They Are But Men

    “Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!” Psalm 9:19-20

    Do you know what Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill all had in common? They were only men. They were singular in their talents and accomplishments, they stood above their contemporaries in terms of influence and power, and in many ways they shaped the course of events in this world to a greater or lesser degree. As you know there are other individuals, people of supreme talent and drive, who could be added to this list. Yet in the end they are all but men and nothing more.

    The day will come when even the “greatest” among us will stand still and silent to be judged by One infinitely greater. “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10b-12) 

     In the great and final Day of the Lord, when all are called to appear at the Judgment Seat of the Lord Himself, everyone will be called to attend. The world-shaping people of nearly immeasurable influence will be there, knees bowed and mouths closed. Presidents, Prime-Ministers, Emperors, Pharaohs, Kings, Queens, Czars, and every great leader who has ever lived will stand before the Creator of all things to receive their final, eternal judgment. The Judge will not be hearing arguments or scheduling appeals. All of the power and influence they wielded in life will be accounted as nothing before the One possessing all power and influence. If they never knew it in life they will know it then: they were but men.

     Respect those to whom respect is due and be subject to those who wield authority (Romans 13:1-7). After all, they would have none were God not permitting it (Daniel 5:28-32). Yet remember, they are but men and will be judged by God just as we will. God is God and man is man. We must never allow that distinction to blur.      

Recounting the deeds of the Lord

   “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1

   Most of us have our favorite figures from history, men and women who shaped the world through their courage, brilliance, tenacity, and drive. Whether they were soldiers, scholars, teachers, or humanitarians they all had a combination of those four traits in common. Sometimes we like to read their biographies to keep their deeds fresh in our minds. Perhaps we even memorize a few of their quotes to encourage us throughout our days and to help us live a bit more like them.

    Doubtless David also had individuals from the past that he looked up to. It is not hard to imagine him considering the faith of men like Abraham and Moses through the difficult circumstances in their lives. It is easy to picture David contemplating their actions and striving to match their enduring faith as he descended into his various valleys of hardship.

  However, the most telling part of David’s life is that the One he contemplated more than any other was God Himself. While David certainly had the wonderful deeds of previous heroes of faith to consider, he preferred to spend the greatest energy in his recollections on the awesome activities of God. Throughout Psalm 9 David recounts several of God’s wonderful deeds. He recalls God upholding his just cause and offering righteous judgment (9:4). He recalls God rebuking wicked nations (9:5). He recounts how God has been a stronghold for the oppressed and has not forsaken those who seek Him (9:9-10). He recounts how often God has rescued him from the very gates of death (9:13). He considered how God has dealt with the nations that rejected Him (9:16-17). He remembered the Lord’s power to cause the wicked to tremble at His presence (9:19-20). Spending this time in reflection moved David to whole-hearted worship and praise (9:1). 

         It can be good to remember the works of past human beings and the things they were able to accomplish. It will always be better to remember the wonderful works of our God.