Shade Tree Wisdom 4/2/11

“Don’t be afraid of tomorrow,
God is already there.”

That line appeared on a church sign lately, and it seems to me it is a good
reminder that “Our God is in the heavens, he has done whatsoever he has
pleased.” Psalm 115,3.

Interestingly, the Psalm lists the strengths aligned against God’s
children. Listen to this:
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not. Eyes have they, but
They see not;
. . .they that make them are like to them, so is everyone
that trusts in them”. Psalm 115, 4.5.8.

The news from everywhere is of unrest, dissention, unhappiness with
the ‘status quo’. Wanting to change things but not quite sure how to change
things. Afraid of higher taxes, fewer jobs, greater burdens.

And I read again in the second book of Kings. The time is nearly 2500
years ago when Sennacherib and the Assyrian army surrounds Jerusalem and boasts
of their conquests. Their taunt to the soldiers on the walls, “Might as well
give up. The gods other nations haven’t been able to stop us, neither will your
God.” Hopeless; useless to resist.

So king Hezekiah takes this matter to God. And gets this answer, “That
which you have prayed to me I have heard”. 2 Kings 18,20.Then this report, “It
came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord smote in the camp of the
Assyrians a hundred four score and five thousand, and in the morning when they
arose, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacharib king of Assyria
departed”. 2 Kings 19,35.36.

So, my friend,
“Don’t be afraid of tomorrow,
God is already there”.

Yes, I know the world seems in a terrible mess. How much worse can it
get?

Isaiah has this word for you and me today.
“Thou will keep Him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on thee,
Because he trusts in Thee.” Isaiah 26,3.
So “Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life,,
until the shadows lengthen,
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed;
the fever of life is over, an our work is done.
Then, Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us safe lodging,
And holy rest, and peace at the last, Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Amen

GPD 4/2/11