"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, August 02, 2016 with Scripture Psalm 33:12-22

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, August 02, 2016 with Scripture Psalm 33:12-22

Psalm 33:

12 How blessed is the nation whose God is Adonai,

the people he chose as his heritage!

13 Adonai looks out from heaven;

he sees every human being;

14 from the place where he lives

he watches everyone living on earth,

15 he who fashioned the hearts of them all

and understands all they do.

16 A king is not saved by the size of his army,

a strong man not delivered by his great strength.

17 To rely on a horse for safety is vain,

nor does its great power assure escape.

18 But Adonai’s eyes watch over those who fear him,

over those who wait for his grace

19 to rescue them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

20 We are waiting for Adonai;

he is our help and shield.

21 For in him our hearts rejoice,

because we trust in his holy name.

22 May your mercy, Adonai, be over us,

because we put our hope in you.

[Compete Jewish Bible]
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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.
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.
Jim Thvedt, '59
Retired; Speaker/Producer of "The Hour of Hope"
Psalm 33:12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth--
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.[New Revised Standard Version]

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