John’s thesis is that Jesus is the Godman and therefore introduces Him in the preface as the eternal “Word.”

Year 2020 so far has been chaotic and, some would say, cataclysmic. The COVID-19 virus, the economic and financial collapse of the world economy, and the poisonous politics of our nation have caused disruption to our lives. But there have also been remarkable demonstrations of compassion, creative ways to maintain communication during the isolation (e.g., Zoom) and astonishing acts of generosity across America and the world. The events of this year have also caused me to think deeply about the church of Jesus Christ.

In both of these Psalms, King David appeals to God as the righteous Judge to defend him (Psalm 7) and, in light of God’s majestic power exhibited in creation, he marvels that God is even interested in him (Psalm 8).

Rosaria Butterfield, former tenured professor at Syracuse University and former radical lesbian feminist, came to know Jesus Christ through the love and compassion of a pastor and his wife stretching over three years. She describes her conversion as a “train wreck,” for God had to dismantle her entire worldview, replacing it with the worldview detailed in Scripture. Butterfield is now married to a pastor in North Carolina, is a homeschooling mother and continues using her giftedness as a writer and speaker. She recently summarized a question and answer session she was hosting on a college campus in which she detailed her conversion to Jesus Christ.

David experiences the gracious, chastening hand of His God, is restored to a relationship with God, and thereby seeks to bring glory to Him.

Vladimir Putin has been president of Russia since 2000, with a short stint as Prime Minister so that he could stay in power. He has solidified his grasp on power since then and, in many ways, already has dictatorial power. He now seeks to enhance that power with a distinct power grab in Russia. On 10 March, the Duma, Russia’s parliament, voted to approve constitutional changes proposed by Putin, and added one that resets the number of terms he can serve. Under the current constitution, he would need to stand down in 2024; under the new arrangement, he could rule until 2036, perhaps longer.

King David knows His God, His attributes and His holiness, all of which provide the basis for His cry for help and deliverance from his enemies.

Baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are retiring in record numbers and are living longer. Because high-income workers have experienced faster wage growth than the rest of the population, a greater share of US wages is now exempt from the payroll tax, which stops at $132,900. Result? A smaller tax base to fund Social Security benefits. Thus, Social Security costs are projected to exceed income next year for the first time since 1982, forcing the program to dip into its nearly $3 trillion trust fund, built up when payroll taxes exceeded benefits.

Threatened by men within his government, King David finds safety and security in His gracious God.

As I write this, it is difficult to accurately read the psychological state of Americans right now. We have had weeks of forced isolation throughout much of the nation and the nearly universal practice of social distancing. All of this goes against our human nature: God made us for community and COVID-19 is challenging this fundamental axiom of the human condition. Consequently, for nearly all of us, we are experiencing a profound loss of freedom accompanied by a genuine fear and sense of danger posed by the virus. The result is often a measure of emotional stress, confusion and fear. Let’s think biblically about all this.