CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHAMPION –

This Psalm continues the story of Hezekiah’s deliverance and healing. It became a song that was sung on every occasion when God’s people triumphed over their enemies. Even to this day, before the blowing of the ram’s horn on the Jewish New Year, this Psalm is recited seven times, not only because God’s name appears seven times in this hymn, but the number seven stands for completion; just like Israel’s march around Jericho the seventh time brought victory. But it points more to the future than the past; when the last war will be fought and Messiah will come to rule and reign in peace.

“Everyone, stand up and give our One True God an enthusiastic ovation! For our LORD Eternal, the God above all gods is awesome; He is the sovereign King over all the earth. And because of Him the world respects us and listens to us. He has prepared a future for us, something every believer – the ones that He loves – can be proud of. So let us lift up our One True God in praise and worship; yes, we lift up the LORD Eternal as the trumpets sound. Let us break out in holy hymns to our One True God; yes let us hail Him as King of kings because our One True God is King and rules over all the nations of the earth from His sacred throne on high. For we have gathered together as followers of the One True God; yes, His chosen people out of many nations who owe their full allegiance to the One True God; for there is no one like Him or above Him.” Psalm 47:1-9

Reflection: In 1923, at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, nine of the most powerful tycoons in the world gathered for a meeting. The included: Charles Schwab, President of the world’s largest steel company; Samuel Insull, President of the world’s largest utility company; Howard C. Hopson, President of Associated Gas & Electric; Arthur Cutten, greatest wheat speculator in the Chicago Stock Exchange; Richard Whitney, President of the New York Stock Exchange; Senator Albert Fall, President Harding’s Secretary of the Interior; Leon Frazier, President of the Bank of International Settlements; Jessie Livermore, richest stock market broker; and Ivar Kreuger, whose company held a world-wide monopoly on the production of matches. They held more money than the U. S. Treasury. They were powerful and influential people everyone marveled at and looked up to. But not too many years after that meeting, Charles Schwab died in bankruptcy while living on borrowed money. Samuel Insull died penniless after running from the law as a fugitive. Howard Hopson went insane; Arthur Cutten went bankrupt; and Richard Whitney ended up in Sing-Sing prison. Even Senator Albert Fall was convicted in the infamous Teapot Dome scandal, and died shortly after being released. Leon Frazier, Jessie Livermore, and Ivar Kruger each committed suicide. This teaches us that while people of power come and go, the Kingdom of God lasts forever. Today God rules and reigns in our hearts, but the day is coming when He will rule and reign supreme over all the earth.