10“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 (NASB95)
Have you ever watched birds? They seem to have different personalities. Some are stoic and settled. They sit atop a limb and watch everything going on. Others scurry about from point to point, limb to limb…busy to get to the next thing. And there are some in-between. They sit on a limb but are constantly nervous. The wind rustles slightly and they open their wings in preparation to make a quick escape only to lower their wings when the anticipated danger subsides.
Psalm 46 is a beloved song. Only eleven verses in the modern English translations. Only two calls to action on the part of the reader exist; two imperatives directed toward the hearer that demand an obedient response.
In nine of the eleven verses, the Psalmist presents God, the covenant God of Jacob/Israel in all His glorious provision. He is a refuge and help (v.1). He is unchanging (vv.2-3). He is the centerpiece of the city of God and all of creation serves Him as He reigns sovereignly over everything from nature to nations (vv.4-7). He is the great warrior who fights for His own glory and to the benefit of His people (vv.9, 11). He is our Refuge, our Ruler, and the Redeemer!
V.8 begins with the command to Israel and, by extension, to us today. “Come, behold the works of the Lord.” It is not a command to come and help. It is not a call to start something and ask the Lord to join you. It is not even a request for you to fill up the suggestion box of heaven with ideas for how you think God ought to act. It is simply a call to come and behold the Lord and His glorious workings in our midst.
Then comes the tenth verse. Cease striving, or in another translation, Be Still. This is the call to confidence. It is not a call to a vacation as we sometimes read it from our human perspective. It is not about passivity but faith. It is not apathy but rest. It is the relaxing of the wings of the nervous bird on a limb…the settling of one’s anxious longings and the answer to one’s worries. You might even use the word Trust in our modern language today to translate the idea. Yes…relax your wings. There are indeed predators and schemers in your midst, but you are known to and called by a God who reigns over them as well. Don’t waste your life away trying to control or fretting about things that are far too big for you to fix or defend against.
Consequently, v.10 draws a connection for us and helps us to see that our resigning, our relaxing of the wings sets the stage for God to be God and to do the things the rest of the Psalm points to. Cease striving and KNOW that I am God. I (not you) will be exalted among the peoples of the world and in the world of the people. The implication is clear and intentional. To continue to strive, to work at resisting, is to fight in God’s place. It is to elevate yourself to Ruler and Redeemer and to make for yourself a Refuge; or we can relax our wings. Trust the Lord who creates and controls the rivers. Trust the God who causes earthquakes to stop shaking. Trust the God who commands the hosts of warriors in heaven’s army. Trust the God who made His covenant with you. Trust the God who has already previewed the end of the story if we cease striving…KNOWING that He will be exalted among all peoples and in all the earth.
King David was no stranger to betrayal. Betrayal, a violation of trust, is a product of the fall. It is exhibited in the sinful nature of humanity. It is the opposite of God. God never betrays. Ever. In fact, one of the most prolific descriptions of God is often translated as lovingkindness in the English translation. It is the Hebrew word, He-Sed, which speaks of the loyal, covenant love of God. The God who made a promise, prompted wholly within Himself, is faithful and loyal to Himself and His promise; therefore, He is merciful and gracious toward us.
In this Psalm, David brings the pain of betrayal into full view.
12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him.
13But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend;
14We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.
Psalm 55:12–14 (NASB95)
If an enemy or a hater opposed or undercut David, he could understand it. But for one who was a companion, a close friend, one who worshipped by his side…the weightiness of that is overwhelming!
This hurt is the heart of God’s view on the permanence of marriage and his hatred of divorce. The reality of this is why there is such prolific teaching on guarding unity, extending and seeking forgiveness, and all other manners of reconciliation when relationships are strained. Further, it is why the Bible consistently requiresconfrontation among spiritual family members in nearly every instance when relationships are damaged (See Matthew 5 and Matthew 18). It is never ok to be hurt and to hold a grudge without humbly seeking to resolve the pain.
The life of a disciple in the world we live in is one of constant conflict, predictable pressures, and recurring pain (John 15:18, 16:33, Philippians 1:21-25, Galatians 6:17). In fact, the strife we experience in the world is a “badge of honor” of sorts.
22“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
23“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
Luke 6:22–23 (NASB95)
But a friend’s betrayal just hits differently. So, what does one DO with betrayal? Three things:
Remember that you and I are first betrayers, then betrayed. We walked out on God long before someone hurt us.
Be faithful and humble in confrontation. A friend’s betrayal and our pain does not negate our responsibility as a disciple. We must be willing to have a humble and hard conversation. After all, what if the glory of God in redemption, restoration, and reconciliation hinged simply on our obedience?
Forgive. In light of our failures in relationships, our betrayal of others…and in response to the desire to restore a relationship through forgiveness, then forgive (See Matthew 18:21-22). Such forgiveness is worshipful as an obedient response to the Lord’s command, and it is mercifully compassionate toward our fellow disciples (Matthew 18:32-33). Forgiveness releases the responsibility to exact justice to the Lord, who is the only One qualified to administer it righteously.
To hold the grudge or to label the betraying brother in a way that is “less than,” simply harms you. Often, the offender has no clue…but the root of bitterness in your soul simply grows stronger and more intransigent. Forgive, by faith for fullness of healing.
We can never experience the freedom of abundant life if we try to renegotiate the conditions of it.
27to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27 (NASB95)
10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Romans 8:10 (NASB95)
5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB95)
Unlike the days of the Old Testament where man came into the presence of God, as Moses on the mountain, or the High Priest in the Holy of Holies, disciples of Jesus do not seek out the presence of God. At times we speak of a religious experience this way. We talk about coming into the presence of God. We might even sing a song that offers God an invitation like, “Holy Spirit you are welcome here[i].” While I get the sentiment and I am by no means seeking to start a keyboard war, for believers, we do not invite God to join us. Christ is in us! Consider for a moment the implications of such truth. There is nowhere you can go that you avoid the presence of Christ. There is no difficulty you can face alone. There is no situation where you are overwhelmed by a superior foe. The omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent God who created you, now inhabits you.
This truth also means that there are times, to our shame, when we take Christ to places we would not invite our mothers. Many of us would be quite embarrassed if mom was in the parking lot of a busy retail outlet when someone took the parking space we wanted. Many of us would hang our heads if mom was sitting beside us as we explained to the nice police officer why we were driving so fast. More than a few would be ashamed if mom were looking over our shoulders as we absorbed content from our computer screens. Yet, Christ, the King of Glory, is right there, within us, listening, and watching.
Today, ask the Lord to make you more aware of His presence. Ask him to make you more appropriate in your response to His presence. Invite Him to make Himself known to you. Before you bless out that driver in the parking lot, turn to the empty passenger seat and say, “Hey Jesus. Hold my sweet tea and watch this.” If you would not do it or say it with mama watching, maybe you should skip it altogether as an appropriate expression of reverent worship of the King.
John happened upon a little shop downtown. As he approached, there was a man who was pushing the door with all his might. The sign in the window said “Open,” but the door clearly would not open, no matter how hard the man pushed. With grunts and groans, the man heaved again and again at times throwing all of his weight against the door. Finally, out of breath and visibly frustrated, the man stormed off. John, a bit perplexed at first, pulled the door open and went in.
The “Abundant life” that Christ committed to us (see John 10:10) is much like this door. If you approach it correctly, negotiate it correctly, and walk through it as it is designed, you will experience the benefits of the covenant. If, however, you try to force something apart from God’s good design, or substitute your thinking for God’s wisdom, you will end up on a different path, with a different outcome altogether.
10All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Psalm 25:10 (NASB95)
Notice the categorical statement by the Psalmist, David.
“All the paths of the Lord.”
The Psalmist makes clear that there is no relative moralism with God. He is unchanging. You will never find anyone who did precisely what God desired and received something other than what God promised. Every, single, solitary path of the Lord is consistent with His He-Sed (His loyal, covenant love) and is truth. God never uses a bait and switch on you and me. He is transparent and trustworthy. If He said it, it will happen.
The benefit of His covenant with us is enjoyed by everyone who keeps the covenant and His instructions/testimonies. The word translated “truth” is the Hebrew word e-dut and it means laws, instructions, ordinances, or legal provisions. The terms together speak of the totality of what God has made clear through His covenant law and actions. To those to keep God’s covenant and instructions, all of God’s paths result in the fulfillment of the covenant promise.
If you’re like me, then you notice about yourself that while you nod “yes” to that statement, you are also thinking about what you can do on the fringes (or across the line) that may still yield the results. This is the sin nature that we inherited from Grandpa Adam and Grandma Eve. The faith position is to accept God’s instructions as categorically best and true, choosing to respond in obedience because we know (by faith) that our obedience results in the blessing of the covenant. Faith is KNOWING that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the terms of the Covenant and advocates on our behalf (1 John 2:1-2). Faithfulness is working from (not for) that accepted position as we grow in Christlikeness, aligning our lives to the covenant and instructions of God as an act of worshipful obedience/submission.
Someone once said that following God was complicated. I disagree. It is actually quite simple. What did God say? Do that! When in doubt, always do what God said, knowing that all the paths of God are lovingkindness and truth to those who adhere to them.
1Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.
Psalm 52:1 (NASB95)
Have you ever been amazed at the faith of some people in the face of overwhelming circumstances? When I was a kid, it was not unusual to watch an afternoon episode of Batman and see the Dynamic Duo (Batman and Robin) trapped, bound, or plummeting to their death when suddenly the tables turned. Further, it seemed that Batman knew it would turn out better all along. Where does that kind of faith come from?
As David wrote this psalm, he is staring down the consequences of Doeg the Edomite’s betrayal of his location to King Saul. Yet David’s reply… “Why do you waste your time? The He-Sed (covenant, loyal, faithful love of God) endures.” David points to His confidence in God and God’s ability to keep His promises for His glory according to His wise counsel. We see a similar outlook from the Apostle Paul while on a storm-tossed ship at sea:
21When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. 22“Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23“For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25“Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
Acts 27:21–25 (NASB95)
Paul gives us a more direct insight into the answer, “Where does this kind of faith come from?” God said it!
Four challenges if you want to experience and exhibit faith like this.
Wait until you hear from the Lord before you act. This does not mean that you are to be apathetic or lazy; rather, I am saying that you should not change course until God tells you to do so. Keep doing what you’re doing. Act on the last thing God told you to do.
When God speaks, take it to the bank, regardless of the circumstances in front of you. If God tells you to face down a nine-foot tall giant with a sling and a rock…do it.
Action, rather than intention, demonstrates the source of your faith. If you refuse to act, you demonstrate that your guiding directive is the contrary voice rather than the Christ’s. Even if you say you believe otherwise, your actions bear witness.
Give God the credit. Not with some watered-down, lawyer-inspired (no offense intended to my attorney friends) middle-of-the-road, “if the Lord might allow it” kind of statement. If God spoke… SAY IT! This way, no one thinks you’re anything other than faithfully obedient and your God is awesome enough to trust. If God did not speak, remain silent, steadfastly moving in the direction of the last calling.
But what about my circumstances Chris? If they are more desperate than sitting by a Brook in a drought, or more perilous than a Queen’s threats, or more final than death…listen to them. Otherwise, remember that God already showed His power over all these things…and no circumstance can overwhelm and deter the He-Sed of God.
35On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” 41They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Mark 4:35–41 (NASB95)
The Gospels give us insight into the who, what, and how of Jesus. They teach us about His divine nature, His purpose in coming among us, and the means He employed to secure our righteousness. They also give us a glimpse into the values that Jesus holds exhibits…and by extension to those of us who follow Him, the values we should embrace.
But the Gospels also tell us something about ourselves. In Matthew 8 and Luke 8 we find parallel accounts to this true story involving Jesus and His disciples. In each of those accounts, there is a plea from the disciples to “save them” as the storm was overwhelming and threatened their lives. In all three accounts, Jesus speaks to the storm, calms it, and challenges the anxiety of the disciples as a “faith” issue. Mark alone says out loud what many people are afraid to: “Do you not care…” (Mark 4:38)? The Greek word- melei points to the care and concern that the disciples had. After all, some of them are seasoned, professional fishermen. This is not new territory. Still, it is overwhelming. They are worried and they want to know why Jesus is not worried. How can He sleep through it? Jesus’ response begs a different question: How can you not sleep through it?
For the disciples, the situation was out of control; But Jesus initiated the journey across the lake to begin with (4:35). The tempest of the seas drowned out the disciples’ voices, but Jesus’ voice silenced the storm. The disciples surmised that if they were in this situation, it could only mean that Jesus did not care! Yet, it was Jesus’ concern for the disciple’s faith that prompted Him to put the disciples in the situation to begin with. They respond to the crisis with fear and Jesus redirects them to faith.
Verse 40 pits fear against faith. One cancels out the other. The destructive power of fear emanates from the deficient presence of faith. That means that the power OVER fear is present in our faith. Don’t think of faith as a noun…something we acquire; rather, think of it biblically…a verb if you will…something we exercise. Faithing life is a consciously informed decision to rest in the fact that Jesus is in charge. Nothing occurs beyond His awareness or control. Our training and testing of faith journey are according to His ultimately good plan. When anxiously overwhelmed, our peace is often as close as calling out to Jesus and watching Him work. He’s easy to connect with. In most of the storms of our lives, he is waiting in the back of the boat for us to stop bailing water feverishly and simply call on Him for instructions.
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