Sunday Devotional 30th of April 2023
by Bruce Billington
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we will continue to explore Psalm 46 – a Psalm of the sons of Korah.
Psalm 46:6-7 – 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
This is a very powerful and compelling statement. We would do well in the days we live in, to consider it carefully. The nations are certainly in an uproar. The ways of the Lord are under great challenge and even destruction. So many of us are deeply concerned with what is happening in our nations, and rightly so. At best, things are in a real state of confusion and at worst – outright rebellion to so much that is sacred in life from God’s perspective.
Note the response from God. All He needed to do was raise His voice and the earth “melted” meaning it was totally disempowered. Listen to what Spurgeon said about this.
He uttered his voice, the earth melted. With no other instrumentality than a word the Lord ruled the storm. He gave forth a voice and stout hearts were dissolved, proud armies were annihilated, conquering powers were enfeebled.
The most solid and substantial of human things melted like the fat of rams upon the altar; but anon peace followed, the rage of man subsided, hearts capable of repentance relented, and the implacable were silenced.
Why is it that we get so concerned and fearful? We talk of conspiracy theories, we believe that we are at the mercy of the world and its ways, we talk about how the devil is having free reign and believe there is nothing we can do about it. This is a terrible indictment upon the Almighty God. All it takes is a word from Him and all these so-called regimes collapse. God is in complete control and is making all of this serve His ultimate purposes for the world. Of course, there is an element of mystery in how He works all of this out – and we have to push into Him and trust Him knowing what we see is a very limited view of what is truly happening from His perspective.
We must rest assured of God’s presence and power. We must embrace Him during these times, having a sense of gladness in our hearts despite the trouble that is raging around us. Why? Because we are assured that God is not only in control but that He is with us – right in our midst. His presence in our lives through His indwelling Spirit, gives us indescribable joy and peace, even in the midst of life’s fiercest trials. When we drink of the Lord’s presence, we too will be refreshed.
Added to all of this, we must delight in the fact that God has deliberately embraced us in His Fatherly love and holds us dear to Himself. This separates us from all other peoples because we have been chosen by God to be His royal priesthood, His true holy nation – who have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).
Why did the Psalmist refer to God as the God of Jacob (V7?)? He is calling His people back to the covenant that He made with Abraham. This covenant grants an inheritance for all eternity to those who serve the Lord. We have a hope for the future because all that we have before us is governed by God and is preparing us for an incredible journey through all of eternity.
So here it is – we have both His immeasurable power, by which He can totally subdue the world and its systems at any time, just by speaking a word – and His Fatherly love, which is poured out upon us in an endless, abundant flow, into the very depth of our beings.
As a result, there is nothing that can cause us to succumb to the enemies of the world who may rise up against us. They can neither frustrate God’s purposes for this earth, nor His purpose for our lives. He is more than able to fulfil His promise which is based upon the covenant made with Abraham.
What a mighty God we serve.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington