Psalm 43:1 “Vindicate me, my God. And plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.” I find these words biting fighting words. My mind goes into a hail storm. Bounce, bounce, yes, no, and how could this be in such a nation as mine, the world’s greatest? I turn on the fighting arrogant news against almost every Bibical imaginable precept, concept and eternal truths recorded from God’s point of view and the hail storm returns to my head. The news anchors read and quote from the source fed to them like rat poison and they read on and think they are clever and deep thinkers. If anyone disagrees with their point of view they go into angry rage while their pride and arrogance looks like the reverse tail of Einsteins out of control hair.
What must one do? Read on, follow the perfect pattern of Psalm 43:2-5 God can be our stronghold, a safe shelter. In trying to navigate through this brutal Presidential election in my nation I sure need a stronghold. A safe shelter.
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Thank you for penning such succint words, Sara, regarding the news and the Presidential election. Your words express my sentiments as well and the Psalm you shared gives a timely solution.
Sara, the verse that came to my mind when reading this blog was: (Psalm 33:12 NIV) “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
You said above: “I sure need a stronghold. A safe shelter.” As I opened up my Bible to read more from Psalm 33, I found more encouragement in other verses, from this chapter. 18-22 says, “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”
Great encouragement in the words of the Psalmist. They sure help to lift our spirits. When we place our trust in Him and His stronghold we know nothing can enter without His permission.
I must say it does cause me to have passion of heart to draw closer to God knowing He will draw closer to me when I see and hear the condition of my nation. I do wonder if I’m going to have to account in anyway at the judgement seat when my nation is called. I could be thinking in fanasy terms or reality. Times like this can call one to dig deeper into one’s beliefs or so I believe.
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”(Proverbs 12:18, NIV) I am clinging to this promise when I want to answer the fiery words being thrust about with words that would pierce the soul. I must say a few piercing words enter my mind to say but I need to tie this promise to my fingers and read every hour on the hour and whisper a prayer in faith for the tongue to become wise and help to heal our nation.
Sara, your point of ”remembering” is well taken.
As to slinging about of ”reckless words that pierce”…. but yet guarding our hearts [and lips] Peter says that it is the Lord’s will and intention by doing right, demonstrating uprightness of God in our demeanor that we should silence, muzzle and gag ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of people who, acting and speaking foolishly, foment strife and division. 1Peter. 1:15. The Lord Jesus has told us that we will be held accountable for every vain and foolish word we speak.
I guess some of us will have to tie several of HIS words around about our fingers or be like the priests of old who bound phylacteries about their arms, fingers and foreheads…..reminding of the Word of God, Primary in our lives, deeds and words.
I would like to join an amen in your prayer.
Pdalm 44:23-26 “Awake Lord! Why do you sleep…” Hum, I will leave the remainder verses for the ones that wish to know what the Psalmist said to God to read for themselves. A bit daring I would suggest. But, an honest cry.
I hope my heart and words are as daring and honest as I repeat the words of this blog back to You, God. I remember Lord you had a few good men accuse You of not caring once before during a storm and their boat was going down. But, You saved them. I wonder if You smiled or cried or what reaction was on Your face as You seem to put their unbelief to shame.
I’m repeating blog to You, Lord and asking You to wake up and understand and do something about the boat about to go down.
“Hum, I will leave the remainder verses for the ones that wish to know what the Psalmist said to God to read for themselves.”
One thing I noticed as I read and reread the Psalm was that the Psalmist was intensely focused on God. He addresses/calls out to/calls on God as either ‘God’ or ‘You’ or ‘Your’ or ‘Yourself’ about 28 times.
And in Sara’s brief discourse/prayer to God above, she invokes His Name 12 times.
That made me think about this from Psalm 91:15:
“He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him”