Devotions

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Psalm 44:9-16 (JDV)

Psalm 44:9 You have even rejected and disgraced us; you do not march out with our armies.

Psalm 44:10 You make us retreat from the adversary, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves.

Psalm 44:11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.

Psalm 44:12 You sell your people for nothing; you make no profit from selling them.

Psalm 44:13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.

Psalm 44:14 You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.

Psalm 44:15 My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,

Psalm 44:16 because of the taunts of the scorner and reviler, because of the hostile one and the one taking his vengeance.

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I have been looking at this psalm and thinking about the current debate over government control of gun use. There are lots of opinions floating around on the issue, and lots of evidence on either side. But what I am looking for is a biblical perspective.

In the previous sections, all the sons of Korah talked about was the past victories God had brought them through. The focus was on the fact that although their fathers had used swords and bows, they recognized that God was the source of their victory.

This section of psalm 44 takes a different turn than the first two. The focus is not on past victories but current shame and disgrace. God gets the credit for that too. They say the Lord has handed them over to violence and oppression, and made them a laughingstock to the other nations.

The issue of national pride comes into the discussion over gun control. Many feel that the right to bear arms is one of the fundamental principles that has made America a great nation. Many others are ashamed of what they see as idolatry – trust in weapons no matter how dangerous. They want to see America as great, but feel ashamed that such a great nation cannot even discipline itself to protect its citizens from gun violence.

Both sides of the gun control debate feel the shame, and the Christians who hold those views wonder why God has abandoned them to this plight.

Lord, help us to trust you and make wise choices, in spite of the shame we feel.

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Psalm 44:4-8 (JDV)

Psalm 44:4 You are my King, my God, who appoints victories for Jacob.

Psalm 44:5 Through you we drive back our adversaries; through your name we trample our enemies.

Psalm 44:6 You see, I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.

Psalm 44:7 But you give us victory over our adversaries and cause those who hate us to be disgraced.

Psalm 44:8 We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name permanently. Selah

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I have been thinking about the debate over gun possession, and trying to get a true biblical perspective on it. I know that weapon possession and use has been the norm throughout history. I am trying to see what this psalm can tell me. The sons of Korah learn from their ancestors that they could use their swords and bows, but they should not trust in them to bring victory, because it was through God’s name that they would be able to trample their enemies.

The gun control debate involves two sides. One side insists that our guns are God-given, and we should trust them. The other side insists that our government has a right to limit gun use, and we should trust it to do so.

Both sides put forth good evidence. The pro-gun side has exceptional proof that government is not good at managing other people’s property. The anti-gun side has convincing proof that people need help controlling the violence and terror that gun availability has escalated.

But what is missing in the debate is the God perspective. The reason guns are a problem now is that we have left him and his will totally out of the picture. As long as we refuse to focus on our covenant with God through Christ, we will always be debating issues like this.

Lord, please give us the wisdom to walk in your ways.

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Psalm 44:1-3 (JDV)

Psalm 44:1[1] God, we have heard with our ears – our fathers have told us – the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago:

Psalm 44:2 In order to plant them, you displaced the nations by your hand; in order to settle them, you brought disaster on the peoples.

Psalm 44:3 You see, they did not take the land by their sword – their arm did not bring them victory – but by your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable toward them.

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The sons of Korah tell us about what was passed on to them by their fathers. The ancestral insight was that it was not the skill and advanced weaponry that conquered the land that they gave their children. It was God who did it. It was not their strength that changed things, it was God’s hand. It was not what they desired, it was the light of God’s face that made it happen.

There is a political debate going on in the world today about the right to possess weapons. Some Christians feel they are forced to take sides in that debate, so some defend weapons as if they are a God-given right, others fight against weapon ownership because they see it as ridiculous to insist on owning a toy that can take down a platoon of soldiers.

Both sides are right and both are wrong. The sons of Korah were the result of a legacy of weapon use. They got the land of Canaan because their ancestors used swords and clubs. But they also recognized that what they possessed was the work of God.

I’m struggling with this whole issue of gun control because I see it as yet another example of the disintegration of my own country. I cannot help but think that there is a third element we Christians are not bringing to the discussion.

At this stage in my exploration of the subject, I cannot come up with a clear answer, but I do have a question – suggested by Psalm 44: What is God doing among us?

Lord, please give us the wisdom to walk in your ways.

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[1] Superscript: For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.