Psalms 20:7-9 (ESV)
[7]
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but
we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
[8]
They collapse and fall,
but
we rise and stand upright.
[9]
O LORD, save the king!
May
he answer us when we call.
Today is Inauguration Day in the United States. President Trump has moved
out of the White House. President Biden will move in. For many it is a day of
celebration, and for many it is a day of frustration and grief. We are a divided
nation. But if your hopes and dreams were tied to President Trump, or if your
hopes and dreams are tied to President Biden, then they are in the wrong place.
One might as easily write Psalm 20:7 to read, “Some trust in Democrats, and
some in Republicans,” or “Some trust in Biden and some in Trump.” It is the next
line in Psalm 20:7 that reminds us, “We trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Trump and Biden, Republicans and Democrats “collapse and fall, but we rise
and stand upright.” Every king, every ruler, every president, every dictator in
history has fallen, but those who belong to God still stand. Empires have risen
and fallen, great world powers have sunk to second rate powers, or even
collapsed altogether, but the Church still stands. Even in the prophetic End
Times Tribulation, Revelation 15:2 describes martyred believers as, “those who
had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name.”
If we succeed in influencing our culture toward moral and ethical behavior,
or if we see our country and our community call “evil good and good evil,”
either way we cannot lose. Not only can we not lose, but in the meantime we are
called to respect and pray for those in authority over us, whether we believe
they have a right to that rule or not. Under the evil emperor Nero Paul wrote
in Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For
there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been
instituted by God.” In 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul wrote, “I urge that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and
all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life,
godly and dignified in every way.”
Psalm 20 ends with the words, “O LORD, save the king.” Nebuchadnezzar had
carried Daniel and his friends into captivity and made him a eunuch, yet when
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that predicted that he would lose his mind and live
as an animal for a season, Daniel said to him, “My lord, may the dream be for
those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!” (Dan 4:19). If you
prayed for President Trump, then pray for President Biden just as much. If you
cursed President Trump, then God forgive you. Do not put your faith in this new
administration. Put your faith in God. If you have cursed Biden, then God
forgive you. Do not put your faith in the old administration. Put your faith in
God. Some trust in Trump, and some in Biden, “but we trust in the name of the
LORD our God.” May that be true!
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