As this week leads into Independence Day weekend, our focus in Crisis Counsels will be on a very relevant passage in Psalm 33 –

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people God has chosen as his heritage. A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who revere him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; God is our help and shield.
Psalm 33:12,16–20

This passage begins “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Throughout history, there have been many nations whose “god” was the quest for wealth, dominion, and might. Psalm 33 reflects the Biblical vision that God’s people should follow a much higher loyalty – a devotion to the values and calling of the Lord! In our best moments, Americans have sought to grasp this vision and have been inspired to work for a truly just society and a peaceful world. As human beings, of course, we have had many failures! But it is good to keep the Biblical Word continually in mind. A nation is truly blessed not simply when it achieves some measure of prosperity or worldly stature but when it is aligned with God and God’s call for how we are to live with one another.

Prayer – Lead us, O Lord, to lift our highest allegiance to You. Share on X

If you missed Sunday worship, you can join with the recorded service of either the 9:30 or 10:30 worship hours at live.kentmethodist.org

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.