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?

The God of Jacob

Today’s reading is Psalm 46.

Yahweh is called the God of Jacob in 10 psalms. It happens twice in this one. “God of Jacob” is not so rare as to suggest every time it gets used, it must have some technical meaning. However, it is rare enough to stop us and at least question. Why would the sons of Korah call Yahweh the God of Jacob, and why would they do it twice? It becomes a refrain for the two sections of this psalm.

I can’t say for sure why they use this name, but when I think of Jacob’s experiences with God, I can see some connections. Especially when I see how Psalm 46 brings closure to Psalms 42-44. In those psalms, the psalmist was struggling with God, wrestling in prayer. “God, why aren’t you keeping your covenant?” was essentially the cry of Psalm 44. But the psalmist wouldn’t let go. The psalmist kept praying until God brought the blessing of victory that we see here in Psalm 46.

Does the above sound like any part of Jacob’s life? Absolutely. It reminds me of the night he prayed to God to deliver him from the hand of Esau when he returned to the Promised Land (Genesis 32). God didn’t part the waters. He didn’t shine a rainbow. He didn’t even allow a break in the clouds so the sun could shine down on Jacob. Instead, He wrestled with Jacob all night long, even wounding him. But Jacob wouldn’t let go until He was blessed.

Have you ever felt like the biggest obstacle in your journey to God’s blessing was actually God Himself? Like you were wrestling with Him? Struggling with Him? He wasn’t doing what you expected? You prayed and prayed and that didn’t fix anything? Were you tempted to give up on God? Are you tempted to give up in Him? Tempted to just abandon the struggle and walk away? Don’t. We serve the God of Jacob. Sometimes what we most need is a struggle, and our God will bring us to it, but also lead us through it. If we hang on to Him, grapple with Him, unwilling to let go until He gives us the blessing, He will bless us. In fact, that is the only path to the blessing.

He blessed Jacob. He finally provided deliverance for the sons of Korah. Keep hanging on. Keep praying. He will bless you.

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. Have you had moments when it seemed like God was the biggest obstacle to blessing? Describe it.
3. Does it surprise you to hear about moments when God allows life to be this difficult for His servants? Why or why not?
4. What do you think will help Jesus’s disciples maintain faith in these kind of difficult times, hanging on to God, praying to Him no matter what?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?