The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” vss. 8-9
Psalm 145:8-10
For many in the United States the Fourth of July is a time for speeches, flag waving, and family gatherings–a festive day, often capped off in the evening with concerts and fireworks. Some will recall the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence, and there will be frequent references to patriotism and the blessings of citizenship. We’ll likely hear the Pledge of Allegiance at our public gatherings, and be reminded of our conviction that we are “one nation under God.” That’s a noble sentiment, a humble one actually, and it gives our country a kind of servant role in the world. If we are “under God,” then all the psalmist’s descriptive terms for the Lord will also apply to us. We will be gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. We will be good to all, and have compassion for all that the Lord has made. To some extent, many would agree that we have been all those things as a country, and at times that has been most certainly true. But others would say that we’ve often acted as a dominating power rather than as a servant, and that would also be true. How good it is when we can put aside our thirst for power and be seen consistently as a force for good in our world.
Thought for the Day: What do I love about the United States?
0 Comments