Photo from the Hill:
The Psalmist, David, prays for his son, Solomon, King of Israel;
"Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
May he rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given to him and bless him all day long. May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field. May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen." Psalms 72:1-19 NIV.
What a stark contrast to the actions of some of
those who profess to lead the nations of the world. As this is being written, Russia, under the leadership of a man far from David and Solomon in spirit and love for his fellow man, is deliberately causing the deaths of hundreds, maybe even thousands of men women and children in the Ukraine. As opposed to rescuing the weak and needy, their blood cries out to the Lord from the ground. While this is happening a former so-called president of the United States openly cheers on the death and destruction of God's children.
"He is “pretty smart,” Mr. Trump said on Wednesday at a Florida fund-raiser, assessing the impending invasion like a real estate deal. “He’s taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions,” he said, “taking over a country — really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people — and just walking right in.” New York Times, February 24, 2022.
While men and women are being killed, this evil man praises the killer, and calls him smart. Like a greedy, selfish hoarder, he equates everything with money, property and ownership.
The Prophet Jeremiah writes:
"Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people. Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor. Should I not punish them for this? declares the Lord. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? " Jeremiah 5:26-29 NIV
The leaders of the world has lost sight of Who God is. He is a God who defends the fatherless, comforts the widows and orphans, brings justice to the oppressed, and saves the righteous from a world gone made. "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways O King of the saints." Revelation 15:3 NKJV
While it may seem hopeless, our hope is not in sinful, selfish man. Our Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those one earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11.
Evil may seem to abound for a while, but it will fall. And all those who cling to it, and cause, and celebrate the suffering of the their fellowman, they too will fall. "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction."
Psalms 1:6 NIV
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