As we look out on to the streets of the world’s cities, many, most, are eerily quiet and yet they do not speak of peace but fear and anxiety. As many, rightly, stay indoors and are isolated, people grapple with the uncertainty of the current health crisis.
Psalm 46 contrasts the real and fearful events of vv. 2 and 3, with a very different picture in v. 4:
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
The peace of the city in v. 4 comes not from people hiding away in fear, but in the presence ‘the holy habitation’ of God. The city in v. 4 is God’s city, and so despite the crises and fearful events of the earlier verses, peace flows from the presence of God.
God’s presence in the city is what brings its security:
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help he when morning dawns.
What brings peace in a city? Good governance, a prosperous economy, in our current circumstance a knowledge that the disease has been contained or cured? For the Psalmist, it is none of these, but the presence of God. The presence of God and his voice:
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
God’s speaks, and kingdoms fall, the earth is subdued. In the Psalmist’s day, there was a city of God and it was Jerusalem. Today this is not an earthly city but a heavenly one which we hope for (Rev. 22:1,2). The city of peace is to come, and yet it is also now.
Through Christ, Immanuel, God is with us. He dwells in believer’s heart by his Spirit, and he continues to speak through his Word. At this time when many of our movements are restricted, we can take comfort that God is present with us, wherever we are and that he continues to speak through his unshakeable word. If we call on him, we will always find him in our midst.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
“The first line of this stirring refrain speaks of might (whether hosts are the armies of Israel as 1 Sa. 17:45 may suggest of those of heaven, as in 1 Ki. 22:19), and the second line speaks of grace, by notion of Jacob, God’s chosen.”[1]
The God of grace and might is with us, even now, he is our fortress, our strength. Our peace does not come from daily news or medical progress, but the knowledge that even now, through Christ, Immanuel God is with us.
Immanuel,
God with us.
Thank you dwell in the heavenly city, and through Christ, we have access to the peace of that place.
In this time of uncertainty and worry, please assure us of your presence and the peace which it brings.
Amen
[1] Derek Kidner, TOTC Psalms 1-72, p. 176
Leave a Comment
Last Updated: 20th Mar 2020 by bjwilliamson
The Lord of Hosts is with Us
As we look out on to the streets of the world’s cities, many, most, are eerily quiet and yet they do not speak of peace but fear and anxiety. As many, rightly, stay indoors and are isolated, people grapple with the uncertainty of the current health crisis.
Psalm 46 contrasts the real and fearful events of vv. 2 and 3, with a very different picture in v. 4:
The peace of the city in v. 4 comes not from people hiding away in fear, but in the presence ‘the holy habitation’ of God. The city in v. 4 is God’s city, and so despite the crises and fearful events of the earlier verses, peace flows from the presence of God.
God’s presence in the city is what brings its security:
What brings peace in a city? Good governance, a prosperous economy, in our current circumstance a knowledge that the disease has been contained or cured? For the Psalmist, it is none of these, but the presence of God. The presence of God and his voice:
God’s speaks, and kingdoms fall, the earth is subdued. In the Psalmist’s day, there was a city of God and it was Jerusalem. Today this is not an earthly city but a heavenly one which we hope for (Rev. 22:1,2). The city of peace is to come, and yet it is also now.
Through Christ, Immanuel, God is with us. He dwells in believer’s heart by his Spirit, and he continues to speak through his Word. At this time when many of our movements are restricted, we can take comfort that God is present with us, wherever we are and that he continues to speak through his unshakeable word. If we call on him, we will always find him in our midst.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
“The first line of this stirring refrain speaks of might (whether hosts are the armies of Israel as 1 Sa. 17:45 may suggest of those of heaven, as in 1 Ki. 22:19), and the second line speaks of grace, by notion of Jacob, God’s chosen.”[1]
The God of grace and might is with us, even now, he is our fortress, our strength. Our peace does not come from daily news or medical progress, but the knowledge that even now, through Christ, Immanuel God is with us.
Immanuel,
God with us.
Thank you dwell in the heavenly city, and through Christ, we have access to the peace of that place.
In this time of uncertainty and worry, please assure us of your presence and the peace which it brings.
Amen
[1] Derek Kidner, TOTC Psalms 1-72, p. 176
Category: Daily Devotionals
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
Categories