God’s peace – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

Finding God’s rest and peace

Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and instructions? Understand that the Lord has given you the Sabbath…” (Exodus 16:27-29)

“The Lord has given you the Sabbath.”

Those words struck me. God wanted to give the Israelites rest. It was a gift to them.

But they couldn’t find that rest as long as they refused to trust and obey him.

It’s so amazing how quickly they forgot God’s goodness. One moment, they’re singing,

Lord, who is like you among the gods?
Who is like you, glorious in holiness,
revered with praises, performing wonders…

With your faithful love, you will lead the people
you have redeemed;
you will guide them to your holy dwelling
with your strength. (Exodus 15:11, 13)

The next moment, they’re complaining and wishing they were back in Egypt.

I don’t want to be like that, crying out, “How great is our God!” on Sunday, but failing to trust and obey him the rest of the week.

Not only does it sadden my Father, but I lose out on the gift of rest and peace he wants to give me.

Father, I want to know your rest and peace. And the thing is, you want me to experience your rest and peace. So help me to trust you and obey.

You are good. You are trustworthy. And you deeply love me.

Help me to always remember that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Unshaken

Psalm 125 is another of my favorite psalms, in part because there was a song we used to sing at my church way back when that was based on it. I especially love the first two verses.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. (Psalm 125:1-2)

These are two vivid pictures the psalmist gives us here. First, of a mountain that cannot be shaken. And he sings that those who trust in God are like Mount Zion.

Why could it not be shaken? For its mere size?

No. Mount Zion is only about 2,400 feet high compared to say Mount Everest at 29,000 feet. Compared to Everest, it’s a mere hill. But it could not be shaken because God himself was watching over it.

More than that, God surrounds us as the mountains surround Jerusalem. He is our fortress. He is the one who protects us from the Enemy that would destroy us.

The psalmist then expresses confidence in God’s justice. That he would not let the evil rule over his people, lest they fall into doing evil themselves.

This is not to say, unfortunately, that it never happens. It does. But I do believe God puts limits on it. Limits to what evil rulers can do to believers, and limits to their length of reign.

As Charles Spurgeon rightly points out, the last days will be like this when God shortens the time of the tribulation for the sake of those he has chosen. (Matthew 24:22)

The psalmist thus prays that God would pour his goodness on those who are his, and reminds himself that the day of judgment will come for those who do evil. (4-5)

He then closes by praying,

Peace be upon Israel. (5b)

Life is not always easy. But let us always put our faith in God, knowing that he is watching over us, and that he is with us. Because of that we will never be shaken.

When times do get tough, let us pray as the psalmist did, for God’s favor and for his peace.

If we do, we will find that the same God that watched over Israel thousands of years ago, is the same God that watches over us today.