Daily Devotion – May 16, 2020 – Erin Bjerke
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the LORD;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Wow. There’s a lot going on in this Psalm. I encourage you to read through it a few times.
According to the psalmist, God is strong, mighty, and steadfast. The earth is being swallowed by chaos and destruction. The mountains are shaking, the sea is roaring, the earth is melting! All of these terrifying things are happening, but what does the psalmist say about God? God is our refuge, God will help God’s people, God is with us!
Right now it’s hard to feel like God is with us. That’s why I’m thankful for the assuredness of those who came before us, like this psalm writer, and all the other examples in the Bible of times where God’s people had to wait for God to act. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years before they entered the Promised Land. Before that, they were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. Hundreds of years passed between the Old and New Testaments, where God was essentially silent and everyone was waiting for the Messiah.
Now, I’m praying and hoping that it won’t be that long before God resolves our current situation, but I’m also thankful for the faithful who have gone before us to be our example of patience during this time. The good news is that hope, faith and patience are gifts from God. In this time of waiting, we’re not alone!
Prayer:
God of hope, you are the source of our faith, hope, and patience. Please hear our cries during this time of worry, suffering, and waiting. Please give us the steadfastness to wait for your deliverance during this time. Amen.
