Psalm 63:1-8

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

¹ O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
² I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
³ Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
⁵ You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

⁶ I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
⁷ Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

Dear God, as I think of David and his imperfection this morning, I’m thinking about how you humbled me this morning. I wanted to hear a friend’s sermon so I listened to a live stream of his church. It’s a non-denominational church that has a very contemporary worship style. I used to worship at a church like this over 20 years ago when I lived in Waco. It’s not my style anymore. I’ve visited churches like this over the last several years, and when I’m in there, all I can think is, “It’s too loud in here.” I don’t like it.

So as the service started on my YouTube feed this morning, I found my first reaction to be a little judgy. “Oh, they aren’t doing this right.” “That’s not how you worship God.” Thankfully, I was quickly chastened. I’ll say it was the Holy Spirit. What I heard back was, “Do you think you’re doing it right? God doesn’t think any humans are worshipping him as they should. As the angels do. But he has room for all of your imperfect worship and accepts it anyway.”

So I was humbled and I repented. I started to find the beauty in what I was watching. The sincere love for you. It became beautiful to me (if still not preferrable).

Then I started thinking about the political fallout of the last week. Some are lamenting the outcome of the election. Some are celebrating. There are good, faithful, worshipful Christians in both groups. The church this morning certainly had its preferences (one of the reasons I watched–to see what the message was this morning). I attend Catholic church with my wife which is a little more muted. But I’ve talked with many Christians this week who were delighted. But I think the truth is the same for the political parties as it is for the churches: “God doesn’t think any humans are [governing] as they should. And [heaven does].” Personally, I look at the politics of the last 25 years, and I see a pendulum that swings. It was kind of end the middle in 2000, as President Clinton and the Republican Congress came together to compromise and get some good legislation passed and balance a budget (the only time in my lifetime we’ve had a budget surplus). Since then it’s been a slow increase in the pendulum swinging. President Bush pushed it a little to the right with a Republican Congress. President Obama then reacted with a good shove to the left. Then President Trump came in and pushed hard right. President Biden pushed hard left. Now President Trump has pushed so hard right that the pendulum swing withing two years was so striking that Texas (where I live) switched to completely blue at the statewide office level and then Texas House became majority blue. What will happen now? I suspect the new party in power will make the mistake of taking the red momentum of the pendulum we’ve experienced over the last 25-35 years in Texas and ride it all the way to the left as far as they can. I hope, I hope, I hope that’s not what happens. I hope wise heads will prevail, and the new leaders at the state and federal levels will bring the pendulum back to the middle. That they will ignore the worse angels of all our natures to kick their opponent while they are down and do something that will be good for our local communities, our states, our country, and our world.

Father, I have no judgment for my fellow Christians and how they worship. I have no judgment for the areas where people disagree with me theologically (knowing that my theology has errors too and it is still somehow covered by your grace). I know that the people I disagree with and agree with politically, for the most part, wake up with the intention of doing good in the world as they see it. So I pray for those motivated only by corruption to be exposed and marginalized in this system. I pray that for every person who is motivated by enforceable power to be set free from that drive. And I pray for every person who is legitimately motivated by their ideas, philosophies, and even theology will be given eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that seeks out you above all others. I pray that you will speak to them through their political adversaries and give them ears to hear when they are wrong. I pray that you will give them the courage to follow the convictions you lay on their hearts. I don’t pretend to know what they should do on any given issues. But you do. And you know how each action, regardless of how seemingly small, impacts the entire world. And finally, God, have mercy. Jesus, have mercy. Holy Spirit, have mercy.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen