Discover His heart: His Presence is a river of joy in our lives
Watching the news unfold today is not for the faint of heart. Many parts of the world are filled with political chaos while other areas are facing catastrophic events unlike any time in history. Individuals performing ordinary tasks on any given day have had their world turned upside down with earthquakes, floods or storms, but we can take heart in the words of Jesus, “when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.” (Matthew 24:33)
This section of Psalms begins with a prophetic account of the marriage of Christ and His bride, the Church, in Psalm 45. The King, anointed with the oil of joy (7) at this happiest of all occasions is joined with His Bride, who has left her past life (10) for the delight of one who loves her eternally. These are the things of which movies are made, and one day, this will be our reality! But until then…
@ Psalm 46
Psalm 46 reminds us of the protection He offers His beloved as we wait for His return. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”(1) Have we seen any trouble lately? “So we will not fear when earthquakes come and mountains crumble into the sea.”(2) Hundreds of earthquakes around the world are reported each day, ever growing in strength. “The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!” (6) Have we ever seen a day like today where countries are facing national bankruptcy, with our own country on the verge of collapse at times? “God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!” (6) Today we see tsunamis leveling cities and lava destroying everything in its path, filling the air with volcanic ash. Fearsome are the days in which we live.
However, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us.” (7) We will not fear! Even though the events surrounding Jerusalem at the time this Psalm was written were chaotic, there was a river bringing joy to the city, “A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.” (4). No, Jerusalem did not have a river like we would think; it was a different kind of river. It was a river of joy from the throne of God, filling God’s people with His presence regardless of the circumstances surrounding them. As long as they stayed in the river, peace and joy were theirs.
We, too, have a river of joy, the very presence of God flowing through our lives to bring peace and joy in troubled times. We should not fret and wail like those who have no hope, but we should follow His advice, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (10) I stand silent in His Presence.
Moving Forward: I will not fear. I will remain in the river of joy today, ever confident that “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us!” (11) We are not alone.
Tomorrow @ Job 31-32
Phyllis Benigas 