[5] Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
[6] those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
[7] Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
[8] for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
[9] that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.
– Psalm 49:5-9

Something I’ve struggled with for a while now in unrighteous bitterness is looking at how things are going in this country and in fact the world, how the mega-rich along with elitist politicians, make out like literal bandits, bankrupting an entire nation, profiting on the way up and on the way down, not giving one iota of gratitude to the God who grants that they should have what they have; how our democratic society largely isn’t engaged in what is going on at a local or national level, other than sound bites they hear through various propaganda machines; how politicians work in tandem with big corporations to mess the average person over for their own personal gain, all the while exempting themselves; how the middle class is quickly being sidelined into either the elites or the poor, and on and on. I’ve become discouraged and at times feel some sense of hopelessness when looking at the situation.

Then I read the Psalm above, Psalm 49:5-9 in particular, and I am reminded of the situation of us all, including those who have massive amounts of accumulated stuff and power. These people who want control over the lives of others, who want to illicitly gain billions of dollars while your average family is struggling to make ends meet (at their expense too, mind you), it’s all very disheartening, until you consider their end. I’m reminded of this in these verses. And I’m not reminded in the way of boasting or gloating, but one of sadness that they have no idea what is coming: a severely bitter end, for eternity. And their wealth accumulation and their stuff is not going with them. They cannot ever, ever have so much money or power so as to buy God off. He operates on a principle they are not privy to: one of grace through faith in Christ.

One of the reasons I’ve become discouraged in this regard has to do with the fact that I myself have set my eyes upon the hear and now, looking only at what is going on without considering the sovereign of Christ involved in it all. He sees and knows all things, including what every high-tech, power-hungry crook is up to. And on this point, He knows what I’m up to. And it’s sin. I haven’t trusted Him with my all on these points of frustration and frankly unbelief. And after having been reminded of the end of those who in rank unbelief oppress the masses, I turn to myself and my own heart. And in many ways it’s not all that different, just difference of visibility. I too need the cleansing, regeneration and restoration of Christ’s power. It has been very comforting keeping all things, including the deeds of others who have great power over us, under the umbrella of His sovereign love and power that transcends any of what they possess.