Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
² So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
³ Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

⁴ A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
⁵ God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
⁶ The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
⁷ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

⁸ Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
⁹ He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

¹¹ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Dear God, I would classify this as a psalm of orientation (as opposed to Brueggemann’s classification of psalms of orientation, disorientation, and reorientation). You are in charge and I trust you. I trust in you. I have no idols. I know who you are. I worship you. My head is clear. I will be still and know that you are God. I will honor you. I will worship you. Thank yo for being here with me. Selah

It’s too bad these moments of orientation can be so fleeting. I can get afraid and look to my idols to save me. My own intellect. Money. Government. My wife. I look to them to orient me, but they are all as dependable as shifting sand. And that’s not a slam on my wife. She’s amazing. But she’s human and her life is fragile. Things could change in a moment. She can’t be my idol. And it’s not fair to her to make her my idol. She doesn’t need that kind of pressure from me.

Father, you are my refuge and strength. You are always ready to help me in times of trouble. You might not solve the problem the way I want it solved, but you will be there to love, support, and comfort me through it. You will also be there to teach me through it, not allowing the pain to be wasted. So what is the worst that can happen in earthquakes come or the mountains crash into the sea? Maybe it will simply expedite my journey to seeing you without this veil beween us. I pray for peace on this earth. End the wars. End the suffering. End the death. Help me to know what my role is in yourplan for all of that.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen