Having grown up near Lake Superior, I am familiar with the sound and fury of the waves breaking on the shores of the great lake. Ps. 93 reminds us that God is “robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken” (v.1). The Psalmist seems to describe his experience, “The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves” v.2). But he can confidently declares, “But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore – the Lord above is mightier than these!” (v. 4).
One way to describe the state of our nation is that of flood waters breaking in all upon us. It can be typified by the chaos and confusion that is felt due to the completing voices speaking loudly for our attention and allegiance. The sheer noise of conflicting opinions will only increase. It seems that the storm of discontent, misfortune, and misinformation has suddenly crashed in upon our shores. The storm has been a long time in coming. It causes fear, anger and resignation in the hearts of many. It almost seems like there is a spiritual component orchestrating the chaos and confusion. I am afraid that social media will only keep creating even more of a storm.
What are followers of Jesus to do? We certainly cannot go and hide from the sounds of “bad news.” We must keep engaged by announcing in both word and deed the “good news” of Jesus and his kingdom. While staying engaged we also have a hiding place from the storm. We read in Psalm 32:6 -7, “Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.”
Men, the floodwaters of judgment could very well be ever increasing amidst the continual negative rhetoric being voiced by opposing voices. Where in the chaos can one possibly hear “good news? Could it be in our present cultural condition, we are drifting further from the Lord, while worshiping the gods of our own making? The confusion and uncertainty could be God’s warning, allowing us to experience our own rebellion. The Psalmist encourages us to “pray while there is still time.” In other words, turn our hearts to the Lord and cry out for mercy. The focus on the noise should not be our first concern.
In the midst of the present storm bearing down on our nation, the Psalmist offers us a lifeline. The Lord is a “hiding place” able to protect us from trouble. Not only a safe place, but also the assurance that we are surrounded with “songs of victory.” The NET puts it this way: “You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance.” The Message is rather blunt. “When all hell breaks loose and the dam burst, we’ll be on high ground, untouched.” Men, we need to run for higher ground to be with others celebrating God’s victory in spite of the raising waters.
Later in the Psalm, the Message puts the advice of the Psalmist in blunt words. “Let me give you some good advice; I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on the track” (vs. 8-9). Our loving Father is heaven looks us straight in the eye, warning us not to respond like an ornery horse or mule.
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