“Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? And I said, ‘This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.’ I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?” Ps. 77:7-13.

When the Psalmist first starts questioning God in verses 7 and 8, he is coming from an overwhelmed and troubled point of view because the obvious answer to all his questions were ‘no’. God has not cast off forever nor has His mercy ceased forever. But, the Psalmist still asked the questions because he was in a difficult spot. He said in the previous verses, “I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.” and “I am so troubled that I cannot speak.”

But there is a change of perspective when he chooses to remember God’s works and His wonders of old from years past, while in his anguish. This puts everything in a different perspective. He then chooses to meditate on these works and to proclaim them which cements in his mind a different focus. In the end he could say, “Your way O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?”. The Psalmist took his thoughts captive by jerking them over to a better place by remembering what was true.

When we lose perspective, sometimes it helps to analyze where we went off, and other times, it is just better to not give the thoughts any credence and to just say ‘no’ as we jerk them back into safer territory. A good metaphor of this is how a rider uses a small bit to steer a charging horse, or a helmsman uses a small rudder to steer a ship in a raging storm. Both the ship and horse would be out of control if they were not steered in the right direction during a turbulant time. Our thoughts also can charge in the wrong direction if we let them. But, we have a choice, and that choice is to say ‘no’ to the errant thoughts and then to actively remember the works of God and His wonders of old, that His faithfulness is new every morning.

What is fear? It is waking up and finding out that you are surrounded by a ruthless gang bent on your demise. Israel was in such a position when Syria surrounded them.

“Therefore he (the king of Syria) sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elilsha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:14-17

When the army surrounded them, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, took a look at the dire situation before them and feared based upon what he could see and what he predicted would happen to them next. But he missed one vital part of the equation, in that when he assessed the situation, he had factored out God. Without God, yes it was a very dire situation and they were about to be slaughtered. But more was going on than Gehazi could see. There was an invisible army with them all the time that completely outnumbered the enemy. Because Elisha knew this, he told Gehazi not to fear. After this, Elisha prayed that God would open up Gehazi’s eyes, and he saw a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around that had been invisible. And that great army was on their side!

God puts us in situations where we need to exercise our faith, which causes us to grow. If we could see how a situation will work out, it is no longer faith. In a hard providence, when faith is at work, a person will see the unseen power of God that is our help and refuge. This causes us to have peace instead of panic. In faith, we believe that God hears us when we call out to Him and that He will bring the needed help even when we cannot see it. In faith we believe that God is not only all powerful and sovereign, but that He loves us and has our good in mind. Faith pleases God because it focuses beyond the trial onto the Lord in heaven.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 1:1

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6

We rest on God knowing He is really in control and that He is the unseen force that will help us in every situation.

Lisa

Psalm 46:1-7 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. 

God is a refuge and strength to you, a very present help in any type of trouble. He is right there during your trials whether you can feel it or not. He is present, right with you, and acts as a refuge that you can run to and be safe. We are safe because He is in control and He loves us. Because of this, we do not fear even if everything should fall apart. The Psalmist explains what type of situations we are not to be afraid in. He talks about cataclysmic scenarios where the earth is being removed, the mountains are being carried into the midst of the sea, the waters are troubled, the mountains are shaking, and everything is in utter turmoil. In other words, the foundations are being shaken, and yet, even in these horrific scenarios, he tells us not to fear. Why? Because God is. We are not left alone, and He is our refuge and strength, right when we need Him. 

The theme of water often represents God’s kingdom taking over the earth like the water in Ezekiel 47. And in this Psalm, there is a reference of a river whose waters make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 

“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn” Ps. 46:4,5

And where is God? He is right there in the midst. Because of this she shall not be moved. We are in Christ and Christ is in God and because of this we shall not be moved. God is all powerful, all knowing, and loves us. And we are His. We are in His arms and no cataclysmic event shall move us. God promises help, and sometimes at the last moment. But it is help in His way, in His timing and with His purposes in mind for His glory. It may look different from what we expect, but we can trust Him because He is Lord and He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. 

Heb. 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

So even if our world falls seems to be falling apart, the Lord of hosts, the King of kings and Lord of lords is with us.

“The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Ps. 46:6,7

And not only with us but carrying us with His everlasting arms underneath all the time.

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33:26-27a

Lisa