God as our Refuge
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Holiness of God
Introduction: Holiness of God
Dangerous!
But God made it possible, right, by providing spiritual insulation- tabernacle, Temple, sacrifices, priests...
All that work meant God’s presence dwelt within Israel’s military camp...
As such, God becomes their protector, their source of peace, and their source of worship:
Part I: Protection and Peace
Part II: Power
Part III: Our Response
Part I: Protection and Peace
Part I: Protection and Peace
vv. 1-3: God’s Protection within Calamity
vv. 1-3: God’s Protection within Calamity
Protective Presence: Refuge, strength, help
Protective Presence: Refuge, strength, help
Refuge
Shelter: God is my shelter-in-Place
Strength:
Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Help:
Often, but not always, Military assistance- fighting for our cause
Though chaos is around us, God is our refuge, strength, and help
God is our Shelter in Place, our cave, our covering, our safe place!
… Within Calamity
… Within Calamity
Powerful image: Oceans foam because the mountains are crumbling into them.
The implosion of earth is happening, and yet, the Psalmist declares God is a refuge!
Even then, God remains our shelter, and refuge and help!
Far more serious situation then what we’re experiencing.
Despite the calamity, God Protects and even helps us in the battle against the calamity...
vv. 4-7: God’s Peace amidst Anarchy
vv. 4-7: God’s Peace amidst Anarchy
Peace...
Peace...
Image= Tsunami-type conditions to a lazy river...
The streams bring happiness to Jerusalem!
Safety in God’s City because God is there!
v.5: God is in the midst of her- mountains are crashing, but not Mount Zion!
God will help all the night long! All throughout the length of the chaos, God will carry us through...
… Amidst Anarchy
… Amidst Anarchy
Natural Disaster to National Disorder
Nations are battling- turbulence. Like, shaky and unstable
Kingdoms in Choas- tottering, like a teeter totter or as we say here Seasaw
Chaos:
Nations are battling each other and that creates uncertainty...
Part II: Peace. Protection. POWER!
Part II: Peace. Protection. POWER!
Behold, the works of the Lord:
Brought= fixed, arranged
Could this be a reference to the fall of Israel and the invasion of Assyria??
Septuagint: Translation: “Wonders”
But the more I think about it, the real point the psalmist is undestanding this statement in light of the verse that follows:
Verse 9:
He makes wars cease
breaks bows
burns chariots
It’s like wringing out a wet cloth, God just wrings out all the tools of destruction!
It’s in the process of ensuring peace that brings desolation. The process of ensuring peace requires overpowering the enemy!
The Cross:
We call it Good Friday, but what happened to Christ was really bad!
One could say that he experienced desolations, or horrors, but by doing so:
He made the war against sin and satan end...
He broke the power of sin and shattered the sting of death!
He burn down the barriers that separate us from him!
We best understand verse 8 through the Gospel pronouncement that the Prince of Peace defeated the enemy, revealed himself as the King and took on our desolation.
Part III: Our Response
Part III: Our Response
v. 2: Fearless Faith that God will protect us!
v. 2: Fearless Faith that God will protect us!
God is our refuge, strength, and help:
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
A word about fear: Psychologist Ryan Denny:
“fear is human”
Only a few roots to fear: “unloveable, alone, dying, out of control”
Right now: presses fears of out of control and uncertainty… Feeling helpless to stop it: We’re all helpless to stop it… We have fear because we don’t have control… We don’t like pain...
Dealing with a worldwide pandemic: out of control, wanting control and can’t.
Story of getting Hand Sanitizer:
Can’t find it.
Fastenal: “Can’t even get through to the manufacturer!”
Questions:
How long will this go on?
What will the collateral damage look like after this?
What will our jobs look like?
The food chain?
What changes will we have to provide?
Fearless Faith: as the mountains are toppling into the sea, God will protect us. Yes, there is wisdom in purchasing hand sanitizer…
Because Jesus is on our side- Easter: We are victors all because of the work of Jesus.
Behold him who hangs, and him who rises.
Do you fear? Are you anxious? Have your anxieties been exasperated during this strange season?
What is that root fear for you and how can you bring that to cross?
Worship Warriors
Worship Warriors
Come and Behold God’s works
When we consider
For me, this is a way to go to the Cross:
The Cross points to a King beyond borders.
We don’t find our comfort is political leaders, our borders, our military power or prowess.
No, we look to the cross and we say: BEHOLD OUR GOD!
Are you worshipping during this time? Are you taking the time to behold the works of the Lord?
Even though we are living in a pandemic... Even though daily isolation exists....
WE WILL NOT FEAR.
At Ease!
At Ease!
How to understand verse 10 is super important:
Talking to a baby? Be still, child. It’s okay...
Be still (cease and desist- NIVAC) and know that I am God
“Rebuke to a restless and turbulent world: “Quiet!’- in fact, ‘Leave off!’
Kids fighting: “Stop it!”
“Back off!”
“Take a chill pill! (relax)
LIT: “to show oneself slack”-
At ease, solders!
Irony about this time:
We are called to be at ease, at home. The hectic life has been stopped
But yet, fear overpowers faith
Worry overpowers worship
And now, control overpowers contentment
See, this Psalm ends with the call to worship again. Stop fighting. Stop pushing your agenda.
Be at ease, soldier. Be content. Relax. The battle has been won.
Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
We do not fight, or wrestle, or battle against people- not against flesh and blood- but against rulers authorities, cosmic powers over darkness, spiritual forces of evil…
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore...
Promise:
Revelation 7:15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”