God and rulers

We had a political cartoon in our paper awhile back that called this election "the evil of two lessers." In times like these it is good to know that God is in control.

Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings...

Psalm 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Here He exalts neglected worms
To scepters and a crown;
Anon the following page he turns,
And treads the monarch down.

Not Gabriel asks the reason why,
Nor God the reason gives;
Nor dares the favorite angel pry
Between the folded leaves.
(Isaac Watts)

Knowing that God does all things and that He does them well teaches me that wringing my hands and worrying will neither add one cubit to my stature nor change the course God has set for this nation. I am no prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I indeed wonder if we are seeing an example of what John Calvin wrote, "that they who rule unjustly and incompetently have been raised up by [God] to punish the wickedness of the people."

In Peter's first epistle the apostle reminds us who we are. In chapter one he addressed his audience as strangers, and in chapter two he beseeched them as strangers and pilgrims. We would no doubt do well to readdress and embrace the "strangers and pilgrims" motif of the New Testament. We American Christians as a whole are quite comfortable as American citizens and often forget our true citizenship is in heaven. Like our forefathers in the faith of old, may we be persuaded of the promises of God, look for a city whose builder and maker is God, and confess that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth.