Hold and Behold!

“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. 

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. ” Psalm 46:1-7

“The Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
 He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet…
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted!” Psalm 47:2-3,6-9

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
    in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
    is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
    the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God
    has made himself known as a fortress.

For behold, the kings assembled;
    they came on together.
As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
    they were in panic; they took to flight…
This is God,
our God forever and ever.
    He will guide us forever.” Psalm 48:1-5,14

Nations rage to compete and overthrow, kings spar and strut, cities roil in turmoil, but God on high reigns. Earth, sea, and sky rumble and storm, quaking from irrepressible forces, sweeping with water, rock, and wind, but God is a firm fortress. Disease sneaks and spreads unseen, conquering, debilitating, but the Almighty rules the invisible. Behold His presence and might! Hold His truths and promises!

Many are present troubles that threaten to shake our foundation from below, knock us down along our way, or flood over us with choking fury. Yet in these we have a very present hope and help. His waters are rivers of gladness. He dawns after long dark nights. He is the One whose holy throne rules and who holds every shield of the earth! Are we gladdened at His greatness and sure authority?

What fretting or flustering keeps us from beholding our God who is near? What self-sufficiency or stubbornness keeps us from raising hands to Him? What complaints and cries take the place of praise? Behold, He comes and is here! The great God is ours forever!

“Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.” ~Charles Wesley (1739)

Oh Lord, in the midst of the world’s whorling, worry, and want, keep me holding tightly to You and beholding Your splendor and glory!