Monday, January 22, 2018

Be Still...an Interlude

Monday, January 22, 2018
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam.  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!                            
-        Interlude    -
A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.  God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.  From the very break of day, God will protect it.  The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!  God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. 
-        Interlude    -
Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:  See how he brings destruction upon the world.  He causes wars to end throughout the earth.  He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.  “Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.”  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. 
-        Interlude    -
Psalm 46:1-11(NLT)
By definition an interlude is a relatively short period of time between two longer periods, during which something happens that is different from what has happened before and what follows.[2] 

Many of the Psalms were written to be sung in worship, so the interlude may be a musical instruction for the choir director.  But in the larger sense an interlude is a time to re-focus and reflect on what has just been said, because something else is coming.

This Psalm is certainly about God’s sovereign protection over his creation.  But the flow of this Psalm is so welcoming to all who love God.  It starts with all the trouble on earth, earthquakes, storms and such.  The first interlude gives you a breath to think about it and remember all the storms of your life.

The next stanza turns towards Heaven where God reigns supremely and indestructibly, despite the storms on earth.  The silence of interlude sharpens the contrast of the entire struggle on earth with the blessings of security, peace and rivers of joy in the presence of God.

The final stanza is an invitation to come away from the struggle and run into the arms of God, while He deals with all the rebellion below.

And then…be still…a final interlude to let the reality of the graciousness of God flood over your soul.

It’s an opportunity, like the old hymn has it, to know that in the presence of God it is truly well with my soul!

For You Today

Another old hymn[3] begins with this theme:

Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation's sword
Where could I go but to the Lord

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com
[2] Encarta [digital encyclopedia]
[3] J.B. Coats, Where Could I Go But to the Lord, 1940

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