We will not fear
I love genealogy. My dad and I have been able to trace our direct lineage back over 225 years—almost to the birth of our nation!
It may sound obvious, but in all our research, we’ve never found any stories about the ground opening up and swallowing any of our ancestors as a divine punishment. I mean... I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but if it did, we didn’t find it!
But in all seriousness, imagine growing up hearing stories about your great-grandfather being swallowed by the ground as your whole country watched. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can find a crazy story in Numbers 16 in which a man named Korah met one of the most terrifying ends in the Bible. He opposed Moses, and God opened up the earth and swallowed him!
That’s terrifying, isn’t it? If that were one of my ancestors, I think I’d have every reason to be afraid every day for the rest of my life.
But here’s the plot twist.
While Korah’s story ended in one of the worst ways possible, the Bible tells us that his descendants went on to be not only important servants in the tabernacle but incredible psalmists as well.
This is the backdrop of one of my favorite Psalms in the entire Bible, Psalm 46.
Psalm 46, which was written by the Sons of Korah, begins by saying:
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.
Could it be possible that the psalmist’s history was on their mind as they wrote verse 2?
He goes on to say:
2 [...we will not fear...]
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
I don’t know exactly what that means, and I can’t picture a mountain being thrown into the sea, but I know it’s not good.
What the psalmist is doing is reminding us that we don’t have to be afraid, even if the worst possible thing we can imagine were to happen!
Church, it’s no secret that today is a difficult day. Maybe we just want today to be over so things can “return to normal,” but we don’t know if that’s going to happen. We don’t know what tomorrow looks like.
But what the sons of Korah remind us—and what all the psalmists remind us over and over—is that we know who holds tomorrow!
We don’t have to fear, though [BLANK], whatever that blank may be—whether it’s a meeting at work today, a difficult conversation you need to have with a family member, or the results of the election tonight.
And the reason we don’t need to fear lies in verses 6 and 7:
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Today, the news will seek to cause fear. Your social media feeds will seek to cause fear.
May we lay our heads on the pillow tonight with a peace that passes understanding, because we know our hope doesn’t ultimately lie in anything other than the sovereign power of God.
And therefore, we will not fear, regardless of what happens this evening - or ever.
It may sound obvious, but in all our research, we’ve never found any stories about the ground opening up and swallowing any of our ancestors as a divine punishment. I mean... I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but if it did, we didn’t find it!
But in all seriousness, imagine growing up hearing stories about your great-grandfather being swallowed by the ground as your whole country watched. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can find a crazy story in Numbers 16 in which a man named Korah met one of the most terrifying ends in the Bible. He opposed Moses, and God opened up the earth and swallowed him!
That’s terrifying, isn’t it? If that were one of my ancestors, I think I’d have every reason to be afraid every day for the rest of my life.
But here’s the plot twist.
While Korah’s story ended in one of the worst ways possible, the Bible tells us that his descendants went on to be not only important servants in the tabernacle but incredible psalmists as well.
This is the backdrop of one of my favorite Psalms in the entire Bible, Psalm 46.
Psalm 46, which was written by the Sons of Korah, begins by saying:
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.
Could it be possible that the psalmist’s history was on their mind as they wrote verse 2?
He goes on to say:
2 [...we will not fear...]
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
I don’t know exactly what that means, and I can’t picture a mountain being thrown into the sea, but I know it’s not good.
What the psalmist is doing is reminding us that we don’t have to be afraid, even if the worst possible thing we can imagine were to happen!
Church, it’s no secret that today is a difficult day. Maybe we just want today to be over so things can “return to normal,” but we don’t know if that’s going to happen. We don’t know what tomorrow looks like.
But what the sons of Korah remind us—and what all the psalmists remind us over and over—is that we know who holds tomorrow!
We don’t have to fear, though [BLANK], whatever that blank may be—whether it’s a meeting at work today, a difficult conversation you need to have with a family member, or the results of the election tonight.
And the reason we don’t need to fear lies in verses 6 and 7:
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Today, the news will seek to cause fear. Your social media feeds will seek to cause fear.
May we lay our heads on the pillow tonight with a peace that passes understanding, because we know our hope doesn’t ultimately lie in anything other than the sovereign power of God.
And therefore, we will not fear, regardless of what happens this evening - or ever.
I want to encourage you to have this song on repeat today, especially when you are tempted to fear:
SCRIPTURE
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- PSALM 46
PRAYER
God, thank you for the privilege of being in a nation where we can freely worship you.
Keep our eyes on you today. Give us a peace that passes all understanding.
Whether we are pleased by the results of the election or disappointed, keep us from both gloating or fear. Remind us the the outside world is watching us as we claim to be your follower. Give us an outward disposition of hope that draws a hopeless world to You.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- PSALM 46
PRAYER
God, thank you for the privilege of being in a nation where we can freely worship you.
Keep our eyes on you today. Give us a peace that passes all understanding.
Whether we are pleased by the results of the election or disappointed, keep us from both gloating or fear. Remind us the the outside world is watching us as we claim to be your follower. Give us an outward disposition of hope that draws a hopeless world to You.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
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4 Comments
Than you, Chase. I wasn't expecting the ground to open up, but when I was ten ish, Tallmadge Parkway did just that. A few people died in that disaster. They renamed the street Memorial Parkway. Even years later as a driver, i had trepidation everything I drove down that road.
nI see now the wisdom of that new street name.
nYou are right in saying that it's not likely to have the ground before to open... but it could and there are thousands of "but it coulds" that keep us in fear. Still, we have a God who goes before us. His strength is there to protect us, or not. Still, the Spirit within us will take away our fear and bring us peace.
nIn His presence we see a memorial for those who went before (whose faith follow). JESUS Himself has gone before and we can find strength in Him, our fears conquered. He didn't get a street named after him, but there is a memorial for His death and a celebration for His resurrection. That's when death became swallowed up in victory. And all fear is gone ( if we choose to walk with Him through them).
Thank you , Holy Spirit for speaking truth and words of encouragement through our Pastor Chase - ??Continue to bless him and his family for your glory !
Thank you for the reminder today about who holds tomorrow. Fear fails where faith prevails.
nThanks also for the insight on Korah’s descendants writing a psalm that may have referenced the family history. Super interesting!
Perhaps I should not keep praying for a “groundswell” of support!