Disappointment with politicians seems to be a universal sentiment these days, and not just in this country with Rev Sam Norton of Parkend and Viney Hill C of E Church

Looking across the pond to the US elections, it seems reasonable to expect both literal and metaphorical fireworks there on November 5.

All the plausible outcomes of that election – and even the process of finding out the results – seems to offer up only more division and conflict.

Now it may just be that we expect too much of our political representatives.

Certainly the only ones that seem to have been any good are the ones that appear so in retrospect, like Churchill – at least until the modern thought police cancel all our remaining heroes!

Yet it has always been this way. The Bible has all sorts of relevant wisdom to share on this front, as the Old Testament tells the story of how Israel wanted a new political leader (a King) and God says:”Are you sure?”

The people say: 'Yes, we do – everyone else has got one!” Godthen tells the people of Israel what their King will do: he'll raise taxes, introduce conscription and force the people to work like slaves on the King's land! God was right, of course.

It would be fair to say that the Bible doesn't have a very high view of politicians.

In simple terms, as it says in one of the Psalms: “Put not your trust in princes.”

Every human being will end up disappointing us in some way, shape or form, and that's for the simple reason that we are all flawed, we all go wrong, and expecting politicians to be the exception to that rule is a mug's game.

If we place our trust where it belongs – in the One who made the world – then perhaps we will have more realistic expectations of our political leaders, and, who knows?

Perhaps they might then be less disappointing to us all.