The Blest Man - Isaac Watts (Psalm 1)

     Psalm 1

     Issac Watts

Blest is the man who shuns the place

Where sinners love to meet;

Who fears to tread their wicked ways,

And hates the scoffer's seat;

But in the statutes of the Lord

Hath placed his chief delight,

By day he reads or hears the Word,

And meditates by night.

He like a plant of gen'rous kind,

By living waters set,

Safe from the storms and blasting wind,

Enjoys a peaceful state.

Green as the leaf and ever fair

Shall his profession shine,

While fruits of holiness appear

Like clusters on the vine.

Not so the impious and unjust;

What vain designs they form!

Their hopes are blown away like dust,

Or chaff before the storm.

Sinners in judgement shall not stand

Amongst the sons of grace,

When Christ the Judge, at His right hand

Appoints His saints a place.

His eye beholds the path they tread,

His heart approves it well,

But crooked ways of sinners lead

Down to the gates of hell.  

Sing to:

  "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"

  "Amazing Grace"

  "Alas and Did My Savior Bleed"

The LORD's Unbelieving Messiah

  In considering, on this election day, what Scripture passage(s) should be instructing my thinking concerning whatever God has elected for our nation as we move forward, my mind quickly went back to Isaiah 44-45 where I quite recently spent significant time.  God anoints a messiah for His purposes, and twice (45:4, 5) He says that this messiah has not know Him.  He also says in 45:3 that at least a part of His purpose in this is that this messiah will come to know Him.

 But consider, this divinely-elected ruler smashes nations through empire-building and accumulates vast wealth, by the sending of God - not exactly activities we'd condone in our leaders typically.  But, the point of the entire passage is missed if we simply say fatalistically that 'God's will will be done.'  That is true, but this passage is part of a lengthy and powerful argument for the absolute greatness of God compared to the futility of idols.  In other words, the point of this prophecy/appointment which was given long before Cyrus breathed is to demonstrate that the LORD Does/Causes/Chooses/Effects/is THE LORD!  So, we trust Him, regardless of what unbeliever He elects for our nation and what devastation that may cause here and elsewhere, in God's plan.  God's plan goes forward unhindered and unhinderable - worship Him, place full confidence in Him, His greatness, His goodness.

*******

 Also, an unrelated but excellent post on a wonderfully different perspective on our elections from some grateful, not-yet Americans...