CALMNESS IN CHAOS
PSALM 46:1-11
INTRODUCTION
Disaster struck America at 8:55am on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. We
have seen pictures that we only thought possible through the visual trickery
of special effects. Death and destruction has come to tens of thousands
of people in the midst of living their ordinary lives, just like us. All
of us feel exposed, vulnerable; unable to protect those we love or ourselves.
The chaos of terrorism that is a daily experience in many parts of the
world has come to us. The future looks grim and uncertain. We are not
going to be able to go back to business as usual like we did after the
Gulf War, the Oklahoma City bombing or Columbine. These acts of terrorism
are going to have a direct impact on millions of people for a long time
to come. These events are a grim reminder that the world we live in is
always on the edge of complete chaos.
Whether it’s on the global scale or just in our personal lives, disaster
and chaos lurk just out of sight. How do most of us respond when we see
and hear these graphic reminders that show this reality? We hope it doesn’t
happen to us. We turn the TV off to take our minds off the suffering and
the possibility it might happen to us. We go to work. We pour ourselves
into our hobbies. We invest our money. We get immunized. We buy insurance.
We buy another toy. We build a house. We minimize the risk and try to
cover up the fear and the pain with pleasure. Sometimes we tell ourselves
fairy tales. "If I trust God and live a good Christian life, then
these bad things won’t happen to me."
The fact is that this world is full of trouble. While most of us will
never go through the terror those on the airplanes or in the World Trade
Center experienced, all of us experience circumstances that the Bible
would call, trouble. How are you dealing with that reality? The Bible
is brutal in its insistence that this world which God made and which he
is currently controlling often brings real pain into our lives. Whether
it’s disease or tornadoes or betrayal or rejection or loneliness or terrorism
or war we cannot escape the reality of trouble in this world. But God
has not left us without instruction and help to live in the world that
actually exists. Psalm 46 is one of many expressions of the means God
has given for us to live in this world.
MAIN POINT
God alone preserves his people through the chaos of this world because
I. In a hostile world He is the only secure shelter (vv. 1-3)
The author of the psalm begins by asserting something he has found to
be true. In times of trouble, he has found God to be present as his helper.
In the midst of trouble God has been the shelter that he has run to, the
one who has given him strength to stand in the trouble. Note that God
is not said to prevent the trouble but to be a refuge, to be our strength
and to be our helper in the midst of trouble. This word, "trouble",
is used to describe the distress of Joseph as he pled with his brothers
to not kill him or sell him into slavery. It is the word that depicts
David’s trouble while King Saul pursued him in order to kill him. In Psalm
22 it represents the suffering of Jesus on the cross. It describes the
trouble that the inhabitants of a city face when besieged by their enemy
with no one to help. It is the word that expresses the trouble of war,
famine and plagues. It is the Hebrew word to describe terrorists flying
jetliners full of civilians into skyscrapers. In short, the psalmist knows
that the world is full of trouble of the worst sort and yet, in the midst
of it, God is a refuge.
The second verse begins with "therefore". The practical result
in the author’s life is that, because God is a refuge and always present
to help in trouble, he does not fear. No matter how bad the trouble gets,
he does not panic because God is always present as a secure refuge and
a helper. The psalmist picks out the most terrifying of natural disasters
to make his point. Even if the most powerful of earthquakes occurs, one
that alters the landscape and sends mountains crashing into the sea; even
if a tidal wave that shakes the mountains hits the shore, he still will
not be afraid, because God is his refuge. Even if your child dies, your
spouse leaves or a jetliner crashes into your office; God is a refuge
in the midst of the trouble.
Tornadoes and floods and earthquakes and disease and terrorists and all
manner of disasters can strike us with no warning. Most of us live with
a false sense of security. We believe, as we have heard so many say this
week, "we never thought it would happen to us". Or we believe
we are safe because of preparations we’ve made. The psalmist faces reality.
The world I live in is a world of unexpected, overwhelming disaster. I
live in this world not in some fairy-tale belief that bad things won’t
happen to me or because I’m so strong and well prepared I can escape the
evil in this world. I live in this world, free from worry and anxiety
because I know that even if the worst possible disaster should befall
me, God will still be a refuge and a help to me.
This confidence comes because the psalmist knows whom God is, not
because he knows bad things won’t happen to him. There are two things
that we must know about God if we are going to live anxiety free in a
world where disaster lurks within every storm cloud. Where terror hides
in every contrail. First, we must know that God controls all the events
of this world. Psalm 135:5-6 says this, "I know that the Lord is
great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever
he pleases in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their
depths." Isaiah 45:7 says, "I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things."
God even controls the evil acts of evil men. He does it in such a way
that he is not the cause of the evil and yet evil acts serve his good
purposes. This is what Joseph says to his brothers in Genesis 50 when
they come to him, afraid that he is going to kill them now that their
dad is dead. Joseph tells them, "You intended to harm me but God
intended it for good…" There are no random events in the universe
and so I will not fear because God controls all that comes to me.
Second, God is using everything that he brings into my life for good
because he is eternally committed to the well being of all his people.
Romans 8:28 is the bedrock conviction of every child of God, "God
causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him
and are called according to his purpose." The only people who find
God to be a refuge and help in all trouble are those who are convinced
of these two facts. The God who has promised to love me and work for my
good is the One who completely controls every atom in the universe. He
is able to bring me safely through whatever disaster I may experience
in this harsh and brutal world, therefore, I do not fear.
This does not mean that Christians are daredevils and place themselves
in harms way just for the fun of it. Christians are prudent and plan for
contingencies but they are not anxious about the future nor do they depend
on their planning and preparation. Proverbs 21:31 says, "The horse
is made ready for the day of battle but victory belongs to the Lord."
Christians prepare for the future but they don’t trust their work because
they know that God is the one who determines the course of events. The
U.S. military is not a secure fortress. Your insurance company and 401K
are not dependable helpers. Following the perfect parenting guide will
not guarantee perfect children. God alone is our refuge and help.
God is in control of everything and he loves to take care of his children,
therefore we will not be afraid of the worst possible disasters. Doesn’t
this help you understand why God condemns worry in the strongest possible
ways as sin? When we worry we are saying two things, "God you are
not in control of your universe" and "God you don’t love me."
Our worry dishonors God by accusing him of being impotent and unloving,
two things he clearly is not.
God alone preserves his people through the chaos of this world because
- In a hostile world he is the only secure shelter
- And because
II. God’s happiness is tied to the happiness of his people (vv. 4-7)
The psalmist goes on to present a wonderful picture of the relationship
of God to his people, to his church. He pictures the gathering of all
those who belong to God through their faith in Christ as if we are living
in a walled and fortified city. I think it is important to note that the
"city of God" is not the United States of America or any other
nation in the world. It is not a race of people. It is not even "civilization".
The city of God is the church, all those who belong to God through faith
in Jesus Christ. The "us, we and our" in this psalm are only
Christians and no one else. In the ancient world, cities were walled because
there was constant danger of being attacked. The city most likely to withstand
a long siege was the one that had an ample supply of fresh water. So the
author pictures God’s people as living together in a city with an abundant
supply of fresh water. What river is it that makes glad the city of God,
the church? I think that v. 5 is the answer. The metaphor of an unfailing
source of water that will enable the city to withstand any siege is a
metaphor for the abundant presence of God in the midst of his people.
God is himself a never-ending supply of refreshment to sustain the weary
dweller in the city of God through the siege of trouble that is in the
world.
In v. 5 the emphasis is on the fact that God dwells in the city and so
when the city comes under attack, God himself is under attack. God’s happiness
is tied up with the happiness of his people. He protects his church because
he dwells in the midst of it. To attack Christians is to attack God himself.
After a night of being under siege, God will come to your rescue. He lives
with you and is present in the city that is under attack. When the first
light of dawn breaks over the city he will arise and rescue you out of
the hand of your enemies. This does not mean that God is promising you
a happy, trouble free, middle-class life in America. Listen to these remarkable
words from Jesus in Luke 21: "You will be betrayed even by parents,
brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will
perish." Isn’t that remarkable? You will be put to death but not
a hair of your head will perish. You may die from a terrorist attack but
not a hair from your head will perish. You may suffer and die from cancer
but not a hair from your head will perish. Your spouse may leave you and
take your children, but not a hair from your head will perish. Your retirement
fund may evaporate in a depression, but not a hair on your head will perish.
As Christians, the great enemy of God, Satan himself, opposes us. He
is intent on destroying God’s people. According to Jesus, his main weapon
is lying, and when that fails, murder. Here in the American church, Satan’s
primary weapons are lies. He is infiltrating the church with numerous
deceptions. Here are some examples:
- You can pursue being rich and love God at the same time
- You can be a Christian and on your way to heaven and willfully disregard
his commands
- God doesn’t want you to suffer. When life gets too painful you have
a right to do whatever it takes to get rid of the pain and make yourself
happy.
- The only people I should love are those who see everything exactly
like me
- What people believe doesn’t really matter. As long as people believe
in God (however they happen to define him) it’s OK.
The lies that Satan has in his arsenal to deceive and to destroy God’s
people are innumerable. Our defense is not in understanding his lies but
in understanding God and his truth. God defends his people through his
word as v. 6 makes plain. V. 6 pictures the chaos that exists in the world
of men. The world of humanity, the world outside the church, is in turmoil.
We have been given a glimpse this week of what the world is really like.
But for God’s grace restraining human evil what we witnessed Tuesday would
be a daily occurrence. But God merely speaks and all the plans and chaos
of the nations comes to an end because when he speaks the earth melts.
Nothing can resist God’s word.
There is the most precious statement in the passage from Luke that Todd
read. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father
has been pleased to give you the kingdom." God takes pleasure in
making people part of his kingdom. He is not a reluctant savior. He does
not save people out of duty. He does not bring people into his city and
make them citizens of his kingdom with regret. He loves to incorporate
people into his city, where he dwells. It follows then that he is committed
to preserving your life when you become a member of his kingdom. He delights
to guard the lives of his people, so do not be afraid.
The psalmist ends this section by declaring the greatest news a human
being can hear, "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is
our fortress." Here is where hope is found, that God is with me and
he is for me. What is it that you are most fearful of? If you are a Christian,
you need not fear. God is with you. He will never desert you. His happiness
is bound up with your happiness. His plan is to show you how kind he is
forever and ever. Eph. 4:7 tells you that is why he saved you. In Romans
8: 32 God makes this point, "If I killed my own Son in order to make
you one of my own children then how can you question my willingness and
my ability to protect you and provide for you and to bring you safely
to heaven?"
More than four years ago I experienced a time of fear where I discovered
God to be a river that makes me glad. We had decided to come to Janesville
to plant this church. I was in the process of talking to the 100 people
who made up our support team with CCC to see if they would be willing
to continue to support us for another three years while we planted the
church. We had already signed an agreement to sell our house in Champaign
and to buy our house in Janesville. I called a couple that had supported
us financially for 20 years. They were a continual encouragement to us,
thoughtful of our needs. I consider them dear friends. They also happened
to be our largest investors. When I asked them if they would be interested
in continuing to be a part of our team for the next three years, they
said no. When I hung up the phone I was overwhelmed with fear. I felt
naked and exposed like I’ve never felt in my life. My mind was full of
the uncertainty that I was plunging my family into. I was exposing us
to huge financial and emotional risk. We had a comfortable, happy life
in Champaign. What if this whole thing was a bust? How would I take care
of my family? I don’t think my feelings and thoughts were different from
how many men have felt as they have made a change in a career or made
a major purchase that requires a steady income. I remember vividly the
moment my fears were relieved. It was the moment I was able to say to
God with a full and believing heart, "If it is your will to take
us to Janesville and destroy us financially, that’s OK, because I have
you. I belong to you and you’ve promised to preserve my life through every
calamity that might come to us in this life. I am glad and happy to belong
to you and that is enough for me." Only by His grace, I was able
to picture complete ruin and yet be glad because God is with me. He is
the only necessity in life.
The presence of God is a never-ending supply of fresh water to sustain
us in the midst of an arid land. When we are besieged by the enemy of
our souls we are to go to the one who is nearer to us than any human being
and find in him and from him all we need to survive. Rather than trying
to erect our own defenses against the attacks of the enemy, let’s trust
that the one who dwells with us will certainly defend and preserve us.
God alone preserves his people through the chaos of this world because
- In a hostile world he is the only secure shelter
- His happiness is tied to the happiness of his people
- And because
III. He alone controls everything for His own glory (vv. 8-11)
v. 8 begins with the first command of the psalm. It is a command to come
and see the desolations God has brought on the earth. It is an invitation
to look at the seeming chaos of the world and see that God is in charge.
He raises nations up and puts them down. He sends sun and rain and he
sends tornadoes and floods. He gives health and he sends disease. He gives
safe travel and he causes accidents. He prevents terrorist attacks and
he permits terrorist attacks. He rules over all the affairs of humanity,
causing wars and causing wars to cease. He is commanding us to look at
the world from his point of view. When we look at the world, all seems
random and beyond comprehension. Natural disasters strike one part of
the world; killing thousands while most of the people of the world live
in relative calm. Millions of Rwandans are butchered, 1.3 million Albanians
are driven from their homes and nations are subjected to weeks of bombing
and years of crippling sanctions. 5000 Americans are killed while going
about their normal routines. This, while we decide what leisure activity
to spend our free time on. All seems random and in the hands of impersonal
forces or human will. However, God commands that we come and see things
differently. See the work of his hands in all that transpires on the face
of the globe.
I want you to come and see one of those desolations and so see God’s
hand behind the choices of humans. In the book of Acts, the fourth chapter,
John and Peter are arrested for healing a man and preaching the gospel
by the same group that had 2 or 3 months earlier crucified Jesus. The
Jewish leaders command them to stop preaching about Christ. They say,
"We cannot stop talking about what we have seen and heard."
The Jewish ruling council lets them go after a warning and John and Peter
return to the other disciple and they have a prayer meeting. Turn to Acts
4:23 on page 773. Notice in particular v. 28. "They did what your
power and will had decided beforehand should happen." If you were
present during the deliberations of the Sanhedrin, if you were to ask
Pilate, "why are you handing Jesus over?", you would discover
that everyone was freely choosing and deciding. Yet, the Scriptures make
plain that God was the one acting. The crucifixion of Jesus was the most
evil act ever perpetrated by humans. It was infinitely more evil than
flying those jetliners into the World Trade Center because Jesus was the
only truly innocent person to ever live. He had never done evil and only
done good. God cannot be blamed for the evil of those who killed Jesus.
Each person did exactly what he wanted to do. Yet, every person did exactly
what God purposed. The people at the time had no awareness that God was
accomplishing his will and using the choices of people to do so. It’s
the same for us today. Nothing looks like it’s under God’s control. However,
everything is under his control. If you are going to live secure and happy
in this world, you must know that to be a fact. If that is not true, then
you have no safety. God cannot help you, he must helplessly watch as you
suffer at the hands of others.
Then, in v. 10 we are given another command, "Be still or Relax
and know that I am God." Two things are commanded here. First, we
are commanded to stop our complaining about and fighting with God. All
things come from his loving hand. He is working out a plan for his glory
and our benefit. We do not know what that plan is. Our job is to relax
in his care and patiently accept what he sends. Then we are to know he
is God and that his plan is to display his greatness in the whole universe.
Why does God send desolations on the earth? All that happens is aimed
at this great end, that he will be glorified, exalted, shown to be great.
Now the primary way he does that is by perfecting, protecting and providing
for his people. So God’s aim to be glorified and our desire to be happy
are the same thing. God is most glorified by us when we are most satisfied
with him. It is to be the chief delight of Christians to know and love
this great God who has given his Son for our salvation.
v. 10 defines the purpose and method to achieving that purpose of human
existence. Our ambition is to know that the God of our Lord Jesus is God,
only. This isn’t just an appeal for intellectual assent to doctrine but
a heartfelt, intimate pursuit of God as our only happiness in life. The
means to this is a ceasing from the frantic work of trying to provide
my own security and happiness here on earth. Quit pouring all your energy
into establishing a happy life on this planet and give your attention
to laying up treasure in heaven, fixing your eyes on Jesus, thinking about
heaven, loving God and people. This requires stillness, a ceasing from
activity and taking time to read and think and pray and talk with others.
This is not easy for us.
If you do not develop these habits and learn to know God now, when your
life is not in turmoil, when it does fill up with trouble you will not
find God to be a refuge for you. In Jeremiah God is judging the people
by sending the Assyrians to destroy Israel. They are losing battles, the
Assyrians are winning and they complain to the prophet that God is dealing
with them too harshly. God tells them to go and cry out to the gods they
followed during the times of prosperity and see if they will help them.
God would say the same to us, if we’ve not pursued him as our refuge,
when we are in trouble and cry out to him for help. When your wife leaves
you, go call out to your bank account. When your child runs away, go talk
to your fishing boat. When you’re lying on your deathbed, ask the TV to
help you. Now is the time to pursue Christ. If you pursue other things
now, then when you face the day of disaster, whether here or at God’s
judgement, you will not find God to be your refuge.
God alone preserves his people through the chaos of this world because
- In a hostile world he is the only secure shelter
- His happiness is tied to the happiness of his people
- He alone controls all things for his own glory
© Copyright
2001 John Swanson.
You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material
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If you would like to post this material to the web, or if your intended
use is other than outlined above, please contact River Hills Community
Church, 2843 West Court Street, Janesville, WI 53545. (608) 758-0943.
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