Floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. When we hear of these types of disasters we shudder. We begin to think 'what would I do if I lost everything?' Companies have taken recent disasters and used them to try to sell folks insurance, and others have tried to profit in various ways from these disasters.
This morning I want to talk with you about how we can disaster-proof our lives. No, I am not selling insurance. I have something better to offer you: the promises of the Word of God! As bad as these natural disasters are, they do not compare with what can happen to our lives. Broken hearts and grieving spirits are not easily repaired. There are no government disaster aid to help us through those times when it seems our world is crumbling around us!
Read: Psalm 46:1-11
The setting of this Psalm takes us back to the days of Hezekiah the king of Judah. The Assyrian army was ready to come against them and destroy them.
(2 Ki 18:19-20) "And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? {20} Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words), I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?"
Sennacherib sent messengers to intimidate Hezekiah and the people of Judah.
(2 Ki 18:29-30) "Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: {30} Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria."
God assures Hezekiah that He will continue to provide for His people and protect them. Note: 2 Kings 19:32-37 God took care of the problem for Hezekiah and He will take care of us as well.
I. God's Presence (v. 1)
A. God appears at the beginning of the Psalm
1. Not some impersonal supreme being
2. This is the God who loves us
3. He is the One who gave His only- begotten Son to die in our place on Calvary.
4. Not some generic force of good, but a personal and powerful God who knows our need.
B. The secret of peace is a personal relationship with God
1. "God is our refuge"
2. Like Psalm 23
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. {2} He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. {3} He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. {4} Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. {5} Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. {6} Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
C. "Our refuge" (hiding place)
1. We can hide in God when storms come.
2. We are safe with Him when our world is shaking.
3. Safer than any storm shelter available
D. "Our strength"
1. God gives strength to those who are weak
2. Waiting on the Lord renews our strength
(Isa 40:31) "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
E. A very present help in trouble
1. Our Lord is always with us
2. He is greater than any trouble we face
II. God's Peace (vv. 2-7)
A. "Therefore we will not fear"
1. Faith emerges and soars
2. When faith comes fears flee
3. Where is our faith?
4. Is it in the One who calmed the sea?
B. No fear...
1. No fear though the earth be removed (v. 2)
2. No fear though the mountains fall into the sea (v. 2)
3. Though waves rage on the seas (v. 3)
4. Though earthquakes shake the mountains (v. 3)
C. Peace multiplies here as we look toward heaven
1. The river of life is there
2. The city of God is there
3. Jesus is preparing a place there
(John 14:1-3) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
D. Meanwhile, the Lord of hosts is with us right now. (v. 7)
III. God's Promises (vv. 8-11)
A. God is at work even when our world is shaking.
(Rom 8:28) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
B. God overrules in the affairs of men.
1. Sennacherib boasted that God couldn't protect nor deliver them out of his hand.
2. But God overruled!
3. The Angel of the Lord smote the camp and 5180 Assyrian soldiers were dead!
4. Sennacherib escaped only to be assassinated later by his own sons.
C. We can be still and leave the future with God.
1. When He saves us through faith in Christ, we become a part of His loving family.
(Rom 5:1) "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
(John 1:12-13) "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: {13} Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
2. God will take care of His own!
3. We can trust Him on that point.
4. So when the foundations are shaking and the dark clouds are forming, we can take refuge in Him!
Notice today that this Psalm begins and ends with the statement that God is our refuge. What a wonderful comfort for times of trouble. We begin and end each day in God's presence.
God is sufficient when our world is shaking. We can trust Him to bring us through safely. This morning, do you know Him this morning. Do you have a personal relationship with the One who can and will deliver us through whatever disaster we might face?
Come to the Lord today. Jesus died that we might have eternal life. Will you come this morning? Christians, are you seeking refuge in Him today? "He is a very present help in trouble." Come today.