Psalm 33:12-22 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 33:12-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
Verse 13The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
Verse 14From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth-
Verse 15he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
Verse 16A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
Verse 17The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
Verse 18Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Verse 19to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Verse 20Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield.
Verse 21Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Verse 22Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Devotion
In yesterday's devotion, I asked the question, "What is faith?" The writer of Psalm 33 might suggest that a better word would be "trust." Our nation is in the midst of a presidential campaign. The question that confronts voters is one of trust. Whom are we going to trust as leader of our nation? Who can govern in a way that will keep our nation and its people safe? Who can deal with the realities of what seem to be on-going crises at home and abroad?
The writer of Psalm 33 proclaims that armaments—great armies, mighty warriors and war horses—are ultimately not worthy of our trust. When we direct our ultimate trust to the living and loving God whose "eye" is always focused on us, we can know that, in the midst of all that threatens our lives, security, health and well-being, we can live in confident hope and joy.
Prayer
Living and loving God, be at work in us in such a way that we keep our eyes, minds and hearts focused on you, the creator and sustainer of all that exists. Amen.