A Throne of Destruction

“Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, one which devises mischief [trouble, misfortune] by decree? They band themselves together against the life [soul] of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.” Psalm 94:20 – 21 NASB.

Proximity to power is intoxicating. Some professing-Christians, who have strong opinions about the dangers of alcohol, freely imbibe the intoxicating elixir of political and economic power. They drunkenly stagger about without a sober sense of the fear of God, the holiness of God, the righteousness of God, and the mercy of God. The innocent are condemned to death in any number of ways and voices closest to the throne are not raised in their defense.  

Many other professing-Christians treat politics and economics as if it were a football game, rooting their political and religious proxies on with the sole purpose of seeing them win…win no matter what. How policies affect those who have no voice for themselves; the unborn, those without decent food and shelter, those without medical care, those without the opportunity of gainful employment, those fleeing violence and oppression, those persecuted for their faith (whether here or abroad), human trafficking; these things, these people, do not matter – the only thing that matters is winning, and not just winning, but vilifying and beating down the opposition.

I think that perhaps the fear of the Lord and a passionate love for Jesus Christ and our neighbors may be all that can preserve us from being caught up in the poison of our nation and much of the professing – church.

A “throne of destruction” seems to be having its way in our land and in our institutions – regardless of political persuasions or theological directions – the work of this destructive throne can be found most everywhere. We celebrate power and fame and pornography and wealth; trampling on ethics, morality, decency, mercy, and kindness. We celebrate the “art” of lying, and call it “spin”, ripping into shreds the notion of truth.

We make Israel’s insanity with the Golden Calf look like a five-year-old’s birthday part.

Let those of us who cry out to God be encouraged from Psalm 94:

“Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Yahweh, and whom You teach out of Your law; that you may grant him relief from the days of adversity…for Yahweh will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance…Your lovingkindess O Yahweh will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul…Yahweh has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.”

Our Father and Lord Jesus can use the pressures surrounding us to purify our hearts and make them faithful and devoted to them. Our God can teach us out of His Word, and in His Word we can find relief from the insanity around us.

We can live in the assurance that God will not abandon those faithful to Him, and that in Him we are more than overcomers. While those around us may celebrate darkness, we can celebrate Light; while they exalt lies, we can exalt the Truth; while they glorify themselves, we can glorify God in Christ. While they speak words of destruction and show no mercy, we can speak the Word of life, comfort, hope, and purpose – and we can show love, mercy, and grace to all men and women and children.

In Christ, we can show the world a better way.

Let us not live in vitriol, let us live in Christ.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as light in the world.” Philippians 2:14 – 15.

What are we proving ourselves to be? What are we appearing to be?