Devotions with Pastor John

Mar 26

Written By

Psalm 46

How are you holding up?

As I look out the window of my office, there is a grandfather and a grandson playing catch in the Zion parking lot. There are very few cars in the parking lot. Things are very quiet. How about where you are?

Today, more on the image that God is our fortress - we can run into Him and He will protect us from whatever it is that is coming at us. Even the virus. Even our own fears. He is our refuge. He is impenetrable. We are safe.

Today, Psalm 46.

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Did you get that? God is our refuge and strength, even when there's trouble - big trouble. Even though the earth falls apart (are you thinking what's happening on planet earth today?) and the mountains fall into the sea and sea becomes a surging mess for all the mountains falling into it? Could things get must worse? Perhaps a pandemic?

Still, God is our refuge. Nothing can disturb us. God is our refuge and strength. Still we are safe.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

Suddenly, these two verses break in and we are transported from a surging sea, out of control, with mountains falling into it, to a peaceful river. The river of life. Flowing from the throne of God. It's peaceful. It's tranquil. We are in the kingdom of God, in the presence of God Himself. All is well. It's like we are suddenly transported to heaven, to the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming out of heaven like a bride adorned for her husband. Think Revelation 21, God is in our midst. He will dry every tear from our eye. We are his people. He is our God. There is no more death, no more sorrow.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

Suddenly, the camera cuts back and we're on planet earth, and the kingdoms are falling, the nations are in an uproar. Why? A war? A virus? What is it? Doesn't matter. The next verse tells us why it doesn't matter.

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

We are safe. They can't get us. The Lord is with us. Emmanuel. God with us. Jesus. Christ the Lord. The Ancient of Days, the God of Creation, the God of Abraham, of Issac, of Jacob, is with us. We shall not be moved.

Come and see what the Lord has done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

Behold his desolations. He is the God of Noah's flood. The God who can wipe the slate clean and start over again. He is the God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, who made them a desolation. He is in charge. He is all powerful. He will deliver us.

He makes wars cease

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields[d] with fire.

In our day we would say that God was strong enough to finish wars that we start. That he could burn the war planes, the tanks, the missiles. He is that strong. He can finish what we start. He's stronger than any army. Than any ideology. Than any movement. He is God.

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

He wants you to be quiet and rest in him. Stop striving for something else. Stop trying to do it all yourself. Stop. Rest. It's about sabbath - rest. It's about peace - the shalom of God. Be still. Stop moving around. Stop squirming. Stop fussing. Quiet yourself. God's got you. You are safe in his hands. Rest. The sabbath is about rest. It's about worship. It's about resting and find your rest in God. They go together. It's about stopping the frantic activity of the day to day. It's about stopping trying to earn your value. It's about stopping trying to provide. It's about letting God hold you. About letting God love you. About you praising God, exalting His name in return.

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

So it ends back where we stared. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the God of creation and the Exodus and the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Father of Jesus, is with us. Emmanuel. We are safe. He is here.

Hold fast, Zion. Relax in his peace.

Thanks for reading.