He lives, He lives

Pastor Carol Grace ♦ August 10, 2012 ♦ 2 Comments

Bible Gateway, New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.

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.

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.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done,
    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 He says, “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.

This scripture is one of the Songs of Zion.  According to The Asbury Bible Commentary “these Songs of Zion celebrate Yahweh’s unique presence in Jerusalem, and rightly so, for much depended on that presence. Zion’s stability and security are connected directly in these songs to Yahweh’s presence in spite of international turmoil (46:6; 48:4). The congregation’s safety was at stake (46:7). God himself was the citadel’s defense (48:3; 76:3).”

How wonderful when God’s people understand fully the importance of God’s presence in their lives.  These scriptures highlight that God is the creative force not just behind our lives, but He is behind our ability to live our lives with joy even in the midst of trouble.  Where Israel saw God’s presence and His security as being intertwined with Jerusalem, we can know that God’s presence and security is not found in any given place, but He is alive and working within our hearts today.

“He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today,
He walks with me and talks with me
along the narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart,
you ask me how I know He lives,
He lives within my heart.” Alfred Henry Ackley

PRAYER: Our Father, how do we stray from you when your presence is so vital to our existence? May we finally come to know that without you we can do nothing, but with you truly all things are possible.  Amen.