Created to Know God

Introduction:

·       Speaking of Politics...

WE’RE GOING TO LOOK TODAY AT ONLY TWO PIECES OF THIS: THE LIMITS OF HUMAN GOVERNANCE AND THE PROMISE OF A GREATER GOVERNMENT.

I)             The Limits of Human Governance

A.  Where We Trust Determines How We Praise (vs. 1-2)

                                               i.     A Hillel Psalm: a call to praise

1.     Ending on praise: Praise seasoned by a lifetime of experience

2.     “How do we praise God in our politically-chaotic world

                                             ii.     A call to trust

1.     Praise is rooted in trust: who or what do we trust to fix what’s wrong with the world?

2.     NOT: Anarchy (see Rom. 13) but ultimate trust:

3.     Praise is difficult or impossible when we over-trust human leadership

B.    Human leadership cannot save us from our deepest problems (vv. 3-4)

                                               i.     Human leadership promises “salvation” (vs. 3)

1.     QUOTE: We have the chance today to do more than ever before in our history to make life better in America--to ensure better education, better health, better housing, better transportation, a cleaner environment--to restore respect for law, to make our communities more livable--and to insure the God-given right of every American to full and equal opportunity. (Nixon)

2.     QUOTE: For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. (Kennedy)

                                             ii.     But human leadership cannot save

1.     The problems plaguing our world run deeper than programs, politics, and platforms can fix

2.     EXAMPLE: Drug crisis in Oregon à Loneliness AND pride, etc.

C.    Human leadership is temporal and fleeting (vs. 4)

                                               i.     Human leaders are transient

1.   From “prince” to “son of man” – entourage to transience (see vs. 3)

2.     EXAMPLE: Empires rise and fall; politicians come and go

                                             ii.     Therefore:

1.     APPLICATION: Temper your trust in human leadership with realism

2.     APPLICATION: Temper your despair over human leadership with reality

BUT, WE ALSO HAVE REASON FOR HOPE. WHY? THAT BRINGS US TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE PSALM.

II)          The Hope of God’s Governance (vv. 5-10)

A.    God helps the weak and powerless

                                               i.         Happiness is found when our trust rests entirely in God (vv. 5-6)

1.     Why? God is greater than temporal earthly powers (vs 6)

2.     God is more faithful than temporal earthly powers

                                           ii.     Jesus embodies God’s concern for the powerless (see vv. 7-9)

1.     God’s “Social agenda” is care for the powerless

2.     APPLICATION: Jesus came to rescue the helpless

                                           iii.     Therefore we have a savior who can rescue us when we are powerless

1.     When you are downtrodden: you have a savior who helps you

2.     EXAMPLE: Divorce; dreams; business failure; anxiety, depression

B.    God’s Kingdom is a Certain Hope

                                               i.         God will faithfully usher in his kingdom

1.     Hope is our belief about the future that shapes how we live today

2.     EXAMPLE: politicians, parties and platforms all lay out a vision for the future that is rooted in justice, peace

                                             ii.         The kingdom of God is a certain hope

1.     The platform that matters to God: restoring the social effects of sin

2.     Jesus inaugurates Gods’ kingdom: A power structure…are we living for it?

C.    Jesus guarantees His Kingdom

                                               i.         Jesus deals with the root cause of all human & social brokenness

1.     However, Jesus did not come merely as a social reformer or politician

2.     The human problems are greater – so Jesus’ purpose runs deeper; on the cross Jesus does what no leader could accomplish – he deals with sin

                                             ii.         Therefore: The

Transition:

Conclusion

The Lord’s Supper