Good News in the Midst of Tragedy
Psalm 46: 1 – 11
Introduction
Certain tragedies have defined generations of Americans. These tragedies are memorable events in our lives…even to the point that we discuss these tragedies by asking, “Where were you when you heard _____?
The GI Generation was defined by the events of December 7, 1941. They form community around the question, “Where were you when you heard that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor?
The Baby Boomers are defined by November 22, 1963. They form community around the question, “Where were you when you heard that John F. Kennedy was shot?”
My generation, Generation X, is defined by January 28, 1986. Our question is, “Where were you when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on takeoff?”
The Millennial Generation is defined by September 11, 2001. They ask each other, “Where were you when terrorists hijacked four airplanes and used them as weapons against our nation?”
You can sort of determine how old a person is based on how many of those questions they can answer. I can only answer two. I was in ninth grade and at home sick when I watched the Space Shuttle Challenger explode on takeoff. The television station cut away from The Price Is Right to show the launch live, because Christa McAuliffe was to be the first teacher in space. On September 11, 2001, I was pastor of FBC Canton, Mississippi. I heard about the first plane on the radio after I took Collin to school. Then, I watched the second plane and the rest of the events in the church office—unable to do anything but watch the news on TV.
For some reason, we feel compelled to talk about where we were when we experienced these tragedies. Perhaps it would be better for us to ask and answer a different question. For example, we could ask, “Where was God on September 11?”
There are a couple of ways we could answer this question biblically. We could answer it by recalling the stories of the Bible.
The Book of Exodus tells the miraculous story of how God used Moses to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. It all began when God spoke to Moses from a burning bush, while he was shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep in the desert. At the burning bush, God promised that he would be with Moses. And God proved his ongoing presence by giving Moses a miraculous stick—a staff which represented God and reminded Moses of God’s power every time it turned into a snake.
When Moses led God’s people out of Egyptian slavery, God again promised that he would be present with them. And God proved his presence by providing a visual reminder. While they were travelling through the desert for 40 years, every day and every night they remembered God’s presence. It was right there in front of them—a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. No matter how difficult their lives were in the desert, they knew God was present with them. When they were hungry, God was there. When they were thirsty, God was there. When they were tired, weary and lonely, God was there. God is present when God’s people suffer.
We can see the same point illustrated in the New Testament in the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus was not an ordinary man. Jesus is the unique, virgin-born Son of God. Jesus set an example for us in the way he lived his life. Even though Jesus was a human, just like you and me…Even though Jesus faced temptations, just like you and me…Jesus lived a sinless life. Jesus upheld and fulfilled the Law in all of its fullness. However, even Jesus experienced suffering. Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples. Jesus was abandoned by all of his disciples. Jesus was falsely accused by the religious leaders. Jesus was beaten and crucified by the Romans. Jesus experienced all of the pain we face as humans.
God has one child without sin, but none of God’s children escape suffering.
For this reason, I think it is safe to say that the crucifixion of Jesus, the Son of God, demonstrates how God is present when God’s people suffer.
Where was God on September 11? God was in the same place where he was when the Hebrew people were travelling in the desert for 40 years. God was present with his suffering people. Where was God on September 11? God was in the same place where he was when Jesus was on the cross. God was present in the suffering of his people.
On one hand, we can answer the question “Where was God?” by looking at the stories of the Bible. On the other hand, we can read Scriptures like Psalm 46.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
(NIV)
There is a recurring theme in this Psalm. Simply stated, it affirms the presence of God. Psalm 46 tells us that God is present four times—verse 1, “ever-present help;” verse 5, “God is within her (the city of God);” verse 7, “The LORD Almighty is with us;” and verse 11, “The LORD Almighty is with us.” God is present in all circumstances…including the times when we are facing tragedies.
God Is Our Shelter
One type of trouble we face comes in the form of natural disaster. Psalm 46 describes natural disaster as those times when the earth gives way under our feet, the mountains fall into the sea, the sea churns chaotically, and the mountains rise and fall on the horizon. This sounds like an earthquake.
Many of us have never lived through an earthquake…But we face our own kinds of natural disasters here in East Texas. We have tornadoes and hurricanes. No matter where we live, we have to live with natural disaster of one kind or another.
No matter what kind of natural disaster we face, we experience fear and uncertainty. In an earthquake, the ground moves beneath our feet. In a tornado or hurricane, it seems like the sky is falling down on top of us. We watch the storms on television and wit until the weatherman tells us to “seek shelter immediately.”
That is what Psalm 46 is telling us about God. God is our refuge…Our shelter. He is the only one who can protect us when the ground and the sky are not stable. God remains stable and unchanging in all circumstances.
Of course, earthquakes and tornadoes are not the only kinds of natural disaster we face. Cancer and other life-threatening illnesses are natural disasters. A diagnosis can shake us to our foundations and send us seeking shelter.
We can usually pick out the false teachers and preachers when they tell us that bad things don’t happen to good people. We recognize this as a perversion of Christian faith. But, deep down we believe it. We can deal with the sufferings of other people. We just can’t deal with our own sufferings. When a fine Christian person loses their house to a wildfire or a hurricane, we affirm that sometimes bad things happen to good people. But when we are facing disaster, we become just like the false teachers and ask, “Why me? Why is this happening to me?”
The Bible does not tell us that we will never face natural disaster. The Bible never says that God sends hurricanes to punish sinful people living on the Gulf Coast. The Bible teaches us that we will all face disasters. BUT, Christian people are the only ones who have a refuge and shelter in the presence of God.
The only true refuge and shelter is God himself. And Psalm 46 affirms that God is with us no matter the circumstances. He is with us in the good times and in the bad times.
God Is Our Security
Another type of trouble we face is political turmoil. When nations can’t get along with each other and when diplomacy fails, there is war. Psalm 46 mentions war by referring to the implements of war in the ancient world—bows, spears and shields. If Psalm 46 were written today, it would refer to machine guns, bombs and airplanes.
Verses 4 – 6 describe the “city of God.” There is no mention of the name of this city, but it seems likely to be a reference to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the city of God, because it was home to the Temple and the religious leaders. It was also the home to the political leaders of Israel—the people of God.
Since Jerusalem was such an important city to Israel, it was a fortified city. It was built on a hill, so there were clear sight-lines to give the citizens plenty of warning if an enemy army was approaching. It was built inside a strong wall, so when the enemies came the people could feel safe and secure behind locked gates. It was protected by armed soldiers to fight and defend the religious and political valuables. This kind of security was human-created. Yet, the Psalmist makes no mention of the human-created securities around the city.
Instead, the Psalmist says that the city is safe, because God is within the city. All other security can fail when we are confronted by our enemies.
We can make the same mistake in the Twenty-First Century. The United States Military is the best military on the face of the earth. They protect us and defend our freedoms. However, they are not our ultimate security.
The economy of the United States of America is the best economy on the face of the earth. It provides us with economic opportunity, food, basic human needs, access to consumer goods which we want (not need), and services that are not available anywhere else in the world. But, our economy is not really doing very well right now. Perhaps this is a good time for us to realize where we can find true security. After all, it is printed right there on all of our money… “In God we trust.” Money can’t protect us. It is a false sense of security. It can even be a false god.
The only true security in life comes from God himself. God is our security, because God is the source of our salvation. Security comes by knowing we are loved by the God who created the universe. This same God went to great lengths to know you and to be known by you. God wants to be in relationship with you. God pursued Israel as his people. He gave them his Law and made a covenant with them, asking them to become a banner and a light for all nations of the earth. God sent his only Son, Jesus, to live as our example, to die as our sacrifice, and to rise again as our only hope for eternal salvation. Nothing else on earth can provide you with that kind of security.
God Is Our Strength
Psalm 46 reminds us that God is present with us regardless of our circumstances. God’s presence in our lives serves two distinct roles.
On one hand, God serves as our passive strength—a shelter to run to when everything is falling apart. Think of a tornado shelter or a safe room in your house. When the weather is bad, we run to the shelter. When life is uncertain, we run to God as our shelter.
On the other hand, God serves as our active strength. He strengthens us in our weaknesses. We are not strong enough to stand up to temptation. We are not strong enough to face the evil in our world—like the terrorists who want to destroy us simply because we are American citizens
The Apostle Paul teaches us about the active strength on God when he teaches us about the Full Armor of God in Ephesians 6: 10 – 13, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the Full Armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the Full Armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Notice that the only power we have in the face of evil is the power God gives us. He strengthens us. We cannot face evil in our own strength.
Also notice that Paul doesn’t say anything about fighting. God gives us the strength. God gives us the Armor. God gives this to us so that we can STAND.
When your world is falling apart and even the ground you are standing on seems unsure, God will be your shelter and give you the strength to STAND.
When everything you have done to make your own life secure has been taken away from you, God will be your security and give you the strength to STAND.
Conclusion
September 11 was one of those moments for us as Americans. Everything was taken away from us. No one had ever attacked us within our own borders—at least not within the Continental 48 states.
On September 11, our lives were changed. Everything changed. Our politics changed. Our feelings of safety changed. Our economy changed.
But there is something that has not changed. Rather there is someone who has not changed. God has NOT changed. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Do you find your security and strength in the presence of God? Or do you look for something else?
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