Reflections on Psalm 46: Final thoughts
April 14, 2020We will have times of trouble; of that we can be sure. We live in a broken, sinful world. We’re in the middle of a tough trial now with this coronavirus pandemic. But God has not left us alone. He is speaking to us profoundly in Psalm 46:1-11.
Reflections on Psalm 46: Stand empty
April 13, 2020To finish the Psalm, God himself speaks. Is he speaking to the nations or to his people? It’s hard to tell exactly, but it seems to apply to both. In fact, God might just be speaking to all of creation, reminding us and them and the whole world that he alone is God!
Reflections on Psalm 46: Come, see the works of the Lord
April 08, 2020We are invited to “come and see” the works of the Lord. Look at what the Lord has done and is doing. Never a bad thing. Sometimes we see the Lord’s works made visible in our world, and at other times we see with the eyes of faith his deep work in the hearts of people.
Reflections on Psalm 46: The Lord of Armies
April 06, 2020In this portion of the Psalm, we see a stark contrast between the craziness of earth and the steadfastness of our Lord. Pretty much our daily experience, wouldn’t you say? One thing is happening with the “nations, kingdoms and the earth,” while a very different and far better thing is going on with “the Lord of Armies … the God of Jacob.”
Reflections on Psalm 46: There is a river
April 02, 2020Last time we talked about how Martin Luther’s famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God,” draws from Psalm 46. Did you also know that when the bubonic plague hit Luther’s city (Wittenberg, Germany) in 1527, that he and his wife Katharina (pregnant at the time) chose to stay and minister to the sick and dying?
Reflections on Psalm 46: Though the earth trembles
April 01, 2020I like to be in control. I’ll admit it. But there are some things I simply cannot control no matter how hard I try. I can’t control the weather. I can’t control what other people do. I can’t control the bad things that sometimes happen to those I love. I can’t control viral pandemics. When it hits us that we really cannot control every circumstance, sometimes we start to fear.
Reflections on Psalm 46: God, our refuge and strength
March 25, 2020It’s the middle of March 2020, and the coronavirus is beginning to hit the U.S. in a big way. We’ve never seen anything like this in my lifetime. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that our hope doesn’t depend on this world, especially when trials ambush us. But we need to be reminded and comforted. We need to hear from the Lord.