URC Daily Devotion 1 September 2024
God is for us a refuge and strength,
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
even though its waters rage and foam,
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.
The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken;
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken:
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.
The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, consider the works of the Lord,
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the earth;
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps.
(He burns the shields with fire.)
“Be still and know that I am God,
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us:
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The Psalms: An Inclusive Language Version based on the Grail translation from the Hebrew © 1963, 1986 The Grail (England) GIA Publications
Reflection
Reading this version of Psalm 46, I am struck by the contrasts.
God is a refuge and strength – a place of safety and calm. But we also hear of tumult – earth rocking, mountains falling and shaking, waters raging. There is a massive change in the environment and it must be terrifying. As I write, there is fresh volcanic activity in Iceland demonstrating all of these features.
In the refrain, the Lord of Hosts is both with us and our stronghold. Again, stability and safety.
Verse 2 highlights different places – God’s city where water brings joy and nothing can be shaken, while nations and kingdoms are in tumult; a contrast between God’s kingdom, which is joyful, calm, stable and safe, and the world where nothing is stable, all is in tumult, and no-one can feel safe.
In verse 3 we focus completely on God – what God has done for us, God’s role in bringing peace and ending the wars that rage across the earth. And then, the famous invitation: ‘Be still, and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!’
We are living in a world that has become increasingly unstable – humanity has abused the earth leading to loss of many plant and animal species and climate change. It has hurt itself through wars and regimes that oppress people. People seem to have become more self-centred, and there is an escalation of abuse and violence, both online and on our streets. It’s hard to avoid despair about our times.
And yet – God invites us to be still. In the words of the Message* – ‘Step out of the traffic and take a long loving look at me, Your High God, above politics, above everything’.
We cannot abdicate from the world, but as we take a long, loving look at our High God we can be still and spread that stillness wherever we go, sharing God’s light to help overcome the fear and tumult of daily life.
Prayer
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!
(J.G. Whittier (1807 – 1892))
*The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson