Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 108:7-13
Ps 108:7-13
7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. 9 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph." 10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? 12 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. 13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
Rom 13:1-2
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
One of the things that is difficult for us to understand is that God can and often has used wicked people and nations to carry out his will. More than once the prophets would ask God how a nation that was more wicked than Israel could come in and destroy them or even take them captive. God said that nation would be punished for their wicked deeds but he would use whomever he wished to carry out his will. In his wisdom, he can use wicked rulers or wicked nations.
But his choice was never arbitrary. People are wicked because they choose to be wicked. Rulers are evil because they make the choice to reject God. Nations are rebellious to God because they refuse to accept his word and to do his will. This was true in the Bible, in secular history and it is still true today. Paul said there is a point when God will give up on those who reject him and will allow them to plunge into their immorality and reap the consequences of their sin.
As God’s people we must understand that God is in control. It is our place to be as good citizens as we can be and to continually pray for our rulers. In our nation we can exercise the right to vote. Our priority should be those who respect God.
Heavenly Father I thank you for the nation in which I live and the freedoms I too often take for granted. Help me use each of these to your glory. Please be with those who serve you without the freedom to do so and face death or danger for their faith. I ask you to be with our leaders and that our nation will honor you with our laws and actions. Give our leaders wisdom to be at peace with one another, even when they don’t agree. Most of all, help me remember that this world is not my home and my citizenship is in heaven. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
