A Psalm

On The Eve Of An Election

By
John B. Aker
Copyright 2008
Music: Michael W. Smith, Thy Word, from Freedom 2004
 King of All Kings

God in Heaven, Lord of my heart…

I bow low before You
As my spirit rejoices and rests in the reality
That You are truly King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
My Sovereign and my Savior... Rev 19:16

That You hold all things in Your Hand...

Ps 103:19/115:3

And that you do all things well.

 Rev elation 4:11

I thank You, my Father,

That absolutely nothing happens

Which You have not

Either planned or permitted

For Your purposes and good pleasure...

 James 1:17

And yet, Lord,

I would be less than truthful
If I did not confess that I am truly distressed and
burdened in spirit
For the present state of this great nation
Which You have blessed so richly
And which I love so deeply.
 Hosea 2:14-23

As abundantly as You have prospered this land

And as greatly as You have endowed its people,

America is not The Promised Land,

And we are not, as a nation,

Your Chosen People.

Although The Prophet Jeremiah

Was addressing Your People Israel in his day,

His words seem so very fitting in our day

For this land we call America:

 Jeremiah 2:7-13
I brought you into the fruitful land,
To eat its fruit and its good things.
But you came and defiled My land,
And My inheritance you made an abomination.
Your priests did not say,
‘Where is The LORD?’
And those who handle the law did not know Me.
The rulers also transgressed against Me,
And the prophets prophesied by Baal
And walked after things that did not profit...
‘Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
And shudder, be very desolate,’
Declares The LORD.
‘For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, The Fountain of living waters,
And hewn for themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that can hold no water...
 Jeremiah 5:22, 23-24

‘Do you not fear Me?’

Declares The LORD.
‘Do you not tremble in My presence?’

But this people

has a stubborn and rebellious heart;
They have turned aside and departed.
They do not say in their heart,
‘Let us now fear The LORD our God...’
 Jeremiah 5:26-29
‘For wicked men are found among My people,
They watch like fowlers lying in wait;
They set a trap, they catch men.
Like a cage full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit;
Therefore they have become great and rich.
They are fat, they are sleek,
They also excel in deeds of wickedness;
They do not plead the cause of the orphan,
That they may prosper;
And they do not defend the rights of the poor.
Shall I not punish these people?’
Declares The LORD.
‘On a nation such as this,
Shall I not avenge Myself?’
 Jeremiah 5:30-31

‘An appalling and horrible thing has

happened in the land:

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the

priests rule on their own authority;

And My people love it so!

But what will you do at the end of it?’

Father, God...

I know what we will do at the end of it--

Because Your Word tells us clearly what

You will do

At the end...
 Galatians 6:7…Proverbs 14:3-4

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;

For whatever a man sows,
this he will also reap...

And...

Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people...
And it is for this very reason
I come before You this morning.
It seems so apparent that
We have disgraced ourselves,
But, far more importantly,
Disgraced You...discounted Your
goodness...and disobeyed Your Law.
We took Your Person and Precepts lightly
All the while foolishly thinking we could sin
with impunity.
But You will not be toyed with nor trivialized...
And so, Father,
Because we have resisted Your Love and
rejected Your Law
You have removed Your Hand of blessing
From America...
 I Samuel 2:30

Those who honor Me,

I will honor,

And those who despise Me

will be lightly esteemed.

 John 1:29
As a nation, then,
Our sad and somber confession
Must be that
We,
For whom You offered Your Only Son
As The Lamb of God,
Have chosen freely to be
Friends of the world--
Becoming contaminated by,
and conformed to, it--
 Revelation 19:15

And so positioned ourselves as

Enemies of You, O God,
And must, therefore in The End,
Reckon with Your Son
Who, as The Lion of Judah, will
Tread the wine press
Of the fierce wrath of God,
The Almighty.
Your unfailing Word teaches
That Your Plan for the ages
Will find its fulfillment
In The Return of Messiah.
I believe, my Father,
That, even now,
As the saints cry out,
How long, O God,
Because You cannot, and will not, bless
That which is not done Your way,
I do not ask that You restore
Your blessing on America--
But rather
That you renew her people
And bring those whom You have chosen
Before the foundation of the world
To genuine repentance.
I pray, Lord,
For our national leaders, for...

Our political scene is perforated

with a
lack of integrity and accountability
 Psalm 2:1-7

Why are the nations in an uproar,

And the peoples devising a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the

rulers take counsel together

Against The LORD and His Anointed:

‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast their

cords from us!”
 Psalm 58:1-5

Do you indeed speak righteousness,

O mighty ones?
Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
No, in your heart you work unrighteousness;
On earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.
The wicked are estranged from birth.
They have venom like the venom of a serpent;
Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,
So that it does not hear the voice of charmers
Or a skillful caster of spells.
Remind them that one day they must, and will,

Stand before You--Judge of all men,

before Whom all things are open and laid bare--

To give an accounting

For their power abused

And Your Person abased.

Instill deep within them God--

If their hearts are not yet too hardened--

A right and reverential fear

For You from Whom their power came.

I bring before You, O God,
Our spiritual leaders...

Our pulpits are polluted

with a
lack of authority and sincerity!
 For from the least of them
Even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is greedy for gain,
And from the prophet even to the priest
everyone deals falsely.
And they have healed the brokenness of
My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.
 Jeremiah 6:13-15

Were they ashamed because of the

abomination they have done?
They were not even ashamed at all;
They did not even know how to blush.
Therefore they shall be among those who
fall; at the time that I punish them,
they shall be cast down,’
Says The LORD.
Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you tithe mint and dill and cumin,
And have neglected provisions weightier than
The Law--
Justice, mercy, and faithfulness;
But these things you should have done
Without neglecting the others.
You blind guides,
Who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
 Matthew 23:23-28

For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish,
But inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
You blind Pharisee,
First clean the inside of the cup,
So that the outside of it may be clean also.
Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you are like whitewashed tombs
Which on the outside appear beautiful,
But inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all
uncleanness. Even so,
You too outwardly appear righteous to men,
But inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Lord of The Church,
Purge and purify
All who purport
To speak Your Word...To Your People...In Your Name.
Away with those who are neither hot nor cold!
Bring once more to the Sacred Desk
The fervor of commitment,
The fire of conviction,
And a fear of Christ alone...
Great Shepherd of The Flock,
I pray for Your Church...

Our People are profaned

with a
lack of piety and humility!
 Isaiah 29:13-14

Then The LORD said,

Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition
learned by rote,
Therefore, behold, I will once again deal
marvelously with this people,
Wondrously marvelous;
And the wisdom of their wise men shall perish...
 Hosea 4:11-13

Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the understanding.

My people consult their wooden idol,
And their diviner’s wand informs them;
For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,
And they have played the harlot,
departing from their God.
They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains
And burn incense on the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides
commit adultery.
 Matthew 15:8-9

Jesus said:
You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah
prophesy of you, saying,
This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as their doctrines the precepts
of men...
 For even though they knew God,
They did not honor Him as God,
or give thanks;
But they became futile in their speculations
And their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools,
And exchanged the glory of the incorruptible
God
 Romans 1:21-25

For an image in the form of corruptible man

And of birds and four-footed animals
and crawling creatures.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their
hearts to impurity,
That their bodies might be dishonored among
them.
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie,
And worshipped and served the creature
rather than The Creator, Who is blessed forever.
Amen.
O God,
May we hear Your Spirit call,
Remember...Repent...Return...
Be Renewed...Be Restored...
Let The Church be Your Church!
Father, You Who loves Your Children,
Do whatever it takes to bring us before You
On our knees
With broken and contrite heart
In lowly submission and loving adoration
Before Jesus comes again...
And, God, You Who never change,
We are in a most precarious position--like
fools, setting ourselves up for a great
fall...

Our principles are perverted

with a
lack of consistency and authenticity!
 Proverbs 12:19-22

Truthful lips will be established forever,

But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

But counselors of peace have joy.

No harm befalls the righteous,

But the wicked are filled with trouble.

Lying lips are an abomination to The LORD,

But those who deal faithfully are His delight...

 James 4:17

Therefore, to one who knows the

right thing to do,

And does not do it,

To him it is sin...
 Proverbs 28:9

He who turns his ear away

from listening to The Law,

even his prayer is an abomination…

 Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision,

The people perish...

O God, Most Pure,

How desperately we need a cleansing!

We, at times, neither seek nor speak truth.

Regardless of how we might pray, Lord,

It is not Your Will and Your Way we would do,

But ours!
Father, God,

You Who inclines Your Ear

To the voice and supplications of Your children,

Hear my prayer...
We bend with each deceptive breeze.

You have graced us,

Each and every one,

With the capacity for consequential choice--

And the consequences are now upon us...

And Sovereign Lord,

Apart from Whose Will--

permissive or directive--

No authority is established,
I bring before You
The concerns of countless Christians
For our upcoming election...

Our Presidential Race is

punctuated
with a
lack of honesty and morality!
 Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things which The LORD hates,

Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that run rapidly to evil,

A false witness who utters lies,

And one who spreads strife among brothers...

 Matthew 5:33…37

Again, you have heard that the ancients were

told,

‘You shall not make false vows,

But shall fulfill your vows to The LORD...’

But let your statement be,

‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’;

And anything beyond these is of evil…

 Proverbs 11:9, 14:12

With his mouth the godless man

destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will
be delivered...

There is a way which seems right to a

man, but its end is the way of death...
 Proverbs 17:7, 9:10

Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool;

Much less are lying lips to a prince...

The fear of The LORD

is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of The Holy One
is understanding...
Lord, I do believe with all my heart

That even the outcome of this election

Is in Your Hands.

And because the American landscape

Is very much as portrayed above--

You have already positioned
All things for The Final Act--
The culmination and consummation of
Your Purposes in Christ--
And that,
At any moment, You will lift the curtain
And begin
What mortal man sees only as
The End.
• A political scene perforated with a lack of integrity and
accountability...

• Our pulpits polluted with a lack of authority and

sincerity...

• Our people profaned with a lack of piety and humility...

• Our principles perverted with a lack of consistency and

authenticity...and...

• A presidential race punctuated with a lack of honesty

and morality--
I come to You as my First Resource and my
Last Recourse as

I pray for that individual whom You already

know as our next president...
May that one know You, and Your own dear
Son, Jesus Whom You sent--

And may he truly be Your child by adoption

and regeneration...

And not simply by creation.

May the refining fire of Your Holy Spirit
Fuel an unrelenting passion for an ever-
deepening relationship with You.

May Your Word be his meditation in quiet

moments
And His shelter and stay in the storm.
May his knees know the path to Your Throne of
Mercy and Strength--

And may he truly speak with You before he

speaks to others.
Humble him in solitude--that he might always
walk tall before men.

And never let him forget that he comes to that

office

Only by Your Permission and for Your

Purposes.
May our next president, by Your grace, truly
seek and speak truth--

And may he ever have the courage to live his

convictions without compromise.
May he speak to defend the rights of those
who cannot yet speak for themselves.

And may life, all life--in utero...vivendo...ad

terminem--be sacred to him

Regardless of condition and circumstances.

God grant that he might be more concerned
With morality and integrity than polls and
popularity.
May he never take a stand against Your Will
and Your Word--
May the sanctity of Your plan and precepts for
sex and marriage
Be upheld by him--even if he must stand
alone.
May he own a genuine love for America and her
people.

May we all be precious to him--regardless of color,

creed, or station in life.

And may he truly expend his energies in defending

this land

And restoring our honor and dignity.

Give him a heart for the little people--

Not only at home, but abroad as well.

May he never abuse the power of his office,

But ever use it for the good of all men.

Lord,

Give him wisdom and knowledge

That he might lead

For the greatest good of all men

And for Your Glory,

Sovereign Ruler of all.

And Father,
Remind me, as Election Day draws near,
That regardless of its outcome...

The World--and all that is in it--

is still Yours…

Your Will for Your People is still found

in Your Word…
 All truth is still Your truth…

Your Spirit is still at work in The Church

and in The World…

Jesus is still The Only Answer

for this sin-sick world…

The Great Commission is still His Final

Commandment for His Church…
 Prayer is still the first, and best, recourse of
Your People…

You still care intensely for us because we are

still Your chief care…

The Promises of Your love are still available to

all who call upon You…
 Jesus Christ is still Lord of All--
and still our Soon-Coming King...

And On 5 November,
You will still be in control!
And Father, should our next president be, or do,
none of these things,

Help me to pray for him each and every day--

without ceasing...

Because as I pray even now,

I ask that Your Will be done on earth...as it is in

heaven...
In Jesus’ Name,
And until He comes again...
As He most surely will! Amen. And Amen.
-John B. Aker Philippians 4:6-7
Philippians 4:6-7