Certainty - in uncertain times!

This morning, I received a 'phone-call from a dear friend and brother in the Lord. He has been sending out a daily devotional to a number of people of his acquaintance, and asked if I would prepare something that he could send out tomorrow. I agreed to do so, but have realised that it might be worth making available to others through my blog, and through Facebook. 

Along with countless others, I am a lover of the Book of Psalms – the “hymnbook” of the Children of Israel. One of my (many!) favourites is Psalm 46, the psalm that was the starting-point for Martin Luther’s great Reformation battle-hymn: “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” – “A mighty fortress is our God”.

The Psalm starts with these words:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” (vs.1-3)

These are words that remind us that our God – the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, is our refuge in times of chaos. And are not the times in which we currently live, chaotic? The Covid-19 virus may be invisible to the naked eye – but what an effect it is having on our contemporary world! No-one needs me to spell out the health issues; the changes in lifestyle; the uncertainty; that surround us – here in France; in the UK; and around the globe.

Yet the Sons of Korah, the composers of this psalm, could face any uncertainty with certainty because: “God is our refuge and strength; a very present (or well-proved, or easily found) help in time of trouble.  Therefore we will not fear ...”   Our true security, our true confidence, our true certainty, is in God – not in God plus anything, but in God alone.

Throughout history, Almighty God has been the refuge and defence of His people; sufficient for all of their needs; the unchanging One in Whom they have found their shelter.  And so, assert the Sons of Korah, even if the primeval chaos of Gen.1:2 should return, when “The earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep ...”; even if “... the earth should change” and “... the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.”; God’s people will not fear.

I have no more knowledge of the future than any of us. However, even in these uncertain times, I may have certainty – certainty that the God of Ages is in control; certainty that He still knows the end from the beginning; certainty that “… in everything [He] works for good with those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28).

May all who read these words have that same certainty; and to Him, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, be all the honour, all the praise, all the thanksgiving, and all the glory.

“A mighty fortress is our God; a bulwark never failing.

Our Helper, He, amidst the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still, our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.

His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate;

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And ’though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.”