The foundations of the earth are shaken

This phrase caught my attention in today's Bible reading. I wondered if it meant actual physical destruction or moral/spiritual destruction. Since we are blessed with numerous commentaries from a lifetime of buying books, I looked this verse up (Psalm 82:5) in Keil and Delitzsch's commentary on Psalms. Here's the whole verse: "They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." This describes the current lot of presidential candidates from both parties, if you ask me. No one's ideas seem reasonable, logical or wise. They all seem to be saying only what they think the people want to hear in order to get them elected. And Al Gore getting the Nobel Peace Prize illustrates what I'm saying even more. Here's what the commentary has to say about this verse (bear with me):

"No result is to be expected from the divine admonition: they still go their ways in this state of mental darkness and that implies stalking on in carnal security and self-complacency. The commands, however which they transgress are the foundations, as it were the shafts and pillars, upon which rests the permanence of all earthly relationships which are appointed by creation and regulated by the Torah [Law]. Their transgression makes the land, the earth, to totter physically and morally, and is the prelude of its overthrow."

Wow. That answered my question. Our refusal to listen and obey the moral commands of God personally and as a nation and world ultimately results in the destruction of our relationships and even the world itself! It is only through the wisdom of God and obedience to what He says that these things can be healed. Earlier in that chapter we are commanded to "give justice to the weak" and "maintain the right of the afflicted and destitute...deliver them from the hand of the wicked". I think that's why America has traditionally gotten involved in "foreign wars". Because of our Biblical worldview roots, we see our responsibility to deliver the weak from the hand of the wicked. And that's a moral issue.

So global warming? Not a MORAL issue, but I am responsible to do my part in having dominion, caring for my corner. I'm not sure what that should look like as a nation. Back to dealing justly with and for the weak.

Abortion? Well, that one seems pretty obvious. We ARE dealing with the weak here. Helping to deliver from oppression? God's command is clear. Our nation may continue to choose to disobey, but not with impunity.

This is why Christian education is so important. We are teaching those who are weak and young, who need to know HOW to think in a world that is so full of fools who forget God. Our prayer is that they would grow wise and be the ones who help and deliver the weak, destitute, fatherless and afflicted.