Part 4 of a 5-part devotional by Brent Lanigan
The psalms are some of the most beautiful books written in the Bible. They articulate many emotions that people experience throughout their lives – both in times of contentment and in crisis moments. There are many psalms that reflect people’s praise to God: their joy, worship and adoration of him. But did you know that there are also psalms that express peoples’ honest and raw emotions: their fears, anxiety and hopelessness?
During this COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps you or your family are feeling overwhelmed in a way that you have never experienced before. The beauty of these “comfort psalms” is that they don’t leave us feeling emotionally helpless. Instead, because these passages beautifully reflect pictures of God’s caring character, we are reminded of how much God loves us. Comfort psalms give us hope, peace and assurance that God is always with us and fully understands all the emotions that we feel deeply during times of crisis. Are your ready to discover God in the comfort psalms? Let’s get started:
Part 4: God Is Our Fortress
Psalm 46: 1-3, 7, 10 (of the Sons of Korah) 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. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Historical Tidbit
One of the most impregnable fortresses in history was a fortress named Janjira Jal Durg (Sea Fort). Completed in 1567AD, with walls close to 40 feet high and 19 towers supporting as many cannons, it remains the only fortress in India to have never been conquered by any army. Now a modern day tourist attraction, the fort remains almost completely intact today, with not even the everyday forces of wind and waves able to topple it. Even today, to history buffs the world over, it remains a monument to the marvels of ancient engineering. But what is the only thing better than an impregnable fortress? God as our Fortress.
Scripture Study
Have you ever seen a fierce ocean storm portrayed in a movie or tv show like ‘Deadliest Catch’? Being caught in that kind of a storm is a no-win situation. Why? Because of the destructive force and power of the wind and waves and the realization that nature cannot be controlled by anything people say or do. The Sons of Korah was a choir that created temple songs for King David and his people to sing. They had songs for all kinds of occasions, including the one reflected in Psalm 46. The nation of Israel was constantly under attack by enemy nations and so songs were often written to remind the people of who they could turn to when they felt the storms of life swirling around them. Like Israel, this psalm song reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Though our world feels like it is falling apart and our daily lives are being altered because of COVID – 19 (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), we do not need to fear because the Lord Almighty is our fortress. And as our Almighty Fortress, God will still our churning, swirling emotions of panic and anxiety caused by the storm of this pandemic. How? By whispering to us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” So don’t let fear and panic overwhelm you. As our Fortress, God has everything under his control, even this pandemic. As our Fortress, nothing can overwhelm or topple him. What a fantastic promise!
Questions to Discuss Together
1) If you were building an impregnable fortress, what would it look like and where would you locate it?
2) Does picturing God as a Fortress make sense to you? Why or why not?
3) How can God calm any stormy emotions like fear or panic that may be swirling around you because of COVID – 19?
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for being our Fortress and having everything in our world under control including COVID – 19. Thank you that nothing can overwhelm or topple you. Help us to be still and trust you during this pandemic and remember that you have everything under control. Amen.