It was a cool, overcast day in the city. The crowds were large and restless. People were taken by a great sense of despair and desperation. Many were hurting. They were discouraged. Still, they managed some hopeful anticipation on this important occasion. Maybe this really would be better. They steeled themselves against an unfounded optimism. They had been disappointed before. Millions had given up hope.

There was no caveat, or condition, or middle ground. There was no room permitted for compromise, accommodation, or splitting the difference. Sometimes, under certain circumstances, there can be give and take. That was not the case here.

“Christian Nationalism” is a pejorative that secularists (those that do not hold to a Biblical worldview) use to impugn the motives and actions of Christians who engage the culture and the government. Look no further than Wikipedia to find the lengths to which they will go to malign sincere Christians.

It rises in majestic splendor and intimidating triumph.

Clothed in breathtaking beauty and shrouded in mystery, it ascends 5.5 miles amidst the ancient Himalayas. It’s the earth’s highest mountain. Its Tibetan name means Holy Mother.

Psalm 75 is a song of thanksgiving. The Psalmist gives thanks for deliverance from the troubles of Psalm 74. This is a Psalm of faith because it anticipates a miraculous deliverance in the future. As one reads this Psalm, it seems to anticipate the events of the end times. In this Psalm we see parallels to the prophecies of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation.

That is why even a Psalm that is hard to understand and get our heads wrapped around about sea monsters and the destruction of a temple can speak to us today.

God is the same God who we can plead with, and He will NOT leave us.

It was another booze-soaked night. There had been plenty of them over the years. He was known as the local drunk. People snickered and whispered when they saw him stumbling down the street in his usual besotted stupor.

Others just shook their heads. Some crossed the street to avoid him. He was unshaven, unkempt, and unwashed. He stunk. A sad and despicable specimen of a life gone terribly wrong.

Psalm 71 starts off as a cry for help. The author was an older man who went through his own set of challenges, like we all do, and he cried out to the Lord.

We can relate to this aged man, whether it is a personal trial, at work, in our family, or maybe it is a cry for help in our nation. It’s clear - our nation is under judgement, but there are signs of good things that are happening.

When we see things through our fleshly eyes we often can’t see the forest for the trees. We only see what we can see. But when we look through our spiritual eyes with the spiritual truth God has given us in His Word, our eyes are opened and we see things from God’s perspective. God’s perspective is the only one that counts!

It’s here. As surely as the leaves are turning color and there’s a chill in the air. There’s no avoiding or escaping it, hope as we might. There’s no ignoring its urgent, pleading, grasping tentacles. It’s invading your email and interrupting your television. It’s blaring on the radio. It’s in your face.

Another season of politics is upon us, and the sky is falling.

Praying for our leaders is something we all should do, and it is incredibly important because if our leaders and government go off track, it becomes more and more difficult to “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (I Timothy 2:2)

Throughout history there have been many heresies that have tried to attach themselves to the church. Some surround the nature of Jesus — denying the deity or humanity of Christ. Some focus on salvation — attempting to add human works as a requirement. All such false teaching is extremely serious, as Paul pointed out to the Galatians. But the false teaching that has been the most costly in terms of human physical life, is centered on the Early Church.

“The essential thing in heaven and earth is that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.” -Friedrich Nietzche

Seventy years is an entire lifetime. For Queen Elizabeth II it was the longest reign, not only in the United Kingdom but in the history of the world. When she died last week at age 96, it was a globe-riveting event. And no matter how much we paid attention, or didn’t, important history was still being made. Unprecedented history.

There are days and weeks when attacks are thick and the pains are deep. I have been going through one of those seasons. There are sufferings that we choose – inconveniencing ourselves for the gospel, to disciple someone, giving up resources till it hurts for the Kingdom – and then there are times where we go through sufferings that we didn’t choose.

When life overwhelms you,  it’s normal to look for comfort. As Christians, we should  search in two places: God’s presence and God’s word. Trials will require you to shift your focus. Instead of looking all around you, or living in fear of your circumstances, you can look to the God who holds you. That begins with recognizing who God is.

The Psalmist opens with declaration (praise) of God’s might against the enemies of Israel, as easily defeated as wisps of smoke or melting wax, illustrating the commanding power of the God of Israel. 

These verses tell us about God, and what he does for His people. See that those who are not believers “shall flee before Him!” implying their terror at the might of God…God is our help, that every day He helps us carry our burdens. His strength, His help for us, is new each day. He is our salvation. Blessed be the Lord who daily bears us up, God is our salvation. Selah

When we are blessed by the Lord, as commanded by Him, when we receive His blessing, His word, His promises, when we practice praise and the Lord Himself is our ruler, then the earth shall yield her increase and our own God shall bless us.