Counselors, Judges, Kings, and Elders

With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.
Job 12:16-20
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Counselors, Judges, Kings, and Elders
There are many authorities in our lives, and we are obligated to obey them according to the 4th Commandment.  These men and women in positions of power are often seen as the best of the best and the most learned and powerful.  And because they are seen in this light so often do we turn to them to fix our problems. We look to these powers for the answers over and over again yet continue to be disappointed when they fail to deliver.  Job points out forcefully that real strength and wisdom are found not in kings and judges, but in God.  We are told “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalm 146:3). It is only in God where salvation lies.  It is only through the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ where one receives rescue.  Let us not forget this, and may the words we sing in the Magnificat remind us of this.
“He has scattered the proud in their imagination of their hearts.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.” (LSB 248-9)