The Psalmist exclaims, “God is King of all the earth; sing praises with all your skill.” (47:7). What comfort to reflect on the reminder that God is King as an ultimate truth set above God’s creation. This truth calls us to rest in the fact that though earthly powers change, shift, and falter sometimes, there is an ever constant in a changing world.
Recently, I have been listening to my neighbors who are distraught with the change in the U.S. Presidency. There is great fear and concern over elections and amid much manipulative propaganda, some are driven to despair. I have been reminded as I listen how great at times despair can control us and lead us into dark places. While listening to one neighbor, I felt a thought rise in my heart that could give hope. I paused and said to my neighbor, one thing remains in this darkness, God is still King. God’s power has not changed and is one of virtue and equity. As we shifted our thoughts away, momentarily, from the darkness around, we both began to feel peace. Fear and change can bring despair as to who is in control. God reminds us of an ever-constant maximum. Change is happening all around us, but God does not change and is there and in control, even when we don’t see it.
The Psalmist follows with “sing praises...” The natural outflow of an understanding that all will be well is to sing. All might not be well in the moment with the pandemic, civil unrest, and change of power, but “God is King.” Now we can lift our voices out of the darkness and sing to the heavens, lifting our hearts to God in affirmation with the Psalmist. This is the great uniter of our hearts. Community is built on common truth.
I found in that conversation with my neighbor that though we had differences, we both agreed with the Psalmist that “God reigns over the nations” (47:8). This simple but profound truth united me and my neighbor and began the repair of trust. We could together look beyond the despair of our times to the truth that “You, oh God, are the great constant in our changing world.” Now let’s sing!
Colby Galloway
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