SAFETY IN THE RIVER

Ps.46:1-4 – God is our refuge and strength,

A very ready help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes

And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah

There is a river whose streams make the city of God happy,

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

For those of you who know me you know that this is a special passage for me. First, I began to appreciate the river in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our church in the 1990’s. I learned to be a river dweller in that season. It is our only place of true safety in this goofy and dangerous world. Last year this passage took on an even more important role in my life. Jesus spoke this word over me in my hospital bed and used it to raise me up. Today I am standing and feeding on this passage again. I would say the waters of this world are roaring and foaming about now but I know for sure there is a river. This river makes me happy and is my dwelling place, my refuge and my strength. Here is how Spurgeon describes this passage.

“When all things are excited to fury, and reveal their utmost power to disturb, faith smiles serenely. She is not afraid of noise, nor even of real force, she knows that the Lord stills the raging of the sea, and holds the waves in the hollow of his hand. Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Alps and Andes may tremble, but faith rests on a firmer basis, and is not to be moved by swelling seas. Evil may ferment, wrath may boil, and pride may foam, but the brave heart of holy confidence trembles not. Great men who are like mountains may quake for fear in times of great calamity, but the man whose trust is in God needs never be dismayed.”

Not only was David not afraid, on the contrary he was filled with courage and boldness. He recognized all the noise was a sure sign that the kingdoms of this world were threatened and it was time to advance in the kingdom of God. We have two responses in times like this; hide in our houses and pray things return to normal or take this as our signal to advance. I think its time to advance for the battle is the Lord’s.