“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 ESV). The psalmist spoke of three divine attributes of God that we can rely on in times of trouble. He said that we can look to God as our “refuge,” our “strength,” and our “very present help.” Looking to God as
Chapter: 46
“Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together” (Isaiah 46:2 NLT).
ARE YOU BOWED DOWN BY IDOLATRY? God gave Isaiah a prophecy against Babylon and its idol worship. It is sarcastic in its imagery, predicting that Babylon’s idols will “bow” down as they are lowered onto ox carts and carried away by the very people who used to “bow” down before them. Even the oxen are
“Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together” (Isaiah 46:2 NLT).
ARE YOU WEIGHED DOWN BY IDOLATRY? God gave Isaiah a prophecy against Babylon and its idol worship. It is sarcastic in its imagery, predicting that Babylon’s idols will “bow” down as they are lowered onto ox carts and carried away by the very people who used to “bow” down before them. Even the oxen are
“Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.” (Genesis 46:3 NLT).
DO NOT FEAR GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE The Lord spoke to Jacob in a vision the night after he offered sacrifices in Beersheba on his way to Egypt. Surely old Jacob was concerned about leaving the land promised to his family since his grandfather Abraham had obeyed the Lord and brought the family there.
“So altogether, there were seventy members of Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt” (Genesis 46:27 NLT).
Although there is some apparent discrepancy in how Jacob’s family is numbered (Stephen said there were 75 in his speech in Acts 7:14.), the point is that the Lord took this small group and made of them a nation. As Moses said, “Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven” (Deut.10:22). The children of Jacob lived in Egypt 400 years. In the latter years, Joseph was forgotten and the Israelites lived as slaves. Yet, it was this time of travail that bonded them together, so that when the Lord delivered them, they came out a nation.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 ESV)
Three divine attributes that we experience when we go to God in times of trouble: “Refuge”, “strength,” and “very present help.” God is our “refuge,” our shelter, shielding us from the storms of life when we trust his protection. God is our “strength,” both materially and physically, supplying and empowering us to survive during troubling times. And He is easily found when we call upon Him because He is a “very present help.” He is always only a prayer away. Of course, we know that God is always present with us, yet during times of trouble His presence seems intensified (or at least our awareness of God is intensified). Have you experienced these attributes of our God during times of trouble?
“Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together” (Isaiah 46:2 NLT)
God gave Isaiah a prophecy against Babylon and its idol worship. It is almost sarcastic in its imagery, predicting that Babylon’s idols will “bow” down as they are lowered onto ox carts and carried away by the very people who used to “bow” down before them. Even the oxen are “bowed-down” under the weight of pulling these massive, manmade gods. This illustrates the ridiculous nature of those who would make gods of their wealth and possessions. In the end, their wealth cannot protect them and they cannot preserve it. They both “go off into captivity together,” as if in a funeral procession with heads bowed down. Yet, those who trust in the Lord are not weighed down, but lifted up by the Redeemer who can save to the uttermost!
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
Stop talking and worrying. Turn off, turn down, pull away and listen. Then know. Know that He is God. Acknowledge, understand and experience His presence and power. Then pray and worship. Worship because it is the only appropriate response. Pray because the nations are far from God and it is His will to bring them back. Pray for the Day when God’s Name will be lifted up in all the earth.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
Dial down the noise. Come away from your worry and busy-ness. Listen for the Whisper. And know.