As the mid-term elections draw near, the political turmoil around the world is being reflected in our own national politics. There's order, counter-order and disorder; there are threats and counter-threats; there's propaganda and publicity material out the wazoo. Sometimes it's hard to think straight, what with all the noise about the past, and the present, and the future.
Speaking as a Christian, I think it's very important for us to understand that the wisdom of God is not to be found in the midst of all this shouting and tumult.
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(1 Kings 19:11-13)
Ignore the political winds, and earthquakes, and fires. For we who believe (and even for those who don't, for that matter), God is still in his heaven and is still in command of all that is. It's his voice we need to heed, not the screeches and cacophony of those who love their own voices too much.
Peter
9 comments:
Amen!
Amen brother, God is still on His throne. In times like these I gain comfort from Psalms 91. It got me through the chaos of covid and is getting me through the turmoil of the present. I hope you find comfort in it.
This is the only occurrence in Scripture of the "still, small voice." God used it to call Elijah back to what He had *already commanded him to do*. It is not a prescriptive example for how God will guide people in life through "still small voices." There are numerous other Scriptures that can effectively be used to guide you in the decisions of daily life. You want to be in God's will? Do what He has already commanded you to do!
Most people, people who call themselves Christian included, don't believe God is sovereign and in charge. Doesn't matter what they believe or don't believe. He is in charge. Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?"
I pray for our nation, Father, that you will confound the efforts of those who want to destroy it, who want to replace it with something it must never be. They are my enemies, and I pray you will expose them: their words, their actions, their causes that I can only describe as evil, and the bankruptcy of their ideologies. I pray this nation will awake to this danger and spew them forth in rejection.
They are my enemies, and I pray earnestly for their failure; yet for the sake of the love and mercy that that you have shown me, I pray that you will be merciful to them in kind. I pray that you will shield them from the full consequences of their follies, as you have done for me, while teaching them things that they truly need to know, as you have done for me, and that you will guide them to their redemption.
Amen
"Speaking as a Jew, I think it's very important for us to understand that the wisdom of God is not to be found in the midst of all this shouting and tumult."
All said and done, 1 Kings 19:11-13 can be found in the Old Testament.
Although only the Orthodox Jews are aware of this - and they vote Conservative; the rest, who call themsselves Jewish, don't read the Bible.
One of Satan's greatest tools is distraction. The left uses it all the time, as do many on the right. We look at and listen for the wrong things. I'm not saying we should always ignore those things for we should be aware of them and how they affect and relate to us, but they should always be second to God and His wisdom.
I appreciate the contrast between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah with the fiery confrontation at mt Carmel ending in his visit with God where the contrast between the exciting obvious power events and the still small voice where God succeeds. Elisha is quiet and an ongoing witness during the collapsing days of the Israel Kingdom (as opposed to the Judah Kingdom). But it was Elisha who witnessed the conversion of Naaman - without any exciting power display.
We sometimes forget that Jesus wins on a cross - apparently dishonorable, painful death. He wins through apparent defeat.
Amen! Ephesians 4:13
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