They’re In Lock Down

Even in desperation, there is hope.

The city was shut down. People couldn’t travel. Supplies were getting low, or were completely gone. Businesses shut, government paralyzed, and hunger abounded. They had reached the point of desperation to eat garbage, even dung. Yes, that desperate.

The country had been invaded. Forty-six towns has been captured or destroyed. 200,000 people had been enslaved or killed. And now, the prize city was surrounded, people hunkered down inside the city walls. Fear spreading amongst them. And an army of 200,000 surrounded the city. Despair was everywhere.

The city was Jerusalem, and Hezekiah was the king. The most powerful army of the day, the Assyrian horde, was rampaging through the country under the leadership of their king, Sennacherib. They had already taken the entire northern kingdom. Now they laid siege to Jerusalem. The Assyrian history books say “they had surrounded the city and trapped Hezekiah like a bird in a cage.”

So, they prayed. From king to pauper, they prayed. And God delivered in a mighty way. In one night, God brought death to 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. One night. The remaining army fled back home in such a haste they left supplies, bounty, and more. Sometimes God shows up and shows off.

It is believed that the 46th Psalm was written with this event as its impetus. In this powerful psalm, we see encouragement, hope, peace through the turmoil, and trust in the almighty God.

• Protection … God (the Lord, the creator of all) is our (personal, private, intimate) refuge (protection, fortress, security)
• Pleasure … a river (source of life, living water, symbolic of Jesus) makes glad (brings peace, pleasure, hope) the city of a God (his people, the church) … in the midst of her (His presence calms)
• Power … come, behold (an invitation to look around and pay attention) the works of God (His power, His almighty presence, remembering what He has done and can do again)

It’s been 2700 years and people still are finding themselves in times of trouble. Today, the COVID 19 is a war. It sweeps through the land. People are withdrawing to their place of shelter. But you need to remember that the only real place of refuge is in the Lord.

Read the 46th Psalm and know you have a refuge in God, a refreshment from the Lord, and a realization of His power. And do what they did … pray. And then, pray some more.

___________________________________

Psalm 46 … God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots 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 of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah