If you’re a Michigan resident like me, you are likely disappointed, if not distraught, over the passing of proposal 3. If you’re not familiar with it because you don’t reside in Michigan, or because you didn’t educate yourself and vote, the basics are this: it repeals health and safety regulations on abortion clinics, exposing women to various dangerous conditions; no age limit or parental consent is required for children seeking abortions (thus protecting rapists and anyone else forcing a woman or child to have an abortion); any “healthcare professional” can approve or perform abortions, including a school social worker (and anyone else with a coat hanger, such as a boyfriend, a little girl’s father, or a rapist); it allows abortion up to the moment of birth; and it allows confused minors to undergo gender reassignment “surgery” (= mutilation) without their parents’ consent. 55.9% of Michigan residents voted yes on this evil proposal.
When I woke up this morning, the first thing I checked was the results of the ballot. When I learnt it had passed, immediately I was filled with despair and anger. I didn’t know what to do. As a pastor, I thought, “What will I tell my people?” The only thing I could think to do was lament.
So, I spent a few hours reading through the Psalms today. I didn’t read every single psalm, but beginning with Psalm 1, I simply used the helpful headers and read the first verse or two of each psalm, and if it struck me in some way, I meditated on it. The following is the results of my meditations on certain psalms. The purpose here is to lament and trust in the Lord.
Psalm 10
“In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor” (v. 2). Abortionists say pro-life people don’t care about babies after birth (which is a lie with the many free pregnancy centres we run and that the majority of people who adopt or run foster care homes are Christians). Not only do abortionists clearly not care about babies before birth, but they also don’t care about them after birth. They claim they care about the poor, but they also say if a baby is going to be born into poverty, it’s better to abort them than it is to let them be born into a life of suffering. They pursue unborn babies who may be born into poverty to kill them. Lord, have mercy.
“For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul” (v. 3). The abortionist’s desires are clear: abort the baby, a life of convenience, a life free of suffering (which is impossible), a successful career instead of a humble family, and sacred autonomy. This is all they boast about.
“…all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’ His ways prosper at all times” (vv. 4-5). Many abortionists are atheists. Some are also Christian, but their inability to defend the helpless is what we call practical atheism—claiming to be Christian yet living as if God doesn’t exist. They are sanctimonious, moral cowards. The wickedness of abortion is prospering despite all our best efforts.
“He says in his heart… ‘I shall not meet adversity'” (v. 6). Abortionists think they will get away with their evil. Yet they, and those who voted for prop 3, have a lot of blood on their hands. They will answer for it before God Almighty on the Day of Judgement.
“His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity” (v. 7). The rhetoric pro-abortionists use against those who are pro-life are filled with cursing, mischief, and iniquity. Proposal 3 itself was extremely mischievous, hence the pro-life signs that said, “Too Confusing, Too Extreme.” Proposal 3 was intentionally written to deceive the voters.
“…in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless” (v. 8). Abortionists hid behind the confusing and extreme words of proposal 3 to murder the innocent and helpless, just as they do in many other ways.
“…he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net” (v. 9). Again, the abortionist hides behind vague wordings and platitudes to seize those who may be born into poverty. They have been caught in the net of proposal 3.
“The helpless are crushed” (v. 10). As abortions will now be done legally, their skulls will literally be crushed before they are torn apart limb from limb.
“Arise, O LORD… forget not the afflicted” (v. 12). As we lament this evil, we implore the Lord to come and not to forget the afflicted unborn. We pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
“Why do the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account’?” (v. 13). Again, the abortionists and their minions will not escape God’s judgement. They will have to account for their evil deeds. “For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what He has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
“But You do see… to You the helpless commits himself; You have been the helper of the fatherless” (v. 14). Despite how it may appear to us, God does see the injustice. Therefore, we entrust the corpses of these little ones into His care, for He has been and still is the helper of the fatherless.
“The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from His land” (v. 16). Rulers were elected and re-elected Tuesday night, but only temporarily. Only the Lord is king forever and ever. All nations rise and fall, even America. And it may indeed be a blessed thing that America fall in the future, for the majority seek to murder the poor and the fatherless.
“O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless… so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more” (vv. 17-18). It is scientific proof that foetuses in utero feel pain. The Lord hears their cries. He hears our cries, too—we who are afflicted in spirit and heart on behalf of the fatherless. He hears our cries to do justice for them, so that abortionists strike their terrors into the womb no more.
Psalm 12
“Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man” (v. 1). As mentioned above, even Christians support abortion and voted “yes” on proposal 3. They do not give glory to God but to man—to the false trinity of me, myself, and I. They have been unfaithful to God and need to repent, lest they perish.
“Everyone utters lies… with flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (v. 2). The abortionist dogma is full of lies. “Abortion is healthcare,” they say. This is Orwellian doublethink, “War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. Abortion Is Healthcare.” They flatter the human ego with doctrines of autonomy. They have a double heart—they claim to speak truth, but they are speaking deceit.
“May the LORD cut off all flattering lips… those who say, ‘With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?'” (vv. 3-4). We pray that their lips—their deceptive flattering speech—may be cut off. They worship themselves with the liturgy of sacred autonomy, “Who is master over us?” Certainly not God, but they are their own masters. When people answer to no one, we get evils like abortion.
“…You will guard us from this generation forever” (v. 7). Though we must suffer their presence now, when the Lord returns and delivers us from our enemies, He will guard us from this wicked generation forever.
“On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man” (v. 8). The wicked abortionists prowl around everywhere, exalting their vile murder. They are devils, like the devil himself, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The prey they seek to devour are unborn babies.
Psalm 26
“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering” (v. 1). Christians who voted “no” on prop 3 have maintained their integrity in the LORD. Though we may be disappointed, distraught, and/or angry, let us continue trusting the LORD without wavering.
“I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked” (vv. 4-5). Echoing Psalm 1:1-2, have nothing to do with abortionists. They speak falsehood, as we have seen. They are hypocrites, for they claim to care for the poor yet kill babies who will be born into poverty. They are evildoers, committing the act or supporting those who commit the act of murder. Do not sit with them or associate with them.
“O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells” (v. 8). As we lament and implore the Lord for justice, let us continue coming to His house of worship, the place where His glory dwells in the Divine Service.
Psalm 29
“…ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness” (vv. 1-2). This is what we do in the habitation of His house. A simpler translation of “ascribe” would be “give.” Give glory to the name of the Lord! How? By worshiping Him—yes, even despite these times of turmoil. Keep attending the Divine Service and giving glory to His name through hymns of praise.
“…the LORD sits enthroned as king forever” (v. 10). Since the Lord is King forever, this means He has control over all things. Furthermore, this means He has control over this evil. He will bring it to its end.
“May the LORD give strength to His people! May the LORD bless His people with peace!” (v. 11). As we lament, we pray the Lord bless us with strength as we continue speaking against such vile wickedness as abortion and the mutilation of confused children.
Psalm 34
“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (v. 1). At ALL TIMES, we shall bless the Lord; His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in our mouths. Despite how distraught and angry we might be, it is highly important we keep praising the Lord, even if we don’t feel like it. The Lord is always worthy to be praised (Psalm 145:3). Go to Divine Service, even sing hymns at home. If you don’t have a hymnal already, purchase one to always have in your home.
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears… Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!” (vv. 4, 8-9). The passing of proposal 3 may cause us to have fear for other evils that may lie ahead, but fear the Lord even more. He answers those who fear Him. Those who fear Him take refuge in Him, and they lack nothing. We know how the Lord has dealt with evil many times in the past. Therefore, fear Him, and run to Him for refuge as the current evil awaits His judgement.
“The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth” (vv. 15-16). God hears the cries of our laments, but His face is set against evil abortionists. There will come a time when they will be remembered no more—when Christ returns in glory and puts their evil to death.
“When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (vv. 17-18). As we lament, we can rest assured that God hears our cries for help and that He will deliver us from what troubles us. We are brokenhearted; our spirits are crushed. That means God is near to us.
Psalm 37
“Fret not yourselves because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb… Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in His way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (vv. 1-2, 7). These verses speak for themselves. It is easier said than done, but the Scripture encourages us not to fret over evildoers like abortionists.
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (v. 3). What else do we do besides lament? We do good to our pregnant neighbour. Continue to speak the Word of the Lord to expectant mothers and fathers with the Law and the Gospel properly distinguished. Continue to volunteer at pregnancy centres, even accompany a friend to one. Continue to assist young mothers in every physical need. Continue to foster and adopt unwanted children.
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (v. 8). This is also easier said than done. I myself am experiencing a lot of anger. Therefore, “I give myself to prayer” (Psalm 109:4).
“For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land… But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (vv. 9, 11). We wait for the Lord’s timing to cut off the evil abortionists. The word “meek” is better translated “humble” or “lowly.” Jesus repeats this in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Meek here is also better translated “lowly, humble.” This sets us apart from the pro-abortionists. They are proud, and so kill anyone who gets in their way of autonomy; we are humble, and therefore defend the defenceless and give a voice to the voiceless.
“The wicked plots against the righteous… but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming” (vv. 12-13). This harkens back to Psalm 2:4, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” With proposal 3, the wicked successfully plotted against the righteous to continue killing the unborn. Yet God laughs at them, for He plans their destruction.
“The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy” (v. 14). The motif of the abortionist’s hypocrisy continues. They claim to care for the poor and needy, yet do not hesitate to kill the unborn who would be born into a poor and needy family.
“For the LORD loves justice; He will not forsake His saints” (v. 28). Our God is a God of justice, yet His justice is not like human justice. His justice also comes in its own timing. He will not forsake us.
“The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever” (v. 29). Although it appears the wicked prosper, it is the righteous who shall ultimately prosper, and for all eternity. For, “The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble” (v. 39).
Psalm 42
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (vv. 1-2). As Paul similarly says, “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians 1:23). There have been many times in my life when I’ve had the same desire. Today is one of those times. It is far better to be with Christ than it is to continue living amidst a people who brutally murder unborn babies. Come, Lord Jesus! Yet I concede with Paul, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account” (Philippians 1:24). Though I desire to depart and be with the Lord, it is necessary that I remain here and pastor my flock, especially during such a time as this (cf. Esther 4:14).
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore, I remember You…” (v. 5). Why be so distraught when God is my hope and my salvation? Let us remember who He is and therefore praise Him.
“I say to God, my rock: …’Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?’ As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God” (vv. 9-11). Why do I mourn when the abortionists scheme and achieve their wicked ends? Why do I get angry when they mock me, “Where is your God?” I shall therefore turn from mourning to praises toward my God!
Psalm 43
“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! …Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (vv. 1-2). This psalm continues the previous psalm. Just as Isaiah lamented that he dwelled amidst a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5), so we lament that we dwell amidst ungodly people who murder the unborn. Therefore, we implore God to defend our pro-life cause, for every human being He creates is made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), and there are deadly consequences for murdering our fellow humans (Genesis 9:5-6). Why, then, do I go about mourning? For the Lord will vindicate His people; He will avenge the fatherless. Again, I pray, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God” (v. 5).
Psalm 49
“Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?” (vv. 5-6). The wicked abortionists surround us. They preach sacred autonomy because they boast and trust in their riches. Yet, “Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish” (v. 12). They trust in things that “moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). These things perish; therefore, they will perish with their golden calves.
“…Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me” (vv. 14-15). This is our blessed hope. The wicked abortionists shall make their eternal home in the grave, yet God shall raise the righteous who live by faith from the grave.
Psalm 58
“The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies” (v. 3). The wicked are so estranged from the womb that they no longer try to argue it’s not life in the womb. Now they acknowledge it is life and finally admit they don’t care. They simply want to kill. Murder is their aphrodisiac.
“The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. Mankind will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth” (vv. 10-11). The Scripture speaks for itself.
Psalm 68
“God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate Him shall flee before Him! As smoke is driven away, so You shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (vv. 1-3). This is another expression of the hope that awaits us. The abortionists may be united now, but they will be scattered. As smoke is easily blown away, so God’s wrath shall blow them away just as easily (cf. Psalm 1:4). Just as wax melts away under the wick of a lit candle, so shall the wicked melt under the wrath of God. And we the righteous shall be glad; we shall lift sings of praise with jubilee!
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation” (v. 5). Since the unborn have no fathers to protect them—whether due to the father’s own wicked absence or the mother’s own evil done without the father’s consent—God is the Father of the fatherless. And as a true Father, He will avenge them.
Psalm 72
“Give the king Your justice, O God, and Your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice! …May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” (vv. 2, 4). Here, we pray that God raise up leaders to punish the evildoer and to defend the poor and needy, especially those unborn ones. We pray that just as the abortionists crush the skulls of the unborn, may our earthly rulers crush these oppressors.
Psalm 82
In this psalm, God says to all earthly rulers, “‘How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked'” (vv. 2-4). Yet our rulers continue to favour the wicked, they do not give justice to the weak and fatherless unborn, and they do not defend the right to life of these afflicted ones. They refuse to rescue these weak and needy infants and to deliver them from the hands of the wicked abortionists. They prefer to let them continue raping the mothers’ wombs with their vile instruments that tear the babies apart and wreck the insides of the woman’s womb. Therefore, we pray, “Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all the nations!” (v. 8).
Psalm 83
“O God, do not keep silence; do not hold Your peace or be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make an uproar; those who hate You have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against Your people; they consult together against Your treasured ones” (vv. 1-3). God is silent. Where is He?! We pray that God not keep peace with the wicked but respond to their injustice. They have laid their crafty plans in proposal 3 and succeeded. They consulted against the unborn whom the Lord treasures (Psalm 139:13-16). Therefore, we pray the following psalm:
Psalm 94
“O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush Your people, O LORD, and afflict Your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, ‘The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive'” (vv. 1-7). The wicked abortionists have no conscience. They murder the fatherless. They are proud to do so. They have dedicated a whole month to celebrate their religion of Pride. God’s heritage is the creation of humans; the wicked abortionists afflict this heritage by crushing the skulls of the unborn.
Unfortunately for them, “He will not abandon His heritage… He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out” (vv. 14, 23).
Psalm 109
“Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me… They encircle me with words of hate… but I give myself to prayer” (vv. 1-4). Every person who supports life in the womb experiences words of hate from the pro-abortionist. Rather than respond to them in kind with words of hate, let us give ourselves to prayer, even lament.
“May his days be few; may another take his office! …For he did nto remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death” (vv. 8, 16). When our rulers abdicate their duty to defend the poor and needy, such as the unborn, let us pray for the cessation of their time in office. The Michigan voters have failed in doing this. Governor Gretchen Whitmer as long supported the slaughter of the poor and needy infants. We had our chance to take her out of office. Instead, almost 2.5 million people re-elected her into office. Shame on them.
Nevertheless, “With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death” (vv. 30-31). Let us continue praising the Lord amidst the throng of His people. Just as the blood of the murdered Abel cried out to God from the ground (Genesis 4:10), certainly the blood of murdered infants cry out to God from the dumpsters and bins into which their corpses are discarded.
Psalm 119:81-88
“My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope in Your Word. My eyes long for Your promise; I ask, ‘When will You comfort me?'” (vv. 81-82). Again, we long for the Lord’s salvation. We await His comfort. Let us, therefore, continually come to His Word as we grieve, lest we sink perpetually into despair.
Psalm 119:113-120
“I hate the double-minded, but I love Your Law… Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God” (vv. 113, 115). We love the Law of the Lord; therefore, we avoid the abortionist evildoers, lest we break the 5th Commandment, “You shall not murder.”
Psalm 146
This is the psalm I would like to end on.
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (vv. 3-4). We have voted for certain leaders on Tuesday, but do not place your trust in them. When they die, they are lowered into the earth and remain there; and all their plans die with them, whether good or evil. Yet we have a Prince—a Son of Man—in whom we have salvation, whose plans of salvation did not perish when He died because He is risen from the dead: Jesus Christ.
“The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down” (v. 8). My soul may be cast down, but He shall lift my head up. As He says, “Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). For “He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!” (vv. 9-10).
The Lord’s plan of salvation is coming. When He returns, He will uphold the fatherless and bring the wicked abortionists to ruin. Therefore, let us lift our heads with this expectant hope and praise the Lord for His coming redemption.
The Lutheran Column 