By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador
Kei whakawhirinaki ki nga rangatira, ki te tama ranei a te tangata, kahore nei he awhina.
Aua tou te faatuatua i alii, po o le fanau a tagata, e le o i ai se olataga.
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Psalm 146:3
This psalm was likely written during the Babylonian exile. The people have been carried off from Jerusalem and are now surrounded by the incredible power and prestige of the rulers of Babylon. It’s possible that the Jewish exiles could have been very tempted to put their trust in Babylonian officials who promised them more security, better living conditions, and advancement in the Babylonian society.
But the psalmist is clear: Do not centre your hopes on rulers and powerful people. Do not give your ultimate allegiance to a political leader.
Why? They are only human beings. They cannot save. One day, they will draw their last breath and their plans will die with them.
Do not confuse God’s purposes working through a politician with the politician himself.
Do not confuse a political leader’s work with God’s work.
Do not confuse God’s grace towards a political leader with God’s grace in the political leader.
There is a process that you can observe in people of faith who have given themselves over to powerful political leaders.
What begins with mere support becomes turning a blind eye to the leader’s faults and blocking out voices and content that contradict the leader’s. Eventually, God’s Word is bent to back the leader’s positions, and a blind eye is turned towards the parts of God’s Word that might oppose the leader.
Ultimately, God is made into the image of the leader.
It’s happened to the Church throughout history time and again and, make no mistake, it can happen to you and me. If you can sense yourself on this train, it’s time to get off.
The psalmist contrasts the foolishness of putting your trust in princes with the true salvation found in God.
“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who keeps faith forever.”
