This past Wednesday our nation celebrated once again the peaceful transition of power.

For the 59th time in our nation a president took the oath of office. Joseph R. Biden became our 46th President, and Kamala Harris our 49th Vice President and obviously the first female to hold such a high office in our land.

It is fitting for us as people of faith, and as a church to pray for them in their new positions. Let’s take a moment to pray for our new President and Vice President, as we invite God to speak to us here this morning.

Let’s Pray:

Sovereign God, you reign over all things, and the Creation echoes its praises to you. The Sun and Moon that shine their light; the winds that blow; the trees that sway; the plants that grow; every creature that moves on the ground, swims in the waters, or flies in the air; and all humanity that has ever or will ever walk this earth does so at your command.

You are the One who gives authority to our leaders, and you are the One who can fill them with great wisdom and discernment or withhold it from them. Lord, we pray for our country and we pray for our new President and Vice President. We ask that you would grant President Biden and Vice President Harris your wisdom and discernment. Guide them in their decision making, and lead them as they fulfill their offices in this country. Keep them on your path Lord, and protect them from evil.

We pray that you would open their ears to your Words Lord, may their spirits be led by your Holy Spirit, may their hearts be humbled before your Holy throne. We pray this for our leaders Lord, and we pray it for ourselves as well.

Now Sovereign God, we ask that you would open our ears to what you have for us to hear today in this place. Lord, speak through me so that you may be glorified. Be the divine editor and may my personal opinions be quickly forgotten and your Word be firmly planted in the fertile soil of our hearts. We ask this through your Son Jesus who sits at your right hand in glory. AMEN.

Let’s turn to our Scripture for this morning. We will be focusing on a Psalm, this morning. Psalm 62. Specifically, we will be looking at verses 5-12 of Psalm 62. Let’s hear those words together.

Psalm 62:5–12 ESV

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

This is a reading from God’s Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

God Alone

Now, I began by saying we celebrated as a nation this transition, and I mean it. Some of you might cringe at that statement and others are ecstatic. There are those who voted for the Biden/Harris ticket here, and there are others who voted for the Trump/Pence ticket here. Even admitting these statements is difficult for some, and they cringe at the thought. Obviously there are differing opinions on what different people may think is the proper direction for our country. Good Christian people can disagree on such things.

Since the earliest days of people following Jesus, believers have had different opinions of who He is. It is interesting to note that although many expected the Messiah to overthrow the government, yet Jesus did not overthrow the Romans of his time.

This past Wednesday Biden took the oath of office for the President of these United States of America. Our constitution tells us explicitly the words of The Presidential Oath of Office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Notice it does not contain the words, “So help me God,” and yet Presidents have either added it, or were asked to add it. In Biden’s case the Supreme Court Justice said it for him to repeat. Now, I’m sure this was planned in advance, and it has become common place for leaders in our country to end their important speeches to the country with “God bless the United States of America” invoking God’s blessing on our country.

The US is considered by many to be a Christian Nation. But we’re not. We are a nation made up of all different religions and creeds, and in reality, have been from the beginning. There are those that feel that our nation needs to be solely a Christian nation.

The United States, though founded on Judeo-Christian principles has always been a melting pot of religions and beliefs. So what is a Christian to do?

God Alone

Perhaps the first thing we as Christians need to remind ourselves is that God is the one in whom we trust, not the government.

Psalm 62:5–7 ESV

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

God alone is my hope.

He only is my rock.

He only is my salvation.

He only is my fortress.

I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation.

On God rests my glory.

God is my mighty rock.

God is my refuge!

These are words of firmness, of a solid rock on which to build, our sure foundation!

The message of God does not go to either one party or the other, it goes out to ALL - all over the world,

Psalm 62:8 ESV

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Trust in God at all times. Pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

And then you have that word Selah.

Now we don’t really know for sure what this means. But most scholars believe it is a musical term and means, “rest”. Or “Pause”.

It may be a musical term, but I think it is more than a musical term; I think there is great theology there. After all, Jesus said,

Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

and in verse 29 it reminds us this rest is rest for our souls!

There is no place in Scripture that I read where God says that you or I should put our trust in anyone other than the triune God. Yet our world tells us so often, “Trust me.”

Turn on your radio, television, or your computer and you will see talking heads telling you:

1) you have a problem,

2) there is a solution and

3) this is it.”

I didn’t realize baldness was a problem until I began watching tv. Apparently because there’s little hair on my head I have a low self esteem, and am held in low regard by my peers. But if I just had hair, well then I would be rich, successful and charming!

In our consumerist culture we’ve become like impressionable adolescents who believe the ads and think if they just have this body, this hair style, drink this drink, eat this food, talk this way, do this activity, the list goes on and on … then we’ll be happy.

Horse Feathers!

We know it’s not true, and yet we act as if we believe it.

God Alone

Part of the issue becomes delayed gratification. What I mean by that is, that we want it now.

We’re like Veruca Salt in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate factory. “I want it NOOOOWWWW.”

When we turn our eyes to God we get a different perspective. We go from this temporal world to thinking more in God’s time frame. As we all know God’s love is steadfast.

We also know it to be longsuffering, and thank God for that. I’m very glad that God is patient with me, because I have not always learned the lessons God is teaching with much speed.

No, it’s not President Biden anymore than it was President Trump that was to bring us salvation; it’s not through any political party, nor any country. Our salvation is in God Alone.

So, knowing that as we do, what should we do about it?

How should we live?

Jesus said,

John 13:35 ESV

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How do we love?

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Most Christians know these words. Many who have attended a wedding have heard these words. As Christians we love these words - because they remind us of God’s amazing love for us. Paul exhorts us to love, and we give it a sentimental nod.

But what if we lived it? What if we in our love for God chose to live it out?

What if we did away with envy, boasting, arrogance, rudeness, insisting on our own way, irritability, resentment, rejoicing when someone got theirs, and instead rejoiced with the truth?

What if we chose to live this way in our conversations? How about in our actions? How about in where we go or what we post on the internet?

I love this quote from Brennan Manning:

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” ~ Brennan Manning

If we’re unwilling to live as little Christ’s - which is what Christian means; If we’re unwilling to demonstrate love for those we most strongly disagree with; if we’re not willing to give up our own anger, hatred, resentment, etc.; Then, for the sake of the Gospel and for other’s salvation it may be better we not refer to ourselves as Christians.

Psalm 62:5–7 ESV

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Our salvation rests in no other place. It rests in

God Alone

Let’s pray.