Wednesday, October 6, 2010

River of Joy

Israel’s Psalm 46 is a study in contrasts. It begins with mountains collapsing into violent seas and then quickly changes to a cityscape graced by a peaceful river.


Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Interlude 


A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.

Many cities are defined by a river – think of the Thames in London, the Seine flowing through Paris, New York’s Hudson or Montreal on the St. Lawrence.

Impressive cities, impressive water-ways, natural beauty and economic engines. But Jerusalem has no river.

The only naturally occurring water Jerusalem enjoys, besides rain, is the Gihon spring on the east and the tiny conduit that carries its water into the city to the pool of Siloam. It’s barely a stream, how could such a river be a source of joy?

What makes this city impressive is not its natural assets but its spiritual Resource. God is there. God is the river that refreshes this city and invigorates her people with confidence. The way of faith seems so feeble, but God makes the faithful invincible.

The Gihon Spring - Jerusalem
This psalm gives us a new lens to view the world. “Look” it says. “Open your eyes.” Powerful armies and economies storm the world like raging seas. They surge and roar and overthrow each other, but God will have the last word. Wars will end; God will shatter spears and burn the chariots. God’s river of grace will prevail.

It’s an impressive geo-political vision - either complete naivete or a world-view that could transform us all.

The crescendo line in the psalm says, "Be still, and know that I am God!"

It’s an interruptive command. It’s a summons to nations to cease their arrogant aggression. And it’s a personal corrective to our restless souls when knotted with anxiety. Daily life brings constant demands; pressure is relentless. We fret and fume and work furiously until the psalm roars to us above the din – “Stop! Return to the River. Find your joy and rest in God.”

The wonder of waterpounding surf … the quiet river. Both bid to control our hearts. Jesus and this psalm show us where to find our joy and peace.

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