Psalm 46:1-7
“1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. (Selah) 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. 6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. [NRSV]
- God is our safe-place, is our rest, is our retreat. Is our home.
- God is our very present help in trouble.
- Therefore, we have a way through the fear,
- Even if the earth [and climate] should change
- Even if the mountain quake and erupt and crumble into the sea
Stand by Me
When the night has come, And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me So darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me Oh stand by me, stand by me If the sky that we look upon Should tumble and fall Or the mountains should crumble to the sea I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear Just as long as you stand, stand by me And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me Oh stand now by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me Oh, stand now by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me Oh stand by me, stand by me Oh stand by me, stand by me
Songwriters: Ben King / Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
Stand by Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Belinda Aberbach Stevenson Agar Revocable Trust
Hear the Good News of what it means to know God is with us:
- God is our safe-place, is our rest, is our retreat. Is our home.
- God is our very present help in trouble.
- Therefore, we have a way through the fear,
- Even if the earth [and climate] should change
- Even if the mountain quake and erupt and crumble into the sea
The Psalmist prays and pleads for God to show up: The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; [GOD] utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
We have no time to waste blaming and attacking one another about the troubles in the world!
- There are Children in our community are in homes filled with violence, fear, poverty, and want.
- There are Youth in our neighborhoods are bullying and picking each other apart stoved for approval
- There are Young adults in our community are at best frustrated with the church if not giving up on God and us
- There are young adults lost in drugs and living day to day.
- There are middle-aged and older age folks lost in drugs and poverty
- There are families working every hour to give the best for their kids living no time and energy
- There are older neighbors who want to be on the receiving end of the labor they have invested
- There are people who are alone even on the busiest day at Walmart or a football game.
- There are people losing their jobs and homes and cars, some their own doing and some no fault of their own.
- There are some who are simply tired of hearing about the troubles of others and the world and want to ignore or escape.
Somewhere in the mix you and know what it is to have times in our lives that are “in an uproar”
Folks turn to the government as the lowest common denominator asking our rules of law to show grace and love for everyone. That is not the role and function of government.
Stop blaming leaders and laws and courts and judges and media, and know that
- NONE of these are as strong as God
- none are as compassionate as God
- none are as dependable as God
- none provide our PRESENT help when all the world is turned upside down and shaken.
- The next time you hear someone say: The President… The Media… The Congress… someone on FB said… stop them right there and ask them:
Where is your strength with your government fails you?
Where is your “Good News” when the media fails you?
Where is your safety net when systems fail you?
Where are your relationships renewed and made whole?
God, who, even when the earth is unrecognizable, God is where we need to stand. Stand by God. Darlin, won’t you please stand my God.
We don’t have time to solve the world’s problems by making those things that will always be corruptible and shakable and will crumble under press ion, we need God who is with us
God is very present when we stand up with him, and for him. For when we call on God’s name and call the shaken world to seek God, we are on the most solid of ground.
When we place God in charge of poverty and corruption then our pride and fears no longer lead us.
When we place God in charge of our bodies then no drug will every satisfy
When we place ourselves in the word of God, in the people of God, in the songs of God, in the service of God, in the witness of God, right in those moments GOD IS VERY PRESENT
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