Like many others, I am consuming political commentary in the manner of a Netflix binge at the moment. A snap election here in the UK pulled me from my obsessive interest in the investigations into the US president's possible collusion with Russia, who all agree interfered in last year's shocking election. Will he start a nuclear war with North Korea before he's (I dearly hope) impeached, prosecuted and locked up? The National Front has done horribly well in France during the first round in the presidential election; we can only hope the centrist Macron will prevail in the run-off. And the Middle East's political situation is a deep warren of tunnels you could easily disappear down never to be seen again. I don't think anyone would accuse me of hyperbole if I said the global world order is in a precarious state.
In the face of so many genuine reasons to be fearful about the state of the world, we have some options. We can disengage and try not to pay any attention to what goes on beyond our immediate concerns. We can embrace hedonism and escape into a bottle of Prosecco, a gripping novel or a package holiday. Or we can infuse our minds with biblical truth. Psalm 33 gives us the perspective we need to stay hopeful and unshaken in uncertain times. Here is what it tells us of the true nature of reality:
The earth is full of God's unfailing love (verse 5)
There are always signs of God's faithfulness, care, and righteousness even in the darkest, most chaotic situations.
God is so much bigger and more powerful than we could ever comprehend (verses 6-9)
We can rest in the knowledge that the creator sees, knows and ultimately rules the entire universe.
God has plans that no broken system, corrupt regime, or crazed dictator could ever thwart (verses 10-11)
It can seem from our point of view that sometimes evil wins. But God is sovereign and his plans and purposes will come to pass against all human odds. And his plans are on a huge scale – they encompass all time and space.
God knows what is going on (verses 13-15)
Nothing happens that God is not aware of, even in human hearts. There is a grown-up in charge. We are not left to our own devices.
Political outcomes depend on more than armies and weapons (verses 16-17)
There is a spiritual reality at play behind the scenes of world events. We can and should pray fervently and faithfully for our leaders, for elections, diplomatic stand-offs and international conflict. I'm bad at that, but I'm working on it.
When we trust in God's love, nothing can take away our hope (verses 18-22)
While trusting in God's love might seem abstract or even a bit fluffy, countless Christians have testified across the ages that his love is to be trusted, that in concentration camps, in the deepest depression, in famine, in bereavement, under brutal dictatorships, God's love is to be counted on. God's love is more real than politics, more real than suffering, more real than the power of the most powerful.
The next time you find yourself becoming overwhelmed and demoralised by the latest headlines, switch off your computer, TV, radio or phone and pick up your Bible. Psalm 33 is a good place to go first.
Jo Swinney is the editor of Preach magazine and author of 'Home: the quest to belong' (Hodder & Stoughton), out June 29. www.joswinney.com
