HE Looks on the Earth and it TREMBLES Study of Psa 104

We are in the midst of the most momentous of times. The entire world is in TIME OUT. Cessation of all routine manner of life has become the norm for minimum of 6 weeks. Powerful nations, powerful religions, powerful political entities are bent down – symbolically -- to a virus that is only visible under magnification of a microscope!

Now that the obvious is acknowledged, what about the more obvious? As a Christian, how far is our tolerance for imposition of a ‘model’ for recovery, based as all prophecy not from GOD, turns out to be  hardly what was expected when exposed to time. Everyone the world over is relying on this nation or that nation and then each nation is doing its own thing all to chase down the ‘invisible enemy’ that has had ‘war declared’ upon it to extinction and yet the ‘invisible enemy’ is absolutely UNAWARE. IT will not bow down. It will run its course and as it mutates fine tuning itself for survival it will either die, head for dormancy for the summer and revive itself in cooler temps or will simply hang out and pop into unsuspecting subjects without natural immunity. SARS last entered our country the beginning of this millennium and is only now back for the 2.0 version of itself. To be fair, there seems some naivite about this virus that is suspect of having been innocuously transmitted rather than specifically engineered and released by design. But that will be settled when the research is all done. 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. – Psa 91:1-3

Two things are asked of us: to seek shelter in the LORD abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. To acknowledging HE is our refuge and our fortress and the ONE in whom we trust. Thereafter, the entire next 13 verses are promises from HIM to us.

Will we continue to abide the physical distancing – the self-isolation – the quarantine that is being enforced by law enforcement in some countries and within the US in some states? We are in a bit of a pickle here constitutionally. We are a federalist republic which says by way of the 10^th amendment all powers not enumerated in the Constitution for the Federal Government fall to each of the states to empower as those individual states’ government deign. But they are all subject to the US Constitution. Again, how compliant will Christians be? Will there come a time when they all decide there seems no further reason to deny services within the walls of their sanctuaries relying on their faith in the ultimate doctor the CREATOR of our ‘wonderfully made bodies’? When common sense decides the virus has run its course?  It could be for some time people will likely become infected here and there but the masses of people will be immune. At this point let’s look at the following Psalm for a statement of fact for the person who follows Jesus as their LORD.

 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works.³² He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke. --- Psa 104:31-32

The ‘glory’ of the Lord is used in scripture throughout the Bible to convey the following truths some of which are redundant but nuanced to highlight HIS GLORY: abundance, riches, honor, splendor, glory, dignity, reputation, reverence. Each of these words has ‘honor’ as part of the character so an honorable reputation, honorable dignity, etc. The Psalmist is both acknowledging and requesting the GLORY of the Lord endure forever. Each generation of humanity has been blessed by this request.  Should we not lean into and benefit as well?

May the Lord rejoice in HIS works. This is a hope that the Lord will be pleased/happy with HIS creation. The specific creation is the ‘earth’. This particular psalm shows the one who created the earth is in complete control. It speaks of how HE looks at the earth and it trembles. Do you make it tremble? Do all of us all at once make it tremble? Does the climate make it tremble? No. You, all of us AND the climate are all yet a part of the Creation. 

May the Creator rejoice in HIS works! How should we feel about this? Do we sustain the absence of our corporate worship if that is the custom? Is that reasonable? Or, do we start pressing in on the idea of ‘free exercise thereof’? Whose power do we submit to ultimately when it becomes likely the powers at be are more comfortable segregating us from our exercise of worship as a group in a group setting? GOD’s WORD tells us of a similar circumstance though not quite as specific in Acts 5:27-29.  Yet, some point in the future, this may well be exactly the circumstance though now it is not couched as such. We must obey GOD rather than man. In this moment of time, going to one’s place of worship ostensibly poses a health risk with some serious consequence. But, do not forget what is done inside the walls of our place of worship: We are being taught about Jesus in Jesus’ name. In Peter’s instance the charge to the believers was: “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”  -- vs 28. Again, though this is not the reason today, we are nonetheless asked to stay away from sanctuary worship, it is accomplishing the same thing.

There are many churches streaming their services and many who do a great job of getting their messages done in exactly the same way as before just  to a dark  empty sanctuary. This is absolutely wonderful for those blessed with the technical ability to stream the services so they have noticed no cessation in their worship, just not together with their extended spiritual family. But there is a whole segment of the populace who does not have the capacity to enjoy the wonders of the internet so in essence they have been cut off from their spiritual family. No matter the situation, the Christian who is born again is never alone. The ONE who teaches the teachers, the ONE who makes sure GOD’s message is delivered, the ONE who helps each of us to assimilate the message in the best way possible for our own faith is still ON THE JOB. The HOLY SPIRIT, the comforter, the advocate, the ONE Jesus said HE would send to help us until HE returns. It is not like we are unplugged or so called ‘social distancing’ from GOD --just that we are disconnected physically from our friends. A situation Paul admonished we not endure, not promote when he wrote these words: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the DAY drawing near.” – Heb 10:24-25

Here is the bottom line:

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain – 127:1

If you believe GOD built your place of worship is it in vain? Of course not.

Do you believe GOD watches over us? Of course. HE is SOVEREIGN and is in every single moment with us. Each Christian is a 'watchman' of sorts. As we begin to ponder when or if this sequestering will end, will you -- the watchman -- be watching in vain?

Best news always: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?^[ 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. – John 14:1-3 

However this virus impacts your life personally, even if to death, the coming Sunday, April 12, is all we needed. Jesus died and then was resurrected defeating death so that we,who believe, might not perish but have everlasting life. †

  

NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

^“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that He may send ^[c]Jesus Christ, who was ^[d]preached to you before, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since ^[e]the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

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DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

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