Text from Whitney to me: “Obama won. All the black people in the crowd have tears streaming down their faces. It’s incredible.”
44 years ago the University of Mississippi accepted its first black student…last night we elected our first black president. Truly, this change – this new freedom and value placed on every life – is miraculous and marvelous indeed.
Text back to Whit: “Look at what has happened in just 40 short years. I think there might be hope for orphans and unborn babies after all.”
I really am thrilled to see how far we’ve come, but I have to admit that the night didn’t go exactly as I had hoped. I was feeling a bit unsettled, so – though I’m not a big numbers person – I turned to all the 44th chapters in the Bible (there aren’t many) and I ran into this beautiful, amazing promise, spoken straight from the mouth of the one true King:
God, your Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother’s womb, says: “I am God. I made all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the earth.”
He makes the magicians look ridiculous and turns fortunetellers into jokes. He makes the experts look trivial and their latest knowledge look silly. But he backs the word of his servant and confirms the counsel of his messengers. He says to Jerusalem, “Be inhabited,” and to the cities of Judah, “Be rebuilt,” and to the ruins, “I raise you up.” He says to Ocean, “Dry up. I’m drying up your rivers.” He says to Cyrus, “My shepherd – everything I want, you’ll do it.” He says to Jerusalem, “Be built,” and to the Temple, “Be established.”
Interesting thing here. Cyrus was not a godly king. He was not elected, nor was he trusted by the Israelites, who were in bondage at the time and really had done nothing to earn any supernatural favor. Still, this man was chosen by God and used to set them free to rebuild the temple. And this scripture? It was written by the hand of Isaiah 150 years before Cyrus took over the throne – check out Ezra and you’ll see the results of his reign.
I’m convinced that God knows what He’s doing, He has heard the prayers of His people, and He is not done with America. Though we’re stuck in sin, He can use just about anything to set us free. He continues to say to His Church: “Be built!” and to His people, “Be established!” And now is a great time to be praying for His favor and mercy and blessing on our 44th president.
With hope,
Bo
Amen and Amen. Thank you Bo. I awoke happy to be rid of political ads on the tv only to find folks “at the water cooler” expressing negativity. What a wonderful reminder to us all, to move forward, to focus on God’s providence, and to work together for the kingdom.
It really did feel monumental last night, as “President Elect” Obama shared about the 106-year black woman who voted for him . . . and as he recounted all of the US history of slavery, oppression, and racial division, and even all that she had personally seen throughout her lifetime. We have come a long way, and we’ve seen many changes.
Some good, even very good.
And some, very bad.
I’m thankful that our KING of kings and LORD of lords is on the throne. He’s worthy of our worship. In Him we can place ALL of our hope and trust. And of the increase of His kingdom there is no end.
Thanks for your blog. I really appreciate being able to “hear” your thoughts. Bless you, dear friend!
I have to tell you that I woke up this morning and my first thought in regard to the election was, “Perhaps Obama is our Cryus!”
I have faith! =)
Thanks for this blog it is confirmation to me this morning.
Thank you, sweet Bo, for diligently sharing God’s perspective.
Yay! I love it Bo! THank you, thank you. I wrote about Cyrus and the idea of rebuilding ancient ruins and repairing broken walls on my blog just last week. Figured then that not too many would find my words very palatable, but your words here are an encouragement and confirmation at least to my little heart.
Not only that, I just emailed a friend wondering if God’s people who prayed so hard that he wouldn’t be elected would now find a way to humbly support and honor the leader God apparently chose…the way God’s people are asked to, not in that back-handed self righteous sort of way that we can be prone to. Your words are positive, hopeful and honoring. Thank you for being “that” Christian. (not that any of us expected any different 😉 ). You’re beautiful.
Ah…thanks, Jen (and everyone!) for the kind and confirming words. You know, I wrote that last night and set it to post while I was sleeping so that I wouldn’t have any chance to reconsider and write something more whiny or sarcastic (I know myself). But I woke up this morning so excited to find that I actually BELIEVE this. I know and believe that God is smarter and stronger and able. I know that He is building His church and He can use anything to make her beautiful and I get to be a part of His workmanship and that’s just about the coolest thing ever.
K – I’m gonna go read yours now!