God Has Done It

Psalm 22:25-31

Against my better judgment, I try to keep up with the news. The trouble is that there is so much bad stuff happening in the world. Regardless of your political viewpoint on the matter, the hundreds of migrants who just showed up at our border are people in need. The significant population of homeless people in San Francisco and Portland (both recently in the news) is a group of people in need. As North Korea continues to be in the headlines, we sometimes get glimpses of what life is like for the general populace there—they are people in need. Of course, the needs of these various groups centers on economic need, but we see other kinds of need in the news as well. The terror attack in Toronto and various attacks in Europe signal a need for security and safety. There are still many other widespread needs than these all throughout the world.
Taking in just how much need there is in the world, can you imagine what it would be like if somebody resolved all those needs? What if there was one world leader who stepped up and was able to end all of these crises? Macron, Trump, Trudeau, Merkel, Jinping, Assad, Zuma, Kenyatta. If any of these or other leaders was able to do that, they would be praised the world over. They might even become the leader of the world. Who would not want to give over control of their government to the person who can meet all the needs of the people? As long as they were able to keep doing it, they would continue to be the leader of all, and they would be praised in all the years to come.
That is the vision in this section of this psalm. The psalmist signals the satisfaction of the poor (a universal need in all times), and from there tells the greatness of God. Everybody in the whole world will know and worship God. Every nation in the world will come under his dominion and rule. Everybody will bow before God. All future generations will be told about the amazing work that God has done. The psalmist sweeps you up in his expansive vision as you think about just what it will be like when God accomplishes his work on the earth. There will be no more needs, and God will be praised forever by all.
This is the vision for which we long and which already is in progress. When Jesus Christ came to earth, died on the cross, and was raised to new life, he set this work in motion. Paul captures this in Philippians 2 when he talks about Christ’s exaltation to the highest place and all the earth bowing before him (2:9-11). Revelation makes clear that pain and sorrow (things which arise from unmet needs) will be vanquished (21:4), and the whole earth brings its glory before God (21:24-26). That glorious day awaits us, and we will be vindicated for our trust and boast in God. So hold onto this vision whenever you see the depressing things of this world or hear about the unmet needs of billions of people on this earth. Hold onto this vision when the things of your own life have you down. God, the ruler of all, has done it. -TL

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