This week in Crisis Counsels, as we approach the Fourth of July, we are focusing on this 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
The second phrase refers to “the people God has chosen as his heritage.” This of course reflects the Biblical idea of the people of Israel as the “chosen people.” In the early years of our country, a number of American leaders saw America as a kind of new Israel, chosen by God for special purpose and destiny. The idea that we are a chosen people has a truth to it, but also a danger. For the Biblical people of Israel, the danger was that at times they began to think that they were chosen by God for privilege and favor; being the “chosen people” meant that God liked them better than anyone else! The Biblical prophets challenged this notion, arguing that the people of Israel were actually chosen for service, to be instruments of God’s truth and blessing in the world. Likewise in American history, people have sometimes wanted to think that God favors our nation, granting us a superiority versus others. But it is good to keep in mind the words of Jesus when he said, “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit.” (John 15:16) We are indeed chosen by God – indeed all of us are chosen by the grace of Jesus Christ – and we are chosen “that we might go and bear fruit.” In other words, we are chosen for service! God has indeed blessed our land, not that we might bask in God’s blessing, but that we might be instruments of God’s goodness in the world.
Prayer – We thank you, O Lord, that you have chosen to bless us; empower us to be instruments of Your blessing for others. Share on XIf 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
