The reality of trouble
I don't think anyone doubts that the last two weeks have changed our world. Covid19 has been recognised as a pandemic and governments are banning public gatherings, closing schools and encouraging stringent social distancing.The effects of this will be far-reaching. Although mortality rates are relatively low, every single death is a significant loss to the family and community of the one who dies and they are more than a mere statistic. The strain on our infrastucture and health systems will be significant. And then the paralysis of community and commercial activity is serious too. There is the danger of fear and paranoia that threatens to overwhelm us. Down the line is the work of undoing the psychological and sociological impact of social distancing and the mindset that makes us see fellow human beings as virus carriers.
So I'm interrupting my lent series to tackle some of these deep issues that are raised and will tackle issues like:
- What should our posture as Christians be?
- Where is God in all of this?
- How do we deal with our fear?
- Some say this is this God's judgement. Is that true?
- Is there really a "silver-lining" in all of this?
- Some say we can we claim God's protection against pestilence. Is that true?
- How can we be a community while social-distancing?
- Parenting challenges in Corona Season.
- How do we make a difference?
These devotions will be published on a blog http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Please share this with others as a source for responsible, Biblical and encouraging responses to these challenging times.
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Psalm 46 doesn't guarantee a trouble free life.
It speaks of earth-shaking trouble and war.
It's about the shaking of our foundations.
And this happens. Even to Believers.
The psalmist offers us a couple of beautiful foundation stones:
- God is our refuge and strength. A refuge is for hiding, recovery and retreat. Strength is for standing up and facing trouble. We need both. We need His ever-present help.
- There is a river and a city that makes us glad. This is pointing to more than the physical Jerusalem which fell to the Babylonians. Some commentators see this as pointing to the New Jerusalem (the promise of heaven) others see it as the Church and in particular our local faith community. The bottom line is that God is "within her" through the river of His Spirit (See Ezekiel 47) and she will not fall . The Church will endure. Connect to your God family in this time. Even though church services may be closed for a period, we have our phones and our one to one connections. Look after each other and reach out to the world.
- God makes wars to cease. He is still ultimately sovereign. While our abuse of our God-given freedom led to brokenness, God has it on a leash. This is the basic premise of the book of Revelation which is relevant every time there is a "contraction" in the "labour pains" of histor
y. God is ultimately in control and while He allows evil and brokenness, He is not the author and He will cause it to cease in His time.
- We need to be still and know He is God. In these troubled times, more than ever, we need to take our direction from him and not the paranoia and news-deluge of social media.
Therefore we will not fear."
| 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah {We think this means "pause and reflect"} 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields 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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1-11) |
