Some thoughts from Mark Calder about the US crisis
* The events of the last 12 hours have stunned the world. Susan and I were watching Channel 10 late news when it came through at about 11pm. We then watched the television coverage till around 2am...
* We were speechless mostly... perhaps a little scared... it seemed impossible... and we looked at the footage of the 2nd plane going in to the tower in disbelief every time they showed it.
* Friends, this happened because the world we live in - on the whole - has rejected God... that is to say... This happened because people who have rejected God and are therefore running their own lives according to their own agendas, and are filled with rage and hate, decided to lash out in this most amazing act of violence.
* If you reject God you see, anything goes... there is no need for love... mercy... compassion... no rules... no standards... you decide... you become your own God.
* The Bible is not surprised by this violence, and makes it clear that terrible things will continue to happen in a world that has pushed God out...
* Now of course its very natural at times such as these to ask... well ’why didn’t God stop this’, ’surely he is powerful, surely it wouldn’t be outside of his control...?’
* And I want to say that I don’t have any easy slick answers to that today... I cannot know God’s mind and all that God is doing and why... so I’m not about to pretend to second guess God...
* But what we can do is turn to his word and see what we can know... and I have a Psalm to share through which God speaks to our situation and give us some comfort and some hope.
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
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. Selah
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. Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
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 "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. Selah
1
* There are four brief points the Psalm makes
1 God is a refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble
* we are in trouble... the people of New York and Washington and all over the States are in trouble.
* And where is God in all this? Right with us... always with us...
* You know what a refuge is.. a place of safety and protection, a place to run to, a shelter... in our hearts we run to him... for Jesus promises that by His Spirit he actually lives with us and in us... that is how close he is...
* And because he lives in the believer, he knows our needs and struggles and knows our pain today... so run to him and as it were feel his loving arms around you consoling, comforting and protecting...
* And he is a strength... through him we can have strength to go on... strength to face the challenges, strength to face the loss and sadness...
* Who among us isn’t disturbed by the events overnight... run to God as a refuge and strength, know that he is always with you
* And the result... the result you see in v2 - you will not fear... not fear says the verse even though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the see.... Not fear even though buildings collapse and there is debris and devastation... because you are safe in your refuge... the always present arms of God himself
2 There is city which is always safe...
* vv3-6 - it’s the city of God. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day... The Old Testament city of Jerusalem... was always an anticipation of the heavenly city of Jerusalem.
* The point that the psalmist makes is that although nations may be in uproar and earthly kingdoms are falling, if you are a citizen of the heavenly city... i.e. if you are in relationship with God and he is your King and you are his person... then no matter what happens here, you will be eternally safe!
* God is in ultimate control... he lifts his voice, the earth melts...so powerful is he, that all he needs to do is speak, and this earth will melt away... and his city with his people... will stand.
* Are you God’s person... for him not against him? Trusting him... trusting Jesus for forgiveness... then you will always be safe... no matter what happens here... you will be safe... for you are a citizen of heaven...
3 He will one day brings wars to an end...
* v9 he makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; be breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
* This is looking forward to a time in the future, when God will put a stop to all this.
* From our New Testaments we understand it to be the time when Jesus will return to earth and wind it up as we know it... and put an end to all evil.
* What a great time that will be... and at the end of the Bible, the picture is painted of a glorious future where there will be more crying or pain or death... for all that will be finished...
* God will act in the future... and all evil such as we have witnessed will be finished...
* You may ask - well - "why doesn’t God do it now"??? - and the Bible’s answer is that he is giving more people opportunity to come in to relationship with him... to stop living life for themselves, and start living it for him and find in him love and forgiveness..
* Why doesn’t God stop the evil...? one day all wars will finish... and weapons of war destroyed... may that day come soon...
4 Finally... v10 ’Be still and know that I am God’...
* this may be a word to the raging nations who in selfishness and hate keep up their fighting... Like Jesus calming the storm on the lake... one day God will say ’enough’ ’stop it’ ’be still’...
* but it’s also a word to us today... to be still and know that God is God.
* God is God and he is in charge and he knows what he is doing... we might not understand his ways... we may find his ways hard... but we can trust him... he is a trustworthy God who always does the right thing... and every now and again... we have to say to God.... You are God.... You know better then me. I find this hard, but I trust you.
* Being still in the busyness of our lives is very difficult... but we must make the time.
* And although sometimes God and his purposes are hidden from us, one day God will be exalted around the globe... everyone will see him and acknowledge his as God and bow before him knowing he is the great God almighty.
* And the psalm finishes with the promise that it is the God who has been with his people right throughout... right down through history... the God who has proven himself as powerful and mighty, as gracious and compassionate.... He is the God who is with us now...
* No - we can’t know all the answers today...
* But from this Psalm we can know:
1. God is a refuge and strength and is with us today... therefore we need not fear
2. God’s city will always be safe... therefore if we are his people - and therefore members of that city... we are safe
3. He will bring wars one day to an end... may that day come soon!
4. Finally, we need to be still and know that he is God... and therefore have hope for the future.
Ideas for prayer
* Arising from the psalm - the people might run to God as a refuge and strength
* That people may feel safe
* That God will bring wars to an end and peace to the nations
* That we - and people in USA - will be still and know that God is God and be able to trust him
* Pray for rescue efforts - that as many lives as possible may be saved
* Pray for families who have lost loved ones... that God will comfort them
* Pray for families who don’t yet know... that God will calm them
* For those wounded... and for good medical help in tending to their injuries.
* Pray for the President and leadership - wisdom in knowing how to respond and lead at this time
* Pray for those who will work to investigate who is responsible that they will be able to find those people and bring them to justice
* For one another - that we will claim the promise that God is with us today... that we will continue in prayer for the families of the victims.. and that we will know the peace of God that passes understanding
1 The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
St Andrew’s Anglican Church Roseville 14/09/01
