By Howard Eyrich
Editor’s Note: In today’s blog, Dr. Howard Eyrich writes to at least half of our country. We may not know for a while which half is the primary audience as they sort this election out in the courts. From a different perspective though, this blog fit almost all 150 million people who voted this year. Whether your candidate ultimately wins or loses, the entire process is disappointing on many fronts. Using Psalm 9 as his backdrop, Dr. Eyrich provides us words of encouragement and direction at the end of this short blog.
Handling Political Disappointment
In these troubling times, let me recommend Psalm nine for your meditation. It was where I nestled down with the Father this morning. As I did, it became apparent that this is a long view passage, i.e., a prophetic passage. There is no mention of Israel or any other specific nation. Instead, the focus is upon the LORD (Yahweh), His character, His salvific work, and His ultimate justice. The center piece of the Psalm is verses 7-10:
The Heart of the Psalm Is Hope
But the LORD abides forever,
He has established His throne of judgment
And He will judge the world in righteousness
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity
The LORD will also be a stronghold for the oppressed
A stronghold in times of trouble
And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee
For Thou, O LORD, has not forsaken those who seek Thee.
The Humble Action is the Practical Action
Then in verses 11-14 the Psalmist instructs those who seek the Lord to “sing praises to the LORD” (11) and he gives his personal example of action, prayer, to those who seek the LORD with these words, “Be gracious to me, O LORD, behold my affliction even to the point of death. But even this request is coupled with the purpose “that I may tell all Thy praises and rejoice in Thy salvation” in “the gates of the daughter of Zion.” (This is the only physical location mentioned. It struck me as a reference to Jerusalem where salvation was wrought on the Cross).
A Call for God’s Action
He ends the Psalm with a call to the LORD, “Arise, O LORD, do not let man (here representing evil) prevail…Let the nations know that they are but men.”
A Warning to Consider
My friends, a few issues ago Marvin Olasky [World Volume 25, # 18, 09/26/20 p.80) wrote a column about the path to civil war in Spain in an attempt to sound a warning to his readership. I recommend it for your consideration. Even a cursory reading of history reveals that civil war does not correct the evils within nations. It may bring a course correction as it did in the American revolution (which ultimately was a civil war) in the formulation of the Constitution of the United States and the temporal prosperity that ensued for a larger portion of the population than ever before. Our Constitution codified broad sweeping biblical principles at the hands of an incredible brain trust of God-fearing men (not all Christians). Yet, here we are, having eroded that amazing document in the name of social justice and personal freedom to ignore the boundaries which God has established, on the brink of civil war.
Our Hope Is in the Cross
Our hope, my friends is in the LORD who wrought salvation for our souls with the price of His blood (9:12). Yes, we should oppose evil manifest in the abandoning of God’s boundaries and the suppression of truth (Romans 1:18). But our primary means is the proclamation of the Gospel and the praises of our voices along with lifestyles that validate our witness. As a nation we will not prevail over evil. We, His people, can only be His instruments in His Providence to keep it at bay until His appointed time of judgment.
About the Author:
Dr. Howard is married to Pam, has two adult children, and eight grandchildren. He currently teaches, is an elder, and serves as a board member of the International Association of Biblical Counselors and a fellow in the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He has served multiple congregations as a church planter, senior pastor, and elder. In addition, he has authored multiple books and articles. Over the years, he served working on the staff of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation as Counselor and Director of Curriculum Development, the first Executive Director of then the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (now ACBC), and has led multiple training programs in seminaries and churches. He currently serves as Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program in Biblical Counseling at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
In addition, God has allowed me to be his friend.
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