Trust Not in Princes
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
- Psalm 146:3-4
Tomorrow is election day. Tomorrow is the day that stirs up within you both hope and fear. The degree of each feeling does not matter much. They are gathered around the same belief that the election is consequential, for good, for ill, and a stomach-churning mix of both. Some of you may believe it will be decisively good or bad, one direction or another; I do not. I believe there will be good and bad, whatever the outcome. I believe it will be consequential, but not decisive.
We are asked to trust in these politicians, to pin our hopes on them, to see our fate in them. My word to you from the Psalmist is this: “Don’t do it.” They will disappoint you in a thousand ways and in the end they and their plans will perish. Our security, our salvation is not found in politicians, these 21st century princes, nor is it found in the United States of America.
It is folly for the Christian to put his or her trust in human empires. The temporal security they offer is just that – temporary, fleeting. While empires have risen and fallen, the Church remains. We have lived under favorable governments in which we physically prospered but spiritually floundered. We have likewise lived under malevolent governments in which we physically suffered but were spiritually strengthened. In the immediate, I do not know what God has in store for us, but we have His promise to Peter that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against [us].”[Matt. 16:18 EV]
Admittedly, mere survival does not fill your heart with hope. Rightly so, because God has a better hope to fill our hearts. The Psalmist continues:
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! - Psalm 146:1-10 [ESV] (bold mine)
If you read the Gospels, you will see how the teachings and miracles of Jesus indicate that he is this one and the same LORD. As he walked and talked, he signaled the presence of the Kingdom of God, that the reign of God was invading the kingdom of this World. The Psalmist declares, “The Lord will reign forever” and he is echoed with volume by the voices of Heaven when they declare at the end of days, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."[Rev 11:15 ESV]
When Christ returns, every species of injustice will be annihilated and every need will be met. There will be no more war, there will be no more violence. There will be peace. Death will be no more. All these promises will be fulfilled on this earth, which now groans for restoration, but which will then be vibrant and flourishing with us dwelling together with God therein. [see Revelation 21:13]
Our salvation is found in the King of kings. As you vote, recall that your security is found in him, not in these princes. He shall reign forever and ever.
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.