Storms end, and calm seas return, but a damaged ship needs to return to port and find that solid ground of their lives again.”
–Kenneth Pratt (Everson Solstice)
“I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm.”
–Psalm 55:8 (HCSB)
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Imagine! Imagine your life without God. If God wasn’t there to guide your steps what possibly could have happened? If the Holy Spirit wasn’t directing you in decision-making, where might you be? That is something we should think about and is the thoughts in the first few verses of Psalm 124.
1 — “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” let Israel now say–
2 — “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
3 — Then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
4 — Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
5 — Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.” (NKJV)
This Psalm can speak of the past history of Israel, but it might also be a song regarding the current trek. The road was full of dangers from obstacles to thieves who would not hesitate to steal and beat the pilgrim and then leave him for dead. This is a Psalm of great encouragement! Think back to the times when the Lord delivered you. F.B. Meyer states, “One shudders to think what and where we might have been without the delivering, preserving hand of our God”.
Stop and think for a minute of those times. See, this is a very important Psalm for us to consider. It should remind each of us of the times that God delivered in the past, and if He did it then, when present trials and troubles come our way we can more easily depend on Him for deliverance again. Maybe the writer looked back down the trail at the ravine that he just crossed. He may remember a time when he was almost washed away in a flash flood. Being from Colorado, and also here in Texas those flash floods come without warning. What was the flood in your life that almost swept you away? Maybe there was more than one. How did you make it to safety? It was not because of advance warning, because the waters came suddenly and rapidly.
Think for a moment of the floods that have come your way. A flood composed of sickness, a traumatic accident or diagnosis, crime, natural disasters, the betrayal of a friend. and others that could be listed. But wait, you went through them, or were kept from them. God doesn’t promise to save us from the trials and troubles of life. Daniel went into the lions’ den. The Hebrew children went into the fiery furnace. The children of Israel traveled through the waters that were parted. In dire times the words of Jesus may come to you, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” (Luke 12:4, NKJV)
One more thought: who is it that you give credit for salvation? Who saved you from the terrible flood? Who brought you through to victory in the terrible battle. When the storm howls, and do not forget that Satan howls like a roaring lion, who is it that holds you secure? Since you have looked back at some of the trials and victories in your life, now go back and give proper credit for the success, for the salvation.
“‘Til the storm passes over,
‘Til the thunder sounds no more,
‘Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of Thy hand:
Keep me safe ’til the storm passes by.”
–Mosie Lister
————————————
Imagine! Imagine your life without God. If God wasn’t there to guide your steps what possibly could have happened? If the Holy Spirit wasn’t directing you in decision-making, where might you be? That is something we should think about and is the thoughts in the first few verses of Psalm 124.
1 — “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” let Israel now say–
2 — “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
3 — Then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
4 — Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
5 — Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.” (NKJV)
This Psalm can speak of the past history of Israel, but it might also be a song regarding the current trek. The road was full of dangers from obstacles to thieves who would not hesitate to steal and beat the pilgrim and then leave him for dead. This is a Psalm of great encouragement! Think back to the times when the Lord delivered you. F.B. Meyer states, “One shudders to think what and where we might have been without the delivering, preserving hand of our God”.
Stop and think for a minute of those times. See, this is a very important Psalm for us to consider. It should remind each of us of the times that God delivered in the past, and if He did it then, when present trials and troubles come our way we can more easily depend on Him for deliverance again. Maybe the writer looked back down the trail at the ravine that he just crossed. He may remember a time when he was almost washed away in a flash flood. Being from Colorado, and also here in Texas those flash floods come without warning. What was the flood in your life that almost swept you away? Maybe there was more than one. How did you make it to safety? It was not because of advance warning, because the waters came suddenly and rapidly.
Think for a moment of the floods that have come your way. A flood composed of sickness, a traumatic accident or diagnosis, crime, natural disasters, the betrayal of a friend. and others that could be listed. But wait, you went through them, or were kept from them. God doesn’t promise to save us from the trials and troubles of life. Daniel went into the lions’ den. The Hebrew children went into the fiery furnace. The children of Israel traveled through the waters that were parted. In dire times the words of Jesus may come to you, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” (Luke 12:4, NKJV)
One more thought: who is it that you give credit for salvation? Who saved you from the terrible flood? Who brought you through to victory in the terrible battle. When the storm howls, and do not forget that Satan howls like a roaring lion, who is it that holds you secure? Since you have looked back at some of the trials and victories in your life, now go back and give proper credit for the success, for the salvation.
“‘Til the storm passes over,
‘Til the thunder sounds no more,
‘Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of Thy hand:
Keep me safe ’til the storm passes by.”
–Mosie Lister