Our reading of Psalm 118 is aptly timed. On the one hand, Psalm 118 is clearly intended to be a Psalm of thanksgiving and thus it is appropriate to consider at our Thanksgiving season. The timeliness of this Psalm does not end there however. I think Psalm 118 also gives us a message that is quite worthwhile in the light of our recent election. Commentators have noted that the election shows how deeply divided our country is on political issues. My own personal experience bares this out. Almost everyone I know had a rather visceral reaction to the election results. Some of my friends (the smaller number) rejoiced at President Obama's re-election. They saw the granting of a second term as a sure sign that our nation was heading in a healthy and prosperous direction. Other of my friends literally wept at President Obama's reelection, and they were not weeping tears of joy. These friends couldn't have been more depressed if we had elected the Antichrist. (Some think we did). My own election days thoughts are not going to be revealed here. If you think you know which way I leaned on the basis of this blog post, you don't. Both sides, though, could probably stand to remember the words of verses 8-9:
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes."
I don't blame either side for having their emotions vested in the election of their candidate. There is probably a virtue in having the strength of one's convictions. But both sides need to remember that our hope is in the Lord not a prince (or a President). Elections matter. But their outcomes seem less significant when we remember that the King and King and Lord of Lords reigns eternally. He is the One in whom our hope is placed. Elections can never change that.
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