On Psalm 46 and the "End of the World"

The word end doesn't always mean the same thing. I mean there the end that means finished like "The End" that pops up on the screen right before the credits, and there is the end like "means to an end". The latter kind of end is synonymous with purpose. With the world (as is often the case) the former kind of end is closely related to the latter kind of end, but I will be posting mostly about the 2nd kind (the purpose kind).

In Psalm 46:2 we are told that we will not fear. Even though all of these scary things happen i.e. the earth gives way, the mountains fall in the ocean, the waters roar.

Now why would we not fear if mountains start falling?
Mountains are large and if they don't stay still the outcome wil be disastrous.

The reason God's people shouldn't fear is that there is something more powerful and more invincible than shifting continents, falling mountains, and roaring oceans. And that great and powerful force is ironically enough a river.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy habitation of the Most High.

Because of this river the City of God, the holy habitation of the Most High (That means us. That means Christians. That means the Church) shall not be moved.

This river is the same river that causes us the tree of life to bear fruit and grow. To grow leaves for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). This river causes us to bear fruit and grow. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

You see the river is a person Vs. 4 There is a river. Vs 5 God is in the midst of her. God is the river.

It is remarkable that in this passage (Psalm 46) the hope of God's people is in something that makes us glad. Our gladness in the Spirit. Our joy in our wonderful Lord and how good he is to us. That is why we can't be moved and cannot fail though the unimaginable enemies are arrayed against us. Because God is still with us, and he makes us glad.

And because the Joy of the Lord is our strength and the Lord is with us. His purpose for us and the world will be accomplished. The "end" of the World will come.

He will make wars to cease to the end of the earth, he will break the bow and shatter the spear, he will burn the chariots with fire.

He will be exalted among the nations.

This hasn't happened yet. Wars have not ceased. The Lord has not been fully exalted in the nations. The great Commission has not been completed (and I don't think it will be by 2012).

So we like the Psalmist don't need to fear that the end is coming every time we hear about an earthquake or a snow storm. His end will come. He will be exalted. His purpose in history through the Church will come. There is no maybe with God. What he wills is certain His purpose isn't dependant on whether we kick out enough Democrats in the mid terms.

The Lord of Host will bring it to pass. He will bring the nations in. He will make peace. Because the chief end of man, the chief end of the church, and the chief end of the world are all one in the same: to glorify God.

This Psalm speaks about world history, but it also speaks to me and to you. It also speaks to people who do fear everyday. And it gives us hope.

Real life is hard. Harder then we sometimes remember when we are speaking into someone else's life situation. Real life means Biblical principal (A) + Hard situation (B) doesn't always equal you can sleep at night. But there are at least two pieces of good news in this Psalm that you can remember.

1. There is a river. You may know this river already you may have been refreshed by its stream before. This river has a purpose in your life to make you glad.

2. God wins. No matter what happens in your life. No matter what you lose. Remember your Lord wins.

Be still, and know that I am God... The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.