this manifestation of evil or desperation or delusion or all of those things wrapped into a moment of very bad choices ... yet many courses are now altered by one man's issues whose issues intersect and overlap with the issues of others and of all of us.

It is not easy stuff to handle, but that is why we are up right now ... in fellowship with one another, some of us in prayer and in fellowship with The Other.

All of us are here in common compassion and concern. Let us lift our hearts together.

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
― William Wilberforce

There is no hope intrinsic in our political system or in any system of human power. There will be seasons of righteousness, but they cannot command our ultimate trust and confidence. Good people come and go and represent various political philosophies, but they are and shall remain, human.

We are admonished not to put our trust in princes.

This is from the Psalms. The founder and first sponsor of the Psalmist Institution was, himself, a prince. So, he ought to know the limitations of power as well as the responsibilities of power.

His successors would also know that, for they would live to see princes who, unlike God and those who do have a heart for God see every plan of their lives perish with them. They do not create something out of nothing.

Evil, earthly princes, who lust for power, have no power to save.

Nor do they keep faith forever. Human powers are always beset with integrity issues. Even David struggled with serious character flaws.

They do not execute justice for the oppressed.

They do not give food to the hungry.

They do not set prisoners free.

They have no concern for opening the eyes of the blind.

They do not lift those who are bowed down.

Ungodly, human princes have no bias toward the righteous, but expediently align with those who can help them achieve their own ends.

God is a true independent. He is not swayed. He loves righteousness and aligns with the righteous because the righteous align with righteousness.

Evil, earthly princes have no regard for sojourners (AKA: foreigners/aliens).

They do not uphold the fatherless (AKA: those without a guardian/spokesman/protector - the powerless).

They do not thwart the ways of the wicked.

God, on the other hand, can be trusted to do the right thing and to win!

Hear the Word of the LORD and let us model our leadership after His example.

"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!''
- Psalm 146