I hope we all agree that the villainous action of warmongering Hamas in Israel 10 days ago has no defense. At least 1400 non-combatants were savagely slaughtered. New reports of the atrocities top previous accounts in their depravity. Hundreds more are held hostage or remain unaccounted. Hamas is a terrorist entity operating under the guise of government and the protection of equally corrupt foreign powers. Hamas defenders using terms like colonizer, oppressors, and occupiers understand neither the definition of the words nor the history of the world and the region over the last 4000 years.
To help Christians think through the geopolitical issues in Israel and Gaza from a Christian worldview, I point you to Albert Mohler’s podcast in which he declares the just response to the injustices committed. You will find the content beneficial. Listen to The Briefing here. I cannot offer anything more or better than what he provides. But, there is something I want to suggest we consider – a psalm.
Psalm 46:1 is a well known and deeply cherished declaration for believing people, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
Later, the psalmist identifies the nature of the trouble: nations full of rage that cause other nations to crumble, bringing horrible consequences to its citizenry (v. 6).
In response, the psalmist bids us look at the Lord’s actions, “Come, behold the works of the Lord” (v. 8). What are these works of the Lord? The Lord causes wars to cease. He breaks battle weapons, and he eliminates the mobility of attacking forces (v. 9).
Christians know there will be wars and rumors of wars, that nations will rise against nations until the time that the Prince of Peace comes. While a full peace, globally realized, will not come before our Lord comes to establish his righteous reign, the mercy of God in the present delivers pockets of peace when the Lord restrains war though humanity lusts for more blood.
So, we cry out to the Lord as did the psalmist, “Oh Lord, break the weapons of the wicked, shatter the arsenals of the debased, make inoperative every means which advances evil as it seeks death and destruction.”
And when the Lord permits man to wage war and bring further destruction and judgment to mankind, we who know the Lord run to the bunker of the closing verses of Psalm 46.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
As always, thanks for reading, and I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.