Whom do we trust to make things right? We see the turmoil of our cities, the poverty in the streets, the corrupt oppression of the helpless, the unjust hammer of legal systems, and the hopelessness of orphans, widows, and the elderly. Whom do we trust to make these things right? The answer is in Psalm 146.
“Hallelujah! My soul, praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live. Do not trust in nobles, in a son of man, who cannot save. When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die. Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry. The Lord frees prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are oppressed. The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects resident aliens and helps the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever; Zion, your God reigns for all generations. Hallelujah!” (Psalm 146, CSB)
This is not anti-government. Neither is it a call to a certain government. All parties, sides, and systems are wrapped up in the line, “Do not trust in nobles, in a son of man, who cannot save.” The real help to our problems does not come from nobles, kings, presidents, politicians, types of government, etc. This is true whether the noble person or ideal is peaceable or despotic. Governments serve a purpose, but they are not God.
Only God remains faithful forever. Only God carries out justice without the taint of favoritism or corruption. The Lord frees prisoners, opens eyes, raises the oppressed, loves justice and righteousness, protects strangers, helps the fatherless and the widow, and frustrates the ways of the wicked.
There is another psalm that also has this same message. “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1–2, CSB) Where does your help come from? From nobles, government, or political party? Look higher. Where does your help come from? From those in power and influence? Look higher. Where does your help come from? From some wealthy unknown person or entity? Look higher. Where does your help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Above Him, there is none other.
The truth is this. No law, rule, or government can really make things right. At best, they can only blunt the worst of humanity’s evil and corrupt tendencies. But the one that can make things right, that can change the human heart is the Lord. That goes for us as well. We, too, were corrupt, evil, selfish, and self-centered before Christ changed us. We don’t need to pray that this party wins or that law passes as much as we need to pray that God changes human hearts.
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