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12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he chose for his inheritance.

13 From heaven the Lord looks down

and sees all mankind;

14 from his dwelling place he watches

all who live on earth—

15 he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do.

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

 

How much faith, trust and hope do we place in our nationality—in our nation’s history, its core values, our rights that we have as citizens of the USA? While we may not always put a lot of faith and hope in individual leaders, many of us probably place a good deal of trust in the fact that we are citizens of the USA and what that represents: Freedom. Democracy. Justice for all. The opportunity to pursue one’s own happiness. The right to bear arms and defend oneself. All of those things we are taught and which we experience, to some degree, from the time of our birth or citizenship.

Is being a citizen of the USA worth the innate trust and hope that we give it? Is chasing the “American dream,” whatever that looks like in our own lives, worth as much of our time, energy and resources as we afford it? I am a proud American, but I also admit that I probably do place too much faith in my human-made citizenship and too often forget my citizenship as part of God’s nation of believers around the world, who hail from countless countries on every continent. This is my first citizenship, and my only sure and certain one. It is the one that is eternal and to which I must always give my first allegiance. This is the nation led by God. Not a country which we have invented, but the holy nation into which we have been adopted.

We might ask ourselves: Can any citizenship, any literal or figurative fortress or mighty steed (be it wealth, possessions, fame, popularity/acceptance, social standing, heritage, educational attainment) or any worldly source of protection, truly be guaranteed to shield us from the world’s greatest threats? These things may represent safety for a time, but they will not last.

 

The psalmist invites us into a time of worship of our one true God, the only shield and source of strength that can stand mightily against every enemy. Our God who loves us completely, faithfully and enduringly, with perfect love. This is the God who has invited us to be members of God’s family, the body of Christ on earth. This citizenship is a stronger one than any other citizenship could ever be. Even Rome fell. The greatest nations and civilizations go to war and lose battles, sometimes being unexpectedly overcome. It happens.

But God’s nation is forever. God’s people are God’s people forever. It could be that in a few hundred years, the USA will look quite different geographically or politically, maybe even cease to exist. It’s possible. Yet God’s people are God’s people forever. This is an unshakable truth, because God as our shield will protect God’s people indefinitely. Through Jesus, we are made part of that Holy Nation, that chosen people. God is our sure hope, and it is in God that our sure hope and salvation are found—nowhere and in no one apart from the one true God.

We pray: O Lord, our help and our shield, as we rest in your covenant of unfailing love, may your Holy Spirit empower and embolden us to live our lives publicly as your disciples and members of the one body of Christ on earth, united in a common hope and trust in you above all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Beverly Struckmann

pastorbev@livinglord.org