Immanuel

Today’s reading is Psalm 46.

“The Lord of hosts is with us.” Yahweh-Sabaoth is with us. That is the refrain for this son of Korah. Whether this song is glorifying God for a recent victory (as most believe) or is praising God in faith for a coming victory, the cry is clear: God is with us. This city will stand not because of its ramparts and weapons, not because of its soldiers and weapons. It will stand because of its most important inhabitant: Yahweh.

But how can we Christians read this and not remember Matthew 1:23:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Yahweh is with us in the person of Jesus Christ.

And didn’t Jesus demonstrate every bit of this psalm. He did not fear when the earth gave way and the mountains fell into the sea. He did not fear when the waters roared and foamed. When the nations raged and the kingdoms tottered. When the Jewish nation betrayed Him to the Romans, He did not fear. When the Roman nation nailed Him to a cross, He did not fret. When people stood at the foot of His cross and mocked Him, taunting Him, challenging Him to prove Himself by coming down, He did not take the bait.

He entrusted Himself to God. His refuge was the Father. Even when He felt forsaken, He hung on to God’s plan and continued in submission.

Here’s the kicker. If you had never heard the story before and you were just watching it as a movie, what would you expect? Surely, at the very last second, just before it is too late, God would deliver His Son from death. But He doesn’t. Jesus dies. The solid foundations have surely crumbled completely. His body is taken down from the cross and laid in a cold, dark tomb. It’s over. The battle is lost.

But No! On the third day, when morning dawns, the stone rolls back and Jesus breaks the bonds of death. It’s never too late for God’s victory. The King wins. And, in time, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He will be exalted! Don’t wait until that day. Confess Him today.

That’s our Savior. That’s our King. Let’s hang on to Him. Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is Psalm 47.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
2. How does God’s demand to “Be still” in this psalm remind you of Jesus?
3. How does Jesus make wars to cease?
4. Why should Jesus be exalted?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?

“I Will Be Exalted!”

Today’s reading is Psalm 46.

Times can be tough. Life can be hard. Walking with God can be difficult. Battles ensue. Persecutions arise. And God doesn’t always behave the way we expect. Sometimes He allows the persecution to linger longer than we thought necessary. Sometimes He disciplines us in ways we feel are just a bit too much. And for some reason, He is perfectly satisfied allowing time to go on with His enemies believing they have the upper hand. In fact, He sometimes lets it go on long enough we begin to worry about that also.

However, we can be assured of one thing, God demands exaltation. He will be exalted. In the end, He will make sure His side wins, because that is what glorifies Him. That is what proclaims and demonstrates His name as fantastic. He doesn’t get exalted if the enemies win. And you can be assured, He will make sure to have His exaltation. He deserves it. It is due Him.

Therefore, He says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” This statement is offered in one of two directions. Either He is talking to His own people who are starting to fret and worry, who are starting to develop their own plans to accomplish the victory on their own. He may be telling us to “Be still.” He may be telling us to remember He is God and we need to quit trying to take over His job. Or He may be talking to the enemies, the raging nations, the tottering kingdoms, the roaring seas, and the foaming waves. He may be telling them, “Be still.” He may be telling them to quiet down and learn their place. He may be telling them they will not steal or diminish His exaltation.

We can rest assured that God will not let another steal His glory. In the end, He will take the victory. Don’t abandon Him. If you do, you will be on the losing side. If you hang on to Him, you will win. And in His victory, you will not take His glory, but you will share in it.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 46.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
2. What are some reasons why God deserves to be glorified?
3. What are some ways we can glorify Him even now?
4. Why is it comforting to know when times are hard that in the end, God will win the victory not simply to save us but so His own name will be exalted?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?