When Nations Rage

Today’s reading is Psalm 46.

Of course, the mountains were not actually falling into the sea. The earth was not actually melting. Perhaps we get a clearer picture of what is going on when Korah’s son says, “The nations rage, the kingdoms totter.” There is geo-political turmoil. Wars and rumors of wars. Kings rise and fall. One nation topples another and another and another. And those nations threaten God’s nation, God’s city.

However, in contrast to the roaring and foaming, earth engulfing seas, there is a river whose streams make glad God’s city. The psalmist calls to mind the rivers of Eden that fed the tree of life. The river seems to represent God Himself (see Isaiah 8:6; Jeremiah 2:13). Doesn’t this call to mind a contrast with Psalm 42 and 43? There the psalmist was faced with dehydration or drowning. Here the psalmist is in a city with a calming, peaceful, life-giving river. Even while the rest of the world floods.

Let me ask you. Do you look around you and hear the nations raging? Have you witnessed the protests? Have you seen the riots? Do you hear the fighting and bickering over everything?

One of the struggles we face that Israel didn’t is we have dual citizenship. An Israelite was an Israelite. By definition, their earthly kingdom was God’s kingdom. Even if they were taken captive by another nation, while they may have had to figure out how to live there, they knew they were still Israelites, and they were actually living in an enemy nation. However, we who are part of God’s kingdom today are also part of other earthly kingdoms. We don’t view our life in earthly nations as time in enemy territory. If we are not careful, we can allow our earthly citizenship to get mixed up with our heavenly one. We lose sight of the fact that if our earthly nation falls, God’s kingdom is not destroyed. Therefore, when the nations rage, especially our own nation, we start to get anxious, fearful, panicky.

Add to that, if the nation raging then starts to add an attack on Christ’s kingdom, we get doubly scared. Hand wringing, fretting, worrying, anxiety, stress. The “what ifs” start up. “What if they take away our tax exempt status?” “What if they label our preaching hate speech?” “What if they take our buildings away from us?” “What if they imprison our preachers and elders?” “AAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!” Then we start plotting. We start developing political plans. Historically, some have even developed military plans. But this is not God’s way.

The sons of Korah, help us see where we truly stand. We stand with the God of Jacob, the Lord of hosts. When God decides to speak, the earth will melt. That is, when God finally lets His voice be heard, the raging nations and tottering kingdoms will do nothing to His people. God stops wars. God stops armies. God stops political machinations. God shatters spears and breaks bows and disarms nukes.

When enemies rise and nations rage, it may seem like the foundations are falling out from under us. But our God reigns. And our God is with us. That doesn’t mean none of us will face discomfort, pain, persecution, even death. It does mean none of that can take away our salvation or our relationship with God. It does mean our eternity is secure. It does mean we have nothing to fear. Even if we die in this battle, we still win. After all, that is exactly what happened to our God, isn’t it?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 46.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
2. Why do you think it is easy to get fixated on our earthly countries, nations, and citizenship?
3. How do we live faithfully as God’s kingdom citizens even while living as citizens of an earthly country also?
4. Which should we choose when the earthly nation goes against God’s kingdom?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?

Christian First, Roman Second

Today’s reading is Acts 25.

I have to be honest with you about something in today’s reading. I hear people refer to Paul’s use of his Roman rights, as when he appealed to Caesar, and I fear we often get the perspective completely backwards. Paul was a Roman citizen, no doubt. He clearly made use of the rights afforded him by the Roman government, and was, no doubt, thankful for them. However, Paul was always a Christian first and a Roman second. I want to make sure I maintain the proper balanced perspective on this. The Bible doesn’t teach patriotism for your earthly country is necessarily sinful. However, neither does the Bible teach patriotism for your earthly country is part of faithful Christianity. If you love your earthly nation, that’s fine. But remember, while your earthly nation may be friendly to Christ’s kingdom, it will ultimately end up as an enemy. They all do. And we are part of a kingdom that ultimately will destroy your earthly nation. There is just no comparison. Whether Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Britain, or the United States, Christ’s kingdom is the stone cut out without hands that will conquer all other kingdoms and grind them into dust. No, our King won’t do that with politics, military strategies, or guns. He will do it with the gospel and perseverance. But as Paul was Christian first and Roman second, we need to be Christian first and American second (or whatever nationality you are).

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 25.