Psalm 42-46

Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;  3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.  5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.  6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.  7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.  9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.  10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

“Cease striving and know that I am God”.  We often try to shape the world.  We may not personally start wars and fight in battles but we may have the same attitude.  We may have the attitude that we need to shape the world.  We need to strive to help God out and reform his creation into what he wants.  “Cease striving and know that I am God.”

We do not recreate the world.  We do not reform our world so that it is in line with God’s will.  God does that.  Sometimes he uses us to achieve his purposes.  Our first question should never be “how is the world out of line with God’s will.”  That is arogent and presupposes we fully know God’s will.  Rather, we must first recognize that God is God and will achieve his purposes. Then we can humbly ask “how would you use me?”

God may not use us to directly change the wrongs we see with the world.  But if we humbly approach and submit to God, he will use us.  We do not impose our will on the world, we allow God to impose his will on us.

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