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Daily Devotionals for April 25-29
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|  | As we prepare for the first message in a new nine-part message series that begins on Sunday, we invite you to spend some time in the Psalms over the coming weeks. We thank Jonathan Ziman, Community Life Pastor for Young Singles and leader of WBC's Alpha Course for preparing this week's devotional thoughts. |
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MONDAY, APRIL 25
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| | This week we are reading and meditating on Psalm 46, reading today in the NIVŠ2011:
1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Right in the middle of the Bible we find a collection of 150 psalms. One hundred and fifty different and unique expressions of praise, fear, doubt, worry, sadness, joy, anger and exaltation. Although the original rhymes and rhythms may now be lost to us, the poetry of these 150 psalms communicates some of the most deeply passionate appeals to God in the entire Bible. It is the ultimate songbook, the hymnal of all hymnals. Long before there were electric guitars or organs, David, Solomon, Asaph and many others composed some of the most beautiful, evocative, captivating and haunting songs ever written. If it has been a while since you found yourself reading from the psalms, start a new habit today by reading one psalm every morning and one psalm every night.
What strikes me every time I open this collection of poetry is the brutal honesty and shocking reality of human experience laid bare in its rawest form. The authors of these songs are brutally honest in their descriptions of life. There's no room for fake, shiny-happy, I'm okay, you're okay Christianity here. Emotions simmer at the surface, frequently exploding in outbursts that we might expect to be met with God's anger or rebuke. Yet here they are, forever embedded in God's Word, enshrined within this book that speaks so clearly of his great and enduring love for us.
The psalmists wade deep into the messy realities of life, knowing that somewhere out there, even if they can't see it at first, they will find the solid ground of God's steadfast love and faithfulness.
The prevailing message across this collection of 150 psalms -- and through the message series we begin this Sunday -- is that God is present in our trouble and He is the Help for which we long.
Father,
However bad things get, however deep the mess goes, thank You that You are deeper still. You alone are the rock on which I can stand when the dreadful turmoil of pain and suffering engulfs me and threatens to suck the air out of my lungs. Help me to rest in You and to praise You that You are my Refuge and my Strength, no matter what today brings.
Amen
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TUESDAY, APRIL 26
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| Today we are reading Psalm 46 in the New International VersionŠ2011:
1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
It is almost impossible to read the first few verses of this Psalm without picturing the carnage and destruction that followed the brutal earthquake and tsunami in Japan just a month or so ago. The video images of an angry ocean swallowing cars, roads, houses and cities in its relentless march inland were a startling reminder of the chaotic forces of nature that surround us and the broken-ness of a world living in rebellion against God. But we don't need to live in Japan to experience equally tumultuous uprisings in our own lives. Young women going into premature labor, the lives of their unborn children at threat, alcoholic and abusive husbands and fathers raging in the home, or even the silent but equally devastating forces of depression and anxiety, eating away at relationships and eroding trust and care.
Into this mix, the psalmist declares with confidence, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." But how can it be that "the Holy One of Israel" is our refuge when we are full of sin? When we live lives of rebellion? When we are totally separated from God? It has nothing to do with the faithfulness of our church attendance or the length of our devotional time. It is solely and completely based on the blood of Christ. This is what we celebrated at Easter. It is Christ's death on the cross that enables us to call upon God as our refuge. It is His sinless life and perfect sacrifice that allows us to boldly approach Him as our "ever-present help in trouble." Without Jesus we are actually lost in our troubles. Without Jesus there is no solid ground to stand on. Without Jesus our good intentions and moral behavior are useless, not just against the storms of this life, but more significantly against the wrath of God judgment's on a sinful world. The glorious promise imbedded in this psalm can only be fully enjoyed and completely experienced when set against the back-drop of chaos and death that rules our lives without Christ.
Father,
Thank You for the truth of Your Word, and for the confident message of this Psalm. Help me today to remember the victory of Easter and the reality that my confidence is in You -- not in my own efforts at good behavior, but on the sure and solid footing that is based on Christ's sacrifice on my behalf. I praise you that I can find refuge in You because of Christ's victory over death and sin.
Amen
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
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| | Today we are reading Psalm 46 from the New Living Translation:
1God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude 4A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. 5God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. 6The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts! 7The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude 8Come, see the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world. 9He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." 11The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
Psalm 46 is a short Psalm, but packed with amazing insights about God and the way He works in and through His creation. Take a moment today and compare verses 2-3 with verses 4-5. Where do you see some similarities? What are the key differences? Part of the delight of poetry is the juxtaposition of opposing images, thoughts and ideas, and just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean we can't marvel at the beauty of the writing. Indeed, the water imagery here reaches both backwards and forwards, stretching out its theological implications from the beginning of time to the very end, from Genesis to Revelation.
If you have a Bible at hand, take a moment to read Genesis 1:1-10. In those verses, we read about how God created order out of chaos, separating light from dark, the heavens from the earth, and the oceans from the land. Part of the created order of things involves the creation coming under the dominion and control of God.
Skipping ahead to Gen. 2:10-14, we read about the river that flowed out of Eden. Although Psalm 46 is not making a direct reference to this river, the allusions are building on top of each other, adding a certain weight to the image placed in Psalm 46:4.
Cutting forward into the prophets, specifically Ezekiel 47:1-12, we read about a life-giving river of healing. You don't need to be an expert in reading the prophets and understanding everything that is going on to see that clearly there is a connection being made between the Temple, the place symbolizing God's presence, and a river that brings life.
Finally, let's read from Rev. 22:1-6:
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
Do you see the trajectory from Genesis through Psalms into Ezekiel and finally Revelation? With this arc in mind, now go back and read Psalm 46:4-7. The promised rest of God awaits those who repent and put their faith in Him.
In Christ He has set aside the chaotic rush of waters and offers us a cool spring instead. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let anyone who hears this say, 'Come.' Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life" (Rev. 22:17).
Father,
You know what's ahead for me today and in the next weeks and months. You know when the waters will surge. Help me to remember in those scary times -- and in all of my circumstances -- that just like You had the power to separated the oceans and the dry land, You have power to work in and through my circumstances. Thank you that instead of chaotic, surging waters, you offer me instead a cool drink to satisfy my thirsty soul. Thank You that You are my refuge -- even when the water is rising, even surging, around me.
Amen
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THURSDAY, APRIL 28
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| | Today we are reading in the New International VersionŠ2011:
1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Take a moment today to read through Psalm 46 in its entirety again. How has God been speaking to you and leading you this week? What links and connections have you started to see as the imagery starts to sink in? Most devotional work tends to be inward-focused, but for today try to find someone else to share these insights with -- maybe your spouse, or a friend. The news is filled with so many significantly chaotic events right now that there is even an easy and natural opportunity for you to share what you've been learning here with co-workers or neighbors who don't know God and may be intrigued by this offer of "refuge and strength."
Today we come to the last four verses of the psalm, 46:8-11. At first glance, there appears to be a contradiction here. The psalmist is eager for us to see what the Lord has done, but instead of describing something beautiful he talks of "desolations" (not usually a very positive word). Moreover, take a look at verse 9. Given our human tendency towards evil and our perpetual state of war and enmity with each other, when have you seen this take place? And then in verse 10, who is supposed to "Be still"? Is God being exalted right now "among the nations"?
This section of the psalm is most likely looking beyond current events and forward to the day when God will return in judgment and unequivocally restore Himself as the sovereign Lord over all of His creation. [As just one example, read Micah 4:1-5. Do you see? At that time desolation will come to those who oppose God and His rule. At that time all wars will indeed end. At that time God's sovereignty, rarely visible to us now, will come rushing to the foreground and all His foes will be silenced. The chaos and turmoil of the world (look back at 46:2-3 and 46:6) will be stilled and God's name will be exalted.]
We serve an amazing God whose glorious name will be exalted over all nations, but who is also tender and merciful and careful with us. As Peter would say, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).
Father,
I want to praise You today that I can trust in Your power and control, even when things in this world seem to be out of control. Help me to keep my confidence today in You, not in myself. Help me today to speak of You -- my Refuge and my Strength -- with others I meet.
Amen
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FRIDAY, APRIL 29
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| | Today we are reading in the New International VersionŠ2011:
1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Martin Luther's famous hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," is in large measure a re-setting of Psalm 46. In the turmoil and upheaval of the early days of the Reformation, this psalm became a rallying cry for those contending against the forces of the world. It's no wonder, given the amazing promise of stability in the middle of such tumultuous times. Read through the psalm one more time, and then look more closely at verses 1, 7 and 11. What comes through most clearly from these verses? Where else in the Bible can you find some of these same themes and allusions?
The motif of God being present with us goes back to Eden, where Adam and Eve lived in perfect communion with God. That perfect relationship was of course shattered, but later God promised Moses that He would rescue His people and be their God (see Exodus 6:7).
Moreover, once He had rescued them from slavery He gave them instructions for building the Tabernacle, a special place that enabled God to say, "Then I will dwell among the Israelites and
be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God" (Exodus 29:45-46). The Tabernacle
was later turned into the Temple, a more permanent sign of God's dwelling place amongst His people that was sadly shattered because of the perpetual sin and idolatry of the people.
After hundreds of years without God's presence amongst them, Jesus bursts onto the scene. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). He is our Immanuel (translation -- "God with us"), not just at Christmas, but every day of the year. Because of His death and resurrection we can receive the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. From the beginning of time, despite our rebellion, God has never abandoned us. However unlikely and improbable, however incredible and surprising, "The LORD Almighty is with us" (Psa. 46:11). He is with YOU. Here, today. Don't let the lies of Satan or the fears and anxieties of this world ever tell you otherwise.
Father,
Thank you for being the One on Whom I can completely depend, no matter what happens in the circumstances of my life today. Thank You for Your Spirit Who lives within me, and for the reality that I am never left to fight my battles alone. Thank you for the confidence I can have in You -- my Refuge and my Strength.
Amen
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