Our pride, His power, part II

 

Yesterday, we studied these verses:

The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people he chose for his inheritance.

The picture that I chose at the top goes along with an illustration I heard one time: a newly-elected politician had just arrived in Washington, DC (cue the movie trailer for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"!) and was standing with an elder-politician on the bank of the Potomac River. The older man pointed to a log floating by and said, "This city is like that old log." The younger man was astonished, but the older politician continued, "There are probably hundreds of bugs, ants, and other critters on the log as it floats along, and each one probably thinks THEY are the one that is steering it."

In yesterday's study, we looked at a poem that while inspirational, points to the wrong kind of resolve. It glorified the prideful resolve of humans to "do it all ourselves." It ignored the fact that a compassionate and holy God is in control. I liked the second poem, didn't you? I could identify more with that one!

But the point is well taken, that humans do get puffed up with pride and they forget all about the plans and purposes of the Lord. In our verses, David points to the power of God to impede the plans of nations, to totally change outcomes, and to bless those who seek Him. He says that the power of God's Word is seen in His counsel.

Proud man thinks that he is steering the course of history. However, the Bible is clear on this: God sets up and takes down the most powerful leaders in history for His own sovereign purposes. We can go down the list; whether it was Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, or another man, God used them to further His purposes for His people. 

It's true that none of those men listed knew God or were seeking to follow God (in fact, I only know of one who truly changed and wanted to seek God). They were making decisions that they thought would further their own agendas. But never fear! Behind the scenes, God providentially used their decisions to further His agenda. They were responsible for their decisions (and will answer to God for those decisions), yet God used them to implement His own counsel and plans. 

That's the power of God contrasted with the pride of man!

I guess one of the most graphic illustrations of this concept, the place where we truly can see God's power to use the plans of men illustrated, is the crucifixion of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This was the devil and proud humans' most serious attempt to cast off the rule of God. But check out this prayer in the early church:

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  (Acts 4:27-28)

Peter and John had just been released from the religious authorities of the day, and they went back to the believers and lifted their voices in prayer. In that prayer, they referred to the fact that self-centered, proud rulers in all eras were responsible for trying to stop God's plans, and yet, even while they tried to stop God's purposes, they inadvertently carried out the plans and counsel of God. Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the others were carrying out God's eternal plan of salvation! God frustrated their plans -- and established His own plans.

The power of God's Word as seen in His counsel is stated again in verse twelve of our psalm:

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people he chose for his inheritance. (Psalm 33:12)

This verse is talking about Israel, whom God chose as distinct from all other peoples to be His own. Even though they were often disobedient and rebellious, He used them to bring the Savior into the world. If I'm understanding the book of Romans correctly (chapter eleven), God has been waiting on the children of Israel for many years because they crucified the Savior. He will graciously bring a widespread revival among the Jews, and many will praise the glory of His grace. Meanwhile, we believers are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession" (in I Peter 2:9). 

Yes, it's true. We are His redeemed people. And it is a good reminder to read these verses (six through twelve) of Psalm 33 and think on this. We will learn to rely completely on the Lord when we see the power of His Word -- both in His creation and in His using everything to complete His sovereign plans.