I actually wondered about that until I was at least 11 years old.
When I thought of the United States of America, I imagined for awhile a wide panorama of politicians and celebrities and average citizens that were all “strangers” to me. When I was 10, during Election 2000, I began to realize the importance of prayer and admiration for godly leaders. It is no easy task to be one in today’s era, I’m certain.
Actually, it has probably always been that way. I surprised myself by reading from Psalm 1 to Psalm 20 in one reading this morning. I want to write down here of the compelling verses…
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in HIS law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous…Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth…Arise, O LORD; save me, O my GOD!…Salvation belongs to the LORD; YOUR blessing be upon YOUR people!
Selah…
Answer me when I call, O GOD of my righteousness! YOU have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?
Selah.
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for HIMSELF; the LORD hears when I call HIM…Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of YOUR countenance upon us, O LORD!…In the morning, O LORD, YOU will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to YOU and eagerly watch…The boastful shall not stand before YOUR eyes; YOU hate all who do iniquity. YOU destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit…There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, O GOD; by their own devices let them fall!…My soul is greatly dismayed; but YOU, O LORD – how long?…O LORD my GOD, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to my friend or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary…let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust.
Selah…
The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. O let the evil of the wicked come to and end, but establish the righteous; for the righteous GOD tries the hearts and minds…GOD is a righteous judge, and a GOD who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, HE will sharpen HIS sword…From the mouth of infants and nursing babes YOU have established YOUR strength because of YOUR adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease…What is man that YOU take thought of him, and the son of man that YOU care for him?…YOU make him to rule over the works of YOUR hands; you have put all things under his feet…I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of YOUR wonders…For YOU have maintained my just cause…the LORD abides forever…and HE will judge the world according to righteousness; HE will execute judgement with equity…Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are but men.
Selah…
Why do you stand afar off, O LORD?…In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised…The wicked in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek HIM. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no GOD’. His ways prosper at all times; YOUR judgements are on high, out of his sight…He says to himself, “I will not be moved; throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.”…O LORD, YOU have heard the desire of the humble; YOU will strengthen their heart…so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror…For behold, the wicked bend the bow…to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?…Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips…who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’ Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, ‘Now I will arise,’ say the LORD, ‘I will set him in the safety for which he longs’…YOU, O LORD, will keep them; YOU will preserve him from this generation forever. The wicked strut about on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men…The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no GOD’…There they are in great dread, for GOD is with the righteous generation…Who may dwell on YOUR Holy Hill? He who walks with integrity and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart…who honors those who fear the LORD…he swears to his own hurt and does not change…wondrously show YOUR lovingkindness, O SAVIOR of those who take refuge at YOUR right hand…I love YOU, O LORD, my strength…The law of the LORD is perfect…May HE grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your counsel! We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our GOD we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions…now I know that they LORD saves HIS anointed…Save, O LORD; May the KING answer us in the day we call.”
I cannot vote for another year and a half, but I will pray. I hope that many more Christians besides myself will be motivated by the importance of these elections…and the timeless Psalms of King David.
PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND THE WORLD,
~Amanda~
