Seeing God in the Storm
“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 59:16.
From one vantage point, a storm poses danger and warrants fear, and from another, storms provide us a beautiful display that entertains and excites the senses. the state of our mind depends on the vantage point that we chose to see the storm; the storms of life or no different, but the secret is seeing God in the storm. In the fifty-nineth Psalm we read of how David sought God’s help from the murderous intent of King Saul against his life; he began to live as a fugitive and found refuge, and deliverance in God. “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.” Psalm 59:1.
Psalm 59:16 gives us a wonderful account of David’s ability to sing to the glory of God, even in the face of danger and possible death. “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
Throughout Psalm 59, David gives the analogy of his enemies as ravenous dogs, going back and forth seeking for meat to eat… and similarly they searched to devour his soul; but through it all- he saw God as his shield, and defence- through it all, in the midst of imminent danger he was able to sing unto the God of his salvation, His confidence and peace who has all power! “The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.” Psalm 59:10.
Yes, the storms of life will inevitably come, but how will we weather the storms- in fear or in the presence, peace, and safety of God? These comforting words remind us that those who dwell in the secret place of God, are kept safe in His everlasting arms. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91:1.
What a visual… David was so confidence in the power of God and His ability to keep Him, that even on the run for his life, he was singing! Let us also sing unto the Lord, because in Him all is well, no matter the road that we travel-it is well because our God is a mighty fortress, the lover and keeper of our souls!
Martin Luther writes in the 3rd Stanza of “A Mighty Fortress is our God!” These assuring words of God’s power and protection:
- And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
Praise God that in the storms of life He is our refuge and
God’s peace, and safety be with us all.
