Psalm 46:2-3 (Amplified Bible)
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas,
3 Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
Sometimes, we don’t see the trees for the forest Verse’s two and three of this week’s lesson describe a terrible calamity. A Tsunami and accompanying earthquake that swallow a whole mountain and cause the mountains around it to quake and tremble. There are a couple of things that stand out in this narrative. Number one: the writer of this verse would probably have been an eyewitness to such a calamitous event to describe it so succinctly. He would not have had the benefit of watching it on TV. He would not have been able to TIVO it and rerun it dozens of times as he tried to describe the fury and the force of the destruction he had witnessed. Let there be no doubt. This was an earth shaking event. Whatever happened here, the landscape was changed after it was over. Number two: One of the characteristics of mountains is that they are made of… rock. They are regarded as permanent, immovable, safe. A mountain was (is) a place of refuge. High ground. A fortress, as it were. To see a landmark of such majesty and presence disappear into the foaming sea would cause one to question… everything, wouldn’t it? Couldn’t it?
What is your greatest fear? What causes you to go ‘weak in the knees’ at it’s very thought? What causes you to tremble inwardly? What can or has happened in your life the shook you to your core? When these events happen, one of the first questions that we ask is: ‘How can this be God’s will for me?” As, a nation, we’ve had a few of these moments in our recent history, most notably September the 11th and Hurricane Katrina; events that affected how we perceived the world around us. On a personal level, every one of us has been or could be affected by illness, financial crisis, the death of loved ones; life altering events that we could not foresee or prevent. Events that might cause us to question God’s will concerning us. Is He with me? What did I do to deserve this? Am I; are we outside of His will somehow?
Beloved, Verse one of the lesson puts these questions to rest. Be assured: God is with you and for you. An ‘always’ present, always available help in time of need. A hiding place. A place of refuge and security when everything around you has crumbled. No matter what the circumstance, God is in control. Let there be no doubt, some of the stuff that we are going through: God is directly or indirectly responsible for. And yet, He is still with us and for us. Whatever the issue, whatever the circumstance, whatever… it will work for the good, the benefit of those who love the Lord, who are called and chosen according to His purpose. Fear not Beloved. You have an unction; an anointing from the Holy One. He has not given you a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of Power (dunamis), Love and of a sound, whole, stable, pure mind in the Holy Ghost. Rest in the assurance, walk in the confidence that God clears the path before you, stands guard over you, surrounds you with His presence in those moments surrounding life’s greatest challenges. Peace be with you… wb
Hebrews 12:28-29 (The Message)
28-29 Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!
