Faith in time of Crisis 9

Meditation by Dr J P Hunter 

Artwork “The Stillness” by Rev’d Paul Collings

Psalm 46:1-3, 8a, 9-11. 

¹ 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.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done,
    
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 He says, “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.

Meditation

This is a Psalm of confidence and trust. It was written at a time of great crisis when Jerusalem had been under siege and was dramatically delivered. The first 3 verses are a defiant declaration that God is our refuge and strength and therefore no fear even when mountains falling into the sea, in floods and earthquakes. Then an invitation to see what the Lord has done and how he brought sieges to an end. After all these events God himself intervenes with the words “Be still and know that I am God”. That is an instruction to people under pressure to take to heart. We should follow his command and listen to Him when taken up in events of crisis and noise: Be still. Then we realise that God, our fortress, is with us.

Prayer

O Lord God, you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Help us not to be afraid when we are caught up in a crisis. Give us the insight to see that your life-giving love flows even through the worst of events and will sustain us. Help us to heed the wisdom of these words and obey its command: Be still and know that I am God. 

In the stillness we offer you, may we hear your voice. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - Jonathan Aitken, adapted

                                                                                                                              

Singing the Faith 18, v. 1 and 3.

1 Be still and know that I am God.

   Be still and know that I am God.

   Be still and know that I am God.

3 In you, O Lord, I put my trust.

   In you, O Lord, I put my trust.

   In you, O Lord, I put my trust.