This has been a week that our church and our country will never forget. We had Roger Peterson’s funeral here on Tuesday, the same day that our world was rocked by reports of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
Preaching involves at least two responsibilities. The first is to explain the Bible and relate it to life. The second is to take life and explain it in light of Scripture. My goal this morning is to accomplish both of these purposes. Let me begin by making four introductory comments.
1. Like you, I have experienced a wide variety of emotions this week. I’ve been in shock, disbelief, horror, anger, and outrage. And I’ve been ambushed by a flood of tears on several occasions as I try to imagine the grief that thousands of families are experiencing right now. It’s normal, natural and necessary to allow our emotions to come out. Jesus said in Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” One of my college roommates sent me an email that describes his struggle to respond to this disaster when he writes: “I don’t really know how to think right now, as a believer. This tragedy has cut a deep gash in my ability to contemplate anything other than just retaliation against whoever coordinated this attack.”
2. I’m not going to comment on how our government should respond. I will say that enormous wisdom is required and we need to pray accordingly for our leaders. I do know that we should avoid responding out of anger and rage if at all possible.
3. I know that I will not be able to address all the questions you may have. My purpose this morning is to help draw our attention back to God and to allow Him to speak to us through His Word. Like the words of the song we just heard, “Jesus will hold us when we’re shaking like a leaf.”
4. My desire is to respond as a Christian, not just as an American. This is very difficult to do because my sense of patriotism is at an all-time high. That image of the flag held up by three firefighters hits me right in the gut. If you’ve served in the armed forces in any capacity, would you please stand so we can recognize you? As American as I am, my desire this morning is to filter my words through the grid of God’s Word. Let’s continue to sing “God bless America” but let’s not forget that we are called to be “world-Christians” because we serve a global God.
We’ll Never Be the Same
Former NATO Supreme Commander, General Wesley Clark, was interviewed on Tuesday morning and ended his comments with a haunting question, “Will we ever be the same?” I want to give you my answer to that question. “I hope not.”
The worst thing that could happen in all this tragedy is that, after all the details are sorted out, and the pieces are picked up, that we would go back to the way we were before. We must not stay the same. We must never be the same again.
Please turn in your Bibles to Psalm 46. This song was written in the context of problems, stress, and uncertainty. The writer’s world was crumbling all around him. This Psalm was written with the nation of Israel in mind, but it certainly applies to us today. In fact, Billy Graham read the first two verses of Psalm 46 at the National Cathedral on Friday. A nation is strong when their trust is in God. The source of our strength cannot be in our government, our economy, our buildings, or anything else that is temporary. We must return to God.
Before we get into the Psalm, let me point out the use of the word “Selah” after verse 3, verse 7, and verse 11. This curious phrase is most likely a musical rest, in which the singers stopped singing and only the instruments were heard. According to one Bible dictionary, this phrase can also signify a musical crescendo that is then followed by silent reflection. It also carries with it the idea of “meditation.” In Psalm 46, we’re called to pause and meditate three different times so that we can comprehend what God is saying to us. For our purposes this morning, we’ll follow this natural outline and pause at these same spots.
We’re reminded of three essential truths about God from this passage. God demonstrates His dependability through:
His Protection (1-3)
His Presence (4-7)
His Position (8-11)
His Protection
Follow along as I read Psalm 46:1-3: “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. Selah.”
In the midst of whatever we’re feeling today, God desires to be our refuge, our strength, and our help. God is our refuge even when what seems permanent is demolished. When the world crashes in around us, God is still there, protecting us. The word “refuge” literally means “to flee,” as in running to a shelter. The idea is that God wants us to run to Him for protection. The word “strength” implies that we can rely on His might when we feel weak and defenseless.
The phrase “ever-present help” means that God is quick to give assistance. It literally means that He has “proved” Himself to be such a help in the past and we can therefore trust in Him in the present. Because of this we do not have to fear. The word “trouble” can mean, “affliction, distress, or tribulation.” God is calling us today to not live in fear because He is our refuge, strength and help. If we run to Him we will not be afraid. Verse 2 is true only if verse 1 is true. If God is your refuge and strength, you don’t have anything to worry about this morning. He will do His part as you seek protection in Him.
In verse 2 the writer is imagining the worst calamity that could possibly hit his people as he describes earthquakes, volcanoes erupting, and mountains slipping into the sea. Even though the “earth gives way,” or the landscape suddenly changes, we don’t have to be afraid. Mountains provided refuge in times of war and were considered to be the most secure part of nature. They were the most fixed and firm things on earth. This tragedy in New York and Washington, D.C. has hit us hard as a country because the World Trade Center symbolized economic power and stability. The Pentagon has stood for security, protection, and military supremacy.
Verse 3 describes the roaring waters of the sea, which is a picture of our lives when they’re out of control. “Roaring,” means to “be in great commotion, to rage, or be at war.” Our country is in commotion as we wonder what will happen next. When the “mountains quake with their surging” refers to the pride or haughtiness of the mountains. Our sense of pride and invulnerability as a country has been replaced with quaking and concern about the future.
When we saw those twin towers collapse, something fell apart inside us. If we become more humble as a result, and recognize that God is our protector, our faith can cast out fear. The psalmist is saying that when that which is secure is suddenly gone, we’re to seek refuge in God Himself. Our sense of helplessness and fear should drive us to Him. I’m praying that this tragedy will bring us to our knees and cause us to be a more humble nation as 2 Chronicles 7:14 so beautifully puts it: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The first “Selah” is used at the end of verse 3. Let’s pause here and reflect silently upon God’s protection and our need to seek refuge in Him. Confess any personal sins, any sins in our church, and the sins of our nation right now.
His Presence
Let’s look at verses 4-7: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”
God protects us when we seek refuge in Him. Fortunately, we don’t have to run far to find Him because His presence is right here with us. Verse 4 paints a picture that is easy for us to miss. First of all, the city of God is Jerusalem. While it was a very beautiful city, it had no river that ran through it like the other major cities and countries of that day. Babylon was built on the Euphrates. Egypt had the Nile. Rome had the Tiber. Jerusalem did not have a physical river but it had something even better the very presence of God.
God’s grace flows through like a river that brings gladness and joy to His people. While the ocean rages and foams, God’s presence is depicted as a calm and gently flowing stream. This image in Scripture is used to represent happiness, abundance, and peace, even when everything else is falling apart.
God’s presence with His people is one of the central truths of Scripture. Verse 5 says that “God is within her” and verse 7 declares that the “Lord Almighty is with us.” This is from the root word “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” and was used in Matthew 1:23 to refer to Jesus. That means that when we put our faith in Jesus, we have “God with us” at all times.
Notice the last part of verse 5: “God will help her at the break of day.” No matter how bad things get, God’s presence means that He will help us. When we wake up to start a brand new day, we will experience what Jeremiah did in Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God is faithful to us. He will never leave us or forsake us.
President Bush reminded the nation of this truth when he quoted part of Romans 8:39 in his speech at Friday’s national prayer service: “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God is present with His people even when “nations are in uproar and kingdoms fall” according to verse 6. “Uproar” is the same word that is used in verse 3 to describe the roar of the waters. When the nations are agitated like the waves of the sea, God is still with His people. As we contemplate what it means to hear our president and secretary of state use terms like “war” and “protracted campaign to eradicate terrorism,” we can take comfort in the fact that God is with us. No matter how bad things get, we can always count on His presence. The last part of verse 6 reminds us of God’s incredible power. When “he lifts his voice, the earth melts.” What we saw this week is nothing compared to the awesome power of God. The raging world melts or dissolves before Him.
Verse 7 concludes by saying that the “God of Jacob is our fortress.” As in verse 1, God is depicted not only as powerful, but also as a fortress that we can run to for safety. By the way, this is the text that moved Martin Luther to write the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The description of God as “The Lord Almighty” in the first part of verse 7 means, “The Lord of Hosts.” The hosts refer to all the armies of heaven. The Lord Almighty has all the hosts of heaven ready to do His work. As such, we can take comfort in His presence as we seek His protection.
Let’s pause at this second “Selah” and thank God for His presence with us.
His Position
We can depend on God during times like this because of His protection, His presence, and finally, because of His position. Notice verses 8-11: “Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”
As a nation, and as a church, according to verse 8 we’re called to “come and see the works of the Lord.” This word means to “run or pursue” in order to “see,” which refers to “gazing, contemplating, or perceiving.” I’ve been amazed at how people are seeking the Lord right now. My friend Pastor Ray told me that his church in Chicago got a phone call at about 11:00 on Friday morning from the Old Navy store located about four blocks away. They wanted to know if Calvary was having a service at noon. When they found out they were, the manager said, “We’ll be there.” They closed the whole store, locked the doors, and all the employees walked to church and sat down in the front of the sanctuary. Ray concluded his email with these words, “I’ve read stories about days of long ago when stores closed for prayer meetings but never saw it happening with my own eyes until today.”
Verse 9 shows us that in His position as the Almighty God, He can make “wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.” The Assyrian empire was at that time the mightiest on the globe. It had already overrun many of the smaller kingdoms and had hoped to conquer the entire world. But God had other plans. A broken bow is of no value and a spear that is shattered is no longer effective. Shields set on fire cannot function. In His position as sovereign king, God is in charge!
Verse 10 calls us to bow before His position as sovereign ruler. We’re called to “Be still and know that I am God.” To “be still” means to “cast down or let fall.” It’s the idea of not putting forth exertion. The picture is of letting our hands fall to our sides, as we leave matters with God. We’re not to just have a “moment of silence” or even to just be quiet. The purpose is so that we can know God. To “know” means to “acknowledge and comprehend, or to discover.” We can’t even begin to know God experientially until we become still before Him. This is actually a rebuke. We’re to cease striving and working in our own self-effort and submit ourselves to God.
Notice the last part of verse 10: “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” As we quiet our souls and reflect upon His position as Lord over the whole world, we will recognize His supremacy and inevitable triumph over the nations. Until we’re still and quiet before Him, the awesome reality of His coming exaltation among all the nations will not impact us. Friends, no matter what happens, remember this: God will be exalted among the nations!
Philippians 2:10-11: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Verse 11 is a great summary statement of this entire psalm. Because “the Lord almighty is with us, and the God of Jacob is our fortress,” we can trust Him. The Lord of Hosts…
• in His position as supreme commander of the armies of heaven
• is present with us.
• Because of that we can run to Him for protection.
Jesus Christ is God and Lord of history. Nothing has happened outside of His plan. Nothing ever leaves him bewildered or astonished. Nothing ever catches him by surprise. Though there is tragedy and war, though the mountains fall into the sea, those who know Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. Whether nature wreaks havoc, or the nations rage against one another, God is our refuge. If war comes, God will still provide His protection and presence because of His position as Lord of Hosts. He will ultimately triumph.
Let’s pause here at the final “Selah” and be still before God. Affirm the central truth of Scripture that He is supreme and will be exalted among the nations.
Action Steps
It’s difficult to know how to respond to what happened in our country this week. But I feel compelled to conclude with at least 5 action steps.
1. Get right with God. As Billy Graham said, those people who died on Tuesday were not planning to die. They got up in the morning, jumped on a plane or went to work. They had no idea that they’d wake up in eternity. The real tragedy is that some of them ended up in the eternal fires of hell because they had not confessed the name of Jesus Christ while they were alive. Friends, if you have not yet put your faith in Jesus for forgiveness of your sins, you must do so before it’s too late!
Let me restate what I said at Roger Peterson’s funeral on Tuesday. James 4:14 asks the question, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Proverbs 27:1 reminds us to “not boast about tomorrow because we don’t know what a day will bring forth.”
Life is way too unpredictable and too brief to live it without God at the center. We count our lives in years but God tells us in Psalm 90:12 to number our days. The truth of the matter is that everybody in this room is just one heartbeat away from eternity. A car accident, or even a terrorist attack, could snuff out your life in an instant. In 1 Samuel 20:3, David said, “Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
Interestingly, in Luke 13:5, when Jesus gave his commentary on why another tower fell in the first century and killed 18 construction workers, He didn’t give a theological treatise on the problem of evil. Instead, he personalized the tragedy and said, “Unless you repent, you too will perish.” We’re all going to die, one way or another, therefore we must get ready. If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, you need to do it right now, before it’s too late!
2. Get ready for the return of Jesus. This tragic event serves as a reminder that this world will not last forever. Jesus is coming back and we better be ready. Luke 21:10-11 gives us a taste of what it will be like in the last days: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” I’m not implying that Tuesday’s attack is an indication that Jesus is coming back today, though He might. At the very minimum, this tragedy should remind us that an even greater event of even more sudden destruction than last week’s horror awaits mankind. As such we need to be ready. 1 John 2:28 is written to believers: “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
3. Tell others about Jesus. I’ve been struck by the images of the rescue workers who have worked so diligently to find people who are trapped. As I’ve watched, I can’t help but wonder if I exhibit that same zeal to help rescue people who are trapped in their sins. Instead of spending time with people who are surrounded by life’s debris, many of us insulate ourselves from those who need rescuing.
Friends, a crisis always creates opportunity. When Jesus describes the signs of the end of the age, He tells his followers in Luke 21:13 that, “this will result in your being witnesses to them.” I’ve had several significant conversations this week with people who are not yet believers. There is unprecedented openness to spiritual matters right now. Even Madonna, in her concert on Friday night in California, led people in prayer! Talk to your friends and family members about a relationship with Jesus. Don’t hold back. Let’s be bold and point people to Christ.
4. Time for the church to be the church. We focused on this theme three weeks ago from Acts 2:42-47 and these events have highlighted the importance of the church acting like the church. Let’s stop playing games. Let’s bind together in unity and minister side-by-side with each other. Let’s pray as if everything depends on God, because it does! Let’s deal decisively with sin in our lives and practice grace and forgiveness with others.
When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor 60 years ago this December, there was a feeling of exhilaration among our enemies. But one man knew better. Japanese Admiral Yamamoto knew that rather than victory, Japan had instead sowed the seeds for its final defeat. In his famous quote he said, “We have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”
While this terrorist attack may indeed awaken America, my prayer is that the sleeping giant called the church will wake up and resolve to exalt God through instruction, ministry, prayer, adoration, caring, and telling others the gospel.
5. Love people who are different than us. Jesus spoke some words that are difficult for us to hear because we’re in the middle of trying to sort out our feelings. Listen to what He said in Matthew 5:43-45: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…”
This is radical. God calls us to love and pray for those who were behind this attack. Let’s pray that they would see the evil of their deeds and bow before Jesus and recognize Him as their Savior. Related to this, let’s make sure that we are not judging and blaming everyone who happens to be from the Middle East. People who have no value for life committed this act of horror. Stand up for those who may be wrongly and falsely persecuted in the days to come.
“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 sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Will we be the same? No, we won’t be the same and we can’t be the same. May God be exalted in His church and may God bless America. Amen.
