Member Devo - Jared Sanchez
What do we do when the world is falling apart?
Scripture | Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present[b] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
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!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Explanation
Verse 1 begins by giving the MAIN point of this chapter, namely that God is our refuse, strength and help.
So what if things go wrong...?
(v2) if the earth gives way... He is still our refuge, strength and help.
(v2) if the mountains move in the sea (think earthquake)... he is still our refuge, strength and help.
(v3) If the water roar and foam (think tsunami)... he is still our refuge, strength and help.
(v3) if the mountains tremble (think earthquake)... he is still our refuge, strength and help.
(v6) if the nations rage (think war)... he is still our refuge, strength and help.
(v6) if kingdoms totter (think governments crumbling and shaking)... he is still our refuge, strength and help.
Where is God doing in the midst of all this?
(v5) God is in the midst of her (he is with his people)
(v5) God will help his city (he will help his people)
(v6) God speaks and the earth melts (think the earth submitting before him)
Is God shocked at the chaos or purposing it?
(v8) God makes desolations happen in the earth (like COVID-19)
(v9) God makes wars (or desolations) end
(v9) God breaks people's weapons (think halting entire economy or arsenal)
(v9) God burns chariots
What is our call in the midst of this?
(v8) BEHOLD the works of the Lord
(v10) BE STILL
(v10) KNOW that God is God (and according to Psalm 46, he is a God who is our refuge, strength and help)
Final Thoughts...
Your call Christian in chaos and calamity, is NOT to do, but to BEHOLD, BE STILL, and KNOW that God is God. Spend more time in prayer, reading the word and being saturated with HIM and HIS people. Our call is not to veg out in this time, not to obsessively read, or allow our fears to take over. Our call is BEHOLD, BE STILL and KNOW God.... This is true in a season of calm or calamity. So let us press in deeply. Use this as an opportunity to calm your fears and BEHOLD your great God. After all (v11) the LORD of hosts is WITH US, the God of Jacob is our fortress!