Psalm 46

 Psalm 46

Now is the time to panic, but don’t forget the popcorn.

I generally do not listen to the news.  In fact, I find most news broadcast boring and drudgery.   The main reason is that the message from every corner seems to have one underlying theme: Now is the time to panic.  It does not matter if the perspective was Christian or secular, conservative or liberal; the message at all points was it is time to panic. This panic has bled over into the Christian community.  How often do we hear that we are witnessing the end of Christian faith as we know it.  

At times and in some places bad things are bad..  But we must not allow ourselves to be  manipulated by and submit to the voices of doom that tell us only by doing what they say can we avoid ruin. Fear makes us very exploitable.  Their message to us is, “Everything is worse than we thought or you can imagine.  We must act now!  If we don’t, all is lost.” 

Psalm 46 is our antidote for this kind of thinking.  Waters were a symbol of people groups or nations.  In this Psalm we see political, national, or even international chaos.  But in the midst of this, God’s people are secure.  In verse four we see a river, which is symbolic; mountain top Jerusalem has no river.  This river may represent the foreign policy, army, or extension of a nation that was being used by God for the benefit of God’s people.  We need not forget that entire nations were raised up by God to accomplish His purposes. 

Verse 10 is often quoted for our comfort but is generally taken out of context. The nine preceding verses are about God’s sovereign authority over the political process in the world.  The following verse is about God’s providential and specific protection for His people.  It is unlikely that this verse jumps over to talk about having a daily quiet time.  This verse is primarily about God’s people relaxing when political chaos and its associated panic are present in every moment.  

The next time someone tells you that if you don’t act, give, or in other ways conform to their agenda, then all is lost.  Say to them, “Do I have time to get some popcorn to eat while I watch the end of the world?”

“Lord, in the midst of the madness of our world, help me to trust in You. AMEN.”