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5“You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.
―Psalm 9:5-6, (ESV)
My dearly loved Illinois Church of God family:
This has been an eventful, watershed week for Sonja and me.
This morning (April 11, 2025) Psalm 9:5-6 stood out to me and gave me great comfort and perspective.
As I read this passage I was reminded of the many strange man-made mounds that dot the North and South American continents along with countless other mysterious ruins and runes. (There are several in Illinois.) But as the psalmist stated: their names are blotted out forever.
Just think of all the nations and city states that we have record of over the centuries. They are the tip of the iceberg but they are all gone. Even in our lifetime we have seen many nations, dictators, monarchs and governments rise and fall. But what was true when Psalm 9 was penned is true today: Israel still stands.
For thousands of years the Jews have survived and even thrived. This should be a reminder to us that God is faithful and that his faithfulness endures.
As mentioned above, for Sonja and me, this week brought news that has turned our lives upside down. I started the week as the Administrative Bishop for the Church of God in Illinois and had my sights on how to help create a better future for this great state. But now I am working on an exit plan and scrambling to learn about Michigan. (Who saw that coming?! Answer: God.)
Like the waves of the sea, man and his plans ebbs and flows in and out, up and down, but God is our rock and our salvation in whom we can depend.
No matter how sincere and able, ultimately the arm of man will fail you. One way or the other, there is a goodbye waiting for every relationship.
But the eternal God remains – He is our refuge and dwelling place, and underneath all the machinations of man are his steadfast, loving, and everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).
Thankfully, I have until August 1 to continue living and serving in this great state. Hopefully I will get to see many of you over these next few months and I will also give updates through my blogs and video. But for now, this week has reminded me that above all else, the God of our fathers and mothers – the God of Israel – is the One we must put our ultimate trust in.
To God be all the glory both now and forever, Amen.
With much love,
David L. Kemp
Administrative Bishop
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