June 1, 2023 – Psalm 46

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46 

“Be still then, and know that I am God.” I was tired of being still during the days of the pandemic. In fact, I got so tired of sitting that I revived a workout regimen that I had not followed for quite a few years. My personality does not allow me to sit much, let alone to be still. 

The question becomes, how do we sit still long enough for G-d to speak to us – for the Holy Spirit to get our attention? The answer comes in the Psalm — “God is our refuge and strength.” When we are really struggling with how to accomplish a task, especially one that involves quiet and meditation, a good resource to turn to are the Psalms. Imagine sitting for some quiet time and simply saying over and over again “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” But this is why the Psalms were written — they were meant to be used for meditative and prayer purposes. 

Prayer 

Lord God, our refuge and our strength, when the restless owners of this world and the waters of hell rise u against your holy city, watch over it and keep it safe. By the river that flows from the throne of the Lamb, unify this new Jerusalem as your chosen dwelling, for you are with us, our stronghold now and forever. 

Amen.