Monday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 46
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Commentary:
46:1–7 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. The people of God are secure, even in times of tumult and upheaval, because God is their refuge and strength (v. 1). God is present in his city (an emblem of his people as a whole) to protect it in all circumstances. Verses 2–3 use earthquakes, landslides, and the raging sea as images of raging nations and tottering kingdoms (v. 6). There is also a contrast: though the mountains be moved (v. 2), Zion shall not be moved (v. 5). The reason is that God has chosen Zion to be his holy habitation, i.e., the place of his sanctuary, where his people meet him in worship (v. 4). a river. In contrast to the roaring seas (vv. 2–3), the streams of this river (perhaps an image of the grace found in worshiping the true God; cf. Ezek. 47:1–12) make glad the city of God.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.
Questions:
We all run somewhere when life gets hard. Maybe it's staying busy, distracting yourself, trying to fix everything, or simply pretending you're okay. Without even realizing it, we look for something that will make us feel safe again. Psalm 46 reminds us that God is our refuge and strength. Our God doesn't watch from a distance. He welcomes us into His protection when the storm is already happening.
The psalmist doesn't pretend life is easy. He talks about mountains falling into the sea and the earth giving way beneath our feet. Those are images of life completely unraveling. The good news is that God's faithfulness isn't determined by our circumstances. He's still our refuge when the diagnosis comes. He's still our refuge when the relationship falls apart. He's still our refuge when anxiety keeps us awake at night. The question isn't whether trouble will come. The question is where we'll run when it does.
The psalmist doesn't pretend life is easy. He talks about mountains falling into the sea and the earth giving way beneath our feet. Those are images of life completely unraveling. The good news is that God's faithfulness isn't determined by our circumstances. He's still our refuge when the diagnosis comes. He's still our refuge when the relationship falls apart. He's still our refuge when anxiety keeps us awake at night. The question isn't whether trouble will come. The question is where we'll run when it does.
- What's the biggest burden or worry you're carrying right now? When the pressure rises, where do you naturally turn for comfort? Maybe it's staying busy, distracting yourself, trying to fix the problem, or pretending everything is okay. Is that "refuge" actually bringing you peace, or is it keeping you from trusting God?
- Psalm 46 doesn't promise a life without storms. It promises that God is with us in the middle of them. How does that change the way you think about the hard season you're walking through? What does it look like to trust God even before your circumstances change?
- Are there places where you've been trying to handle everything on your own before bringing it to God? What's one practical way you can choose to trust Him first today instead of making Him your last resort?
Prayer Topics:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of the false, temporary shelters you run to when you are overwhelmed.
- Repent of any areas of self-reliance or pride, where you've tried to take control and fix your own life or circumstance.
- Praise God for being Immanuel, the God who steps into the roaring waters with you.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus?
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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