You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
Psalm 56:8
Isn't it comforting to know that our God loves us so much that he keeps track even of our tears, storing them up drop by drop?None of our anxiety or grief goes unnoticed or forgotten by him. May we always remember this when it seems to us that our troubles go unseen. So we can say with the Psalmist:
Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:9-11
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Be still, and know that I am God
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:8-11
Psalm 46 is a grand proclaimation of God's power and the assurance that he is to his people. Verses 1-3 describe the security that we have in God, and promise him as "a very present help in times of trouble" (v1). Verses 4-7 portray the protection of God for his people, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (vs7). Verses 8-11 are sweeping description of God's supremacy and his power. Amid all this grandeur, the verse: "Be still, and know that I am God" stands out in contrast. What does this simple, quiet statement mean? Why, among an overwhelming declaration of God's awesome power and ability, accompanied by promises of protection for his people, is this verse necessary?
I think the answer lies in Psalm 37. Like Psalm 46, this chapter is also an assuring promise of God delivering his people from wickedness and evil. However, the tone and language of Psalm 37 reflect a darker and more afflicted view of life. "The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial" (vs32-33). David does not deny the existence of evil nor the reality that the righteous will sometimes suffer. However, in his sight, God is still in sovereign control. "Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous." (vs16-17)
It is in this context that David says, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"(vs7). When assailed by evil in the world, it is easy to despair and to lose hope in God. David knows that it may often seem as if God has abandoned his people. After he, it was he who wrote, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest." (Psalm 22:1-2) Hence, his advice is this: do not strive in our own strength against the force of the world, rather wait for God, trusting in him to act in his own good time with his infinite wisdom and power.
It is futile for us to try resisting evil and sin in our lives by our own finite wisdom and strength. Furthermore, in our self-confident haze or weary despair, we can easily lose sight of God. Which is why, in Psalm 46, God admonishes us to "Be still". Let us quiet our minds and hearts, shutting off the distracting thoughts, emotions and sentiments of this life. Focus on God through reading his word and prayer that we may know him more and better. In there, will we find an assurance to surpass the anxieties and troubles; the assurance that comes simply from knowing that "though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling" he is God.
Psalm 46:8-11
Psalm 46 is a grand proclaimation of God's power and the assurance that he is to his people. Verses 1-3 describe the security that we have in God, and promise him as "a very present help in times of trouble" (v1). Verses 4-7 portray the protection of God for his people, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (vs7). Verses 8-11 are sweeping description of God's supremacy and his power. Amid all this grandeur, the verse: "Be still, and know that I am God" stands out in contrast. What does this simple, quiet statement mean? Why, among an overwhelming declaration of God's awesome power and ability, accompanied by promises of protection for his people, is this verse necessary?
I think the answer lies in Psalm 37. Like Psalm 46, this chapter is also an assuring promise of God delivering his people from wickedness and evil. However, the tone and language of Psalm 37 reflect a darker and more afflicted view of life. "The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial" (vs32-33). David does not deny the existence of evil nor the reality that the righteous will sometimes suffer. However, in his sight, God is still in sovereign control. "Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous." (vs16-17)
It is in this context that David says, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"(vs7). When assailed by evil in the world, it is easy to despair and to lose hope in God. David knows that it may often seem as if God has abandoned his people. After he, it was he who wrote, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest." (Psalm 22:1-2) Hence, his advice is this: do not strive in our own strength against the force of the world, rather wait for God, trusting in him to act in his own good time with his infinite wisdom and power.
It is futile for us to try resisting evil and sin in our lives by our own finite wisdom and strength. Furthermore, in our self-confident haze or weary despair, we can easily lose sight of God. Which is why, in Psalm 46, God admonishes us to "Be still". Let us quiet our minds and hearts, shutting off the distracting thoughts, emotions and sentiments of this life. Focus on God through reading his word and prayer that we may know him more and better. In there, will we find an assurance to surpass the anxieties and troubles; the assurance that comes simply from knowing that "though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling" he is God.
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