There is No Debating Who’s the Boss

Psalm 46

It seems that we have recently seen a new episode of Who’s the Boss. However, instead of starring Tony Danza and Judith Light, it stars President Trump and Elon Musk. It appears to be a communication problem over the subsidies for Musk’s EV contracts. Consequently, they both have begun throwing verbal and social media jabs at each other. This has led some news articles to question who the boss in that situation is really. I’m sure everyone has their opinion, but let’s not go down that road. My concern is about how it affects American citizens.

Despite Pres. Truman’s desk décor, the buck doesn’t stop with the President. I’m not talking about Trump specifically and I’m not referring to money for votes, but I mean simply that the President isn’t the final say, the final boss, the one truly in charge. We want him to be – at least, depending on your preferred political party and whoever is sitting in the oval office at the time. But the reality is, especially to us, the President is not our final authority. He’s not the boss. We answer to One much higher.

It is easy to look to the President (or to the government as a whole) for authority in our life – to handle the things we need handled or to change the things we think need changed. Increasingly, Christians have looked to the government for exactly that thing – whether it’s to get prayer back in schools, fight abortion, or many others to get the country back on track. I’m not speaking into those situations; I’m saying that we are going to the wrong boss. We can’t rely on our human governments or their plans; we must work God’s plan. The buck stops with God and God alone. We need to slow down and work with who is really in charge.

Psalm 46 is well known and v10 has been memorized by many. Written in a 3-stanza repeating rhythm that is designed to draw our eyes to specific ways in which the buck ultimately and completely stops with God. Selah then forces you to pause and process those ideas. There is some interesting repetitions here that I think are worth noticing: God’s presence is specifically mentioned in v1,5,7,11. The Psalm is emphasizing the reality of God’s presence in real time on this earth, juxtaposed against v2,6,8, each of which notate a specific weakness of the world.

God is Rescuer

Each stanza‘s emphasis on God’s presence highlights a specific leadership role of God. The first stanza focuses God’s presence as rescuer juxtaposed against the violence of the earth. Because God is present, we can be rescued from whatever the earth throws at us. He is our life preserver, our strong tower, our protection. Some of you have heard of Nita’s near-death experience in India, or of the fact that I wasn’t ever supposed to see my third birthday, let alone my 45th which is only a few weeks away! If you would like to know more about either of those, feel free to ask. God is in charge over our lives.

God is Judge

The second stanza places a focus on God’s presence in judgment over the earth – His role as earth’s true influencer. No matter what people may try to do, we are significantly limited in our power and the truth is that the earth is not overly affected by what people do. The nations rage and the earth doesn’t move; yet He utters His voice and the earth melts. We are not as impactful as we think we are. Chernobyl was devastated in 1986 by the nuclear power plant explosion, yet the land isn’t quite as decimated as we thought it would be–consider the image below from worldatlas.com. God is in charge over this earth.

God is King

The last stanza emphasizes God’s presence as King and how He is the one who breaks the bow and shatters the spear. We may want to blame others, but the buck really does stop with Him. Nothing on this earth happens without His approval. Consider Job – He suggested Job to Satan! The whole things was God’s idea to show off the faithfulness of Job! Satan didn’t act outside of God’s control; Satan didn’t even have that idea! God allowed Satan to attack Job so that God could glorify Himself in Job’s life.

Next Steps

There is nothing wrong with being active in politics, but realize that our government will never give us all we are asking for. We should be working with God’s plan, not humanity’s. When we look to the President instead of God, we are seeking help from the wrong leader. Again, there is nothing wrong with political activism, but if we take a minute and slow down as v10 tells us to, we would realize that God is in charge (not Satan, not sin, not the President). He should be the refuge we run to.

1. Willingly submit to God’s rescue (accept His forgiveness offered through Christ’s death and resurrection)
2. Ask God to show you His solution to the world’s woes (vs politics) – the Great Commission is really the answer
3. Let others see God’s Kingdom reign in you (your faith is personal, not private)

God is present, even though the earth gives way. God is present, even though the nations rage and kingdoms totter. God is present, even with the presence of sin. The buck stops with God and God alone. Take some time this week to slow down and rest in that.