Weekly Devotion no 19
7 August 2020
Bible reading – Psalm 93
1 The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.
5 Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
Reflection
God is
sovereign – the God who created the world is in control. He is the King – he is
robed in majesty. He is steadfast and sure. God is the same yesterday, today
and forever. He is constant. He is worthy. He is holy.
The
picture here is not just of a calm sea brushing the shoreline. It is a fierce
and ferocious sea stirred up and crashing against the shore. The sea is to be
feared – it can create damage, it can take lives. Those who travail the high
seas know its power and its ability to destroy a boat with a single crash of a
wave. The sea can be terrifying and deafening. And yet, God is mightier.
We recall
the story of Jesus calming the storm, where the wind and the waves obeyed him,[1]
as a sign of his triumph over the ultimate chaos of sin and death on the cross.
Because of God’s power, shown in creation and in our salvation, the world can
be a safe place for us, even though it might not appear to be on the surface.
At the
moment, in our declared State of Disaster, it might feel like the seas are too strong,
our shores can’t take any more pounding. But our God is mightier than the seas.
Through Jesus, the proper order of creation will be restored. Our hope is in
him, so we need not fear, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains
quake with their surging.[2]
Our hope is steadfast and sure, because our God is holy for all eternity.
Hymn
Verse 1
Come, let us to the Lord our God
with contrite hearts return;
our God is gracious, nor will leave
the desolate to mourn.
with contrite hearts return;
our God is gracious, nor will leave
the desolate to mourn.
Verse 2
His voice commands the tempest forth,
and stills the stormy wave;
and though his arm be strong to smite,
'tis also strong to save.
and stills the stormy wave;
and though his arm be strong to smite,
'tis also strong to save.
Verse 3
Long has the night of
sorrow reigned;the dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise
with gladness in his sight.
Verse 4
Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
shall know him and rejoice;
his coming like the morn shall be,
like morning songs his voice.
shall know him and rejoice;
his coming like the morn shall be,
like morning songs his voice.
Verse 5
As dew upon the tender herb,
diffusing fragrance round;
as showers that usher in the spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:
diffusing fragrance round;
as showers that usher in the spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:
Verse 6
So shall his presence bless
our souls,and shed a joyful light;
that hallowed morn shall chase away
the sorrows of the night.
John Morrison 1749-1798 © Public Domain CCLI:69198
Prayer
Almighty
God,
whose
sovereign purpose none can make void:
give us
faith to be steadfast amid the tumults of this world,
knowing
that your kingdom shall come
and
your will be done,
to your
eternal glory;
through
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
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