God is Still on The Throne
July 27, 2022
Commentary
Any nation that aligns itself with the Lord God can expect His blessing (v. 12). On the contrary any nation that ignores God and lives unrighteously should have great concern. The Lord looks down from heaven and sees everything that man does (vv. 13-15). This should be a great comfort to those who live righteously to know that what they do is not going unnoticed by the Lord.
God does not simply view the acts of men from heaven but he judges them as well. Each nation has its own characteristics but each has the same basic needs. A mighty man is not delivered by much strength (v. 16). No matter how powerful a nation might be, no matter how great its armaments, no matter how much it is prepared for war – God is not impressed. The Lord is just and loyal in dealing with his children (vv. 17-19)
World affairs are not actually decided in the Kremlin or in Washington. Our economic fate does not lie in the hands of the oil-rich Arabs. Men may think they can ignore God and do their own thing but God has overthrown nations just as powerful and belligerent as the countries that are sponsoring terrorism today. God is still on the throne.
The Lord saves and preserves those who trust and hope in Him (vv 20-22). God works in His mysterious timetable. He has not forgotten us, we can be sure of that. Our part is to simply wait (v. 20) and rejoice (v. 21) in Him. God can and often does miraculously deliver his followers from pain and death. Hoping and waiting go together. We can be sure that He knows what is best and will do it at exactly the right time. When faced with harsh realities we must focus on the wise adjustments of God (v. 22). The writer was pleading for God’s watchful care and protection in times of crises.
Application
How patient am I in waiting on the Lord to bring certain things to pass in my life? How would I rate myself on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being great patience?
Psalms 33:12– 22 (NET)
12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession.
13 The Lord watches from heaven; he sees all people.
14 From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth’s inhabitants.
15 He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.
16 No king is delivered by his vast army; a warrior is not saved by his great might.
17 A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.
18 Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers, those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness
19 by saving their lives from death and sustaining them during times of famine.
20 We wait for the Lord; he is our deliverer and shield.
21 For our hearts rejoice in him, for we trust in his holy name.
22 May we experience your faithfulness, O Lord, for we wait for you.