A Ruler Fair and Trustworthy
Getting back on top of my game physically is taking more time than expected or I thought I had patience for. That sounds a little bazaar when I think about it, considering five months of hospitalization and therapy in 2013. Perhaps that is a sign of normalcy.
Pastor Steve Harris dropped by today. It was good to see him for a short visit. He returned some of the strawberries from my garden that he picked last summer, in the form of some great strawberry jam.
This was a cool but pleasant fall day. After some rest, I did get out and till the garden space and prune some rose bushes. I failed to mention it a few days ago, but September 26 was the first anniversary of my surgery to remove the lower lob of my left lung and the tumor in my thymus gland along with the thymus. I can still some degree of numbness on my left side. That and a few surgical scars are the only reminders of what transpired a little over a year ago. That certainly was a turning point in my recovery for which I am truly thankful.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.” Isaiah 33:22
When you read this verse from the perspective of our American political system, you quickly see a reference to the three branches of government; legislative, executive and judicial. Each on is tasked with a different responsibility. One makes the laws, one administers the laws and one makes rulings over disputes about the law.
What is of interest is that our system was set up this way, to create “checks and balances.” It is referred to as “separation of powers.” Our founding fathers believes strongly that concentrated government in the hands of a few (let alone one) would led to tyranny and the oppression of people.
But that is human government. When we see the Lord functioning a lawgiver, king and judge it brings hope and salvation. It speaks of a day of a divine order and a divine government. That is what Isaiah is foretelling to God’s people. They had seen the oppression of ruthless Kings. They had experienced unjust laws and the perversion of justice. But the day when the Lord reigns supreme He needs no help in the execution of His duties. He sits enthroned as the One who is all-sufficient, all-powerful and all-just and righteous.
I recall a legislative colleague making the reflection from some reading he was doing and remember his statement, “people really don’t like freedom.” That sounded fairly shocking, but he went on to explain that “people need to be led.” Our natural tendency is to look at human leaders and human institutions. When we do that we will be disappointed at least or vulnerable to tyranny at most.
But when we look to the Lord to provide the leadership over our life, we are kept safe. The Bible says, “…this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands [laws] are not burdensome…” 1 John 5:3 His judgements are true, His leadership can be trusted. Paul writes about God’s ultimate rule in these words, “When all things are subjected to Him [Christ], then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all…” 1 Corinthians 15:28
I am thankful for the Lord who not only saves us from our sin, but delivers us from the temporary kingdoms and rule of people to an eternity where He reigns overall and above all.