It really and truly was my intention to not even mention the c-word that’s been all over the news and media in the last couple weeks. No need to add my voice to the already-clamorous din, right? After all, everything that I could say has probably already been said, and likely more eloquently anyway. But it seems that the Lord had other plans, and when the Lord prompts, it’s best to shut up and obey. To be honest, sometimes the first instance doesn’t sink in anyway and we need a little repetition.
Psalm 75:1-3 “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. ‘At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah’ “.
These few verses, and the rest of the chapter as well, do a couple different things for us. Firstly, they remind us of the character of the Lord. He judges with equity, that is to say, rightly and fairly, justly. He is not distant or far off, but a God who is near. He hears, He sees, He knows all the chaos that is ensuing. And He’s not surprised. He does wondrous deeds. Not simply ho-hum, run-of-the-mill, nothing-to-see-here deeds (though it’s fair to say that He works through those ordinary moments as well), but wondrous deeds. Deeds that (should) leave us awed and amazed.
Secondly, this passage reminds us that the Lord holds all things together. “When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants” – anyone else think that the earth and all its inhabitants seem a bit (or a lot) shaky in recent days? But here we find assurance that when (not if) we find our situation, whether “merely” personal or more broadly, to be precarious, the Lord keeps the pillars of the earth steady. The Lord is still on His throne. Though a time is coming when all that can be shaken will be (Heb 12:25-29), that time is not now (I don’t believe so, anyway) and we can be sure that the kingdom of God will not be shaken.
Thirdly, in this passage we find our response. We thank the Lord for His steadfast presence, His justice, His immutability. We recount His wondrous deeds that display His abundant faithfulness and care. And we trust in His goodness while we wait, knowing that He Himself is steady and certain and unchanging.
For more encouragement, have a listen to “Rejoice, the Lord is King” or read the lyrics.
Thanks for not mentioning the C word. Our media in the past 40 yrs, if not longer, seems to concentrate and highlight the bad news and events and we have to dig for the good news. In 1983, Anne Murray came out with a song called “A Little Good News”. Basically she expresses how great it would be if no crime or despair was reported by the news casters that day. As Christians, we know that our God is in control and that we have peace beyond understanding. Now is the time that we can share the “good” news with the people around us. Isaiah 40:31
Thank you for that beautiful reminder. Well said Hannah. So thankful for our Rock and our Redeemer.
We can never be reminded too much that God is in control.
Yes! I love the way you drew out beautiful, comforting truths from this passage. Thank you for sharing this.
When I read your posts it is soothing to my soul….Thank you Jesus for this true Warrior of yours
Thanks, Hannah, for this timely encouragement. The Lord holds all things together… yes!