Happy are those whose God is the Lord
May there be no breached walls, no forced exile, no cries of distress (outcry) in our squares.
Yes, happy are those who have it like this! Happy indeed are those whose God is the LORD.
(Psalm 144:14-15 NLT)
Hello people of God,
Yea, not a day goes by without protest in the streets, and shouts for change in our squares. All over the world people lament the injustices of ruling governments, using their voices, fists and implements of dissent to demonstrate their unhappiness with current regimes. From Iran to Minneapolis, from Ukraine to Toronto, shouts of opposition and anger fill the air. Images of breached walls, forced exiles and cries of distress fill our phones, televisions and minds. The world is unstable; not a country seems to be spared from the arising chaos. Not but a month ago we were singing ‘peace on earth’ in our Christmas songs. What has happened? “Trump happened!”, many would exclaim. Really! Should we find such a one upon which to scapegoat all of the world’s evils? Let’s be realistic. This rebellion and behavior started way before that. I can only speak to the decades in which I existed, but I remember the 60’s and 70’s with the same types of protests against war, governments, race issues, and a cry for freedom to do with their bodies what one wants, etc. Everybody feels the need to fight for their right to…. (finish the sentence). There is nothing new under the sun. It does seem that the world is unraveling at an alarming rate and its vivid proof is all published live for the masses to see, which just stirs up the world to join the protest. So now, we can join a protest in Canada with those simultaneously protesting across the oceans. We are at the point in society where even our churches are places for protest. ‘Outcry’ says the psalmist.
Happy indeed are those whose God is the LORD! What a contrast! Blessed are those who have as their Lord, the God of the Bible. God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Jesus, is their Lord! He’s not just a god, another god, a god of their own imagination, He is Lord! And He is their God! The One True God! As Lord, He rules and reigns, and His people submit to Him as He leads them to green pastures and still waters – they shall not be in want, because the Lord is their shepherd. Why is the world in such a state as we see today? Rebellion to and ultimate rejection of the One True God. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes; lawlessness has become the norm as predicted (2Thess 2). Is there any country whose God is the Lord, on a national level? Think carefully before you say ‘Israel’, for their walls are breached, there are forced exiles (think October 7), and there is outcry in the streets. On many levels they have rejected the Lord their God as other nations have. For that, they suffer.
O LORD, what are mortals that you should notice us, mere humans that you should care for us? (Psalm 144:3). God does notice and He does care! Is it not remarkable that He has not abandoned Earth’s inhabitants after all the rebellion and rejection? He is still seeking and saving the lost! He is still leading nations to the blessing He has promised to Abraham (Gen. 26:3-4); He has not given up on His chosen people, Israel. Mercy! Grace! Salvation! Deliverance! Psalm 144 reveals David’s confidence in God who is his Rock, loving God, fortress, tower of safety, deliverer, shield and refuge (vs.1-2). His confidence in God needs to be ours, who can part the heavens, come down to His people and rescue us from the certain destruction to which the world is headed (vs. 5-8,11). This confidence in the Lord our God, results in a hymn of praise, a new song in our hearts, to the One who gives victory (vs. 9-10). We do not lose hope, for our hope is in the Lord our God, even in adversity! Friends, need I remind you that if you have trusted in Christ as Savior AND Lord, you are children of the promise to Abraham – you are the blessed nation whose God is the Lord (Gal. 3:7-9). In the middle of the chaos, can we live as God’s “happy” people who are not phased by the world’s unraveling? I believe we can if we continue to keep our eyes on Jesus and His promises and remember who we are and whose we are in Him.
Bless the LORD, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nation under me. (Psalm 144: 1-2)
Remain Happy in Jesus!
(PS. If your troubled by what you see...change the channel; scroll away!)
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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