SABBATH THOUGHTS FOR YOUR WEEK

AMERICAN CATASTROPHE

The United States of America has just experience the most shocking terrorist attack in its history! Possibly 8 to 10 thousand lives have been lost. Even Pearl Harbor did not have the impact of this diabolical attack on innocent civilians whose only crime was that they were going to work!

Many acts of bravery and love have been generated by otherwise “normal” people who have reacted to the exigency of the time. In this day of seeing so many wrongs in the USA it is heartwarming to witness the great love, sacrifice, patience and concern that so many Americans have for one another

I pray that neither you nor your loved ones were hurt in any of this. We all need to pray for those who are hurting and those who have suffered the loss of loved ones. Since we are all connected by our interdependency, every person’s loss affects us all. In some way, known or unknown, you and I have been diminished by this atrocity.

I hold a special prayer in my heart for those individuals who risk their lives on behalf of others. May God help them during this time.

The symbolism in the terrorist attack is unmistakable. They hijacked “American” airlines and “United” (States) airlines. They attacked the symbol of capitalism --the World Trade Center. And then a strike at the symbol of America’s military might - the Pentagon!

When great catastrophes happened in Jesus day, He explained their meaning in regard to the final judgment. “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:1-3 NIV).

Jesus then went on to talk about another catastrophe: “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (vs. 4-5 NIV).

Jesus explained that there were catastrophes in the world - some by accident and some by murderous men. But the victims of these events were not singled out because of their evil any more than any others. But we, who love God, must take a lesson from such things. Unless we repent we too will perish!

Where is our faith? It is all too easy to have faith in the military might of the United States. It is all too easy to look to military planes, ships, guns and bombs for our security and safety. I can’t help but reflect on the words of the Psalm of “going up” to the feasts of the LORD.

“I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains (the hills of Jerusalem where God’s temple was); From whence shall my help come?” The writer asks the question as we might say it, “Where shall my help come from?”

He answers the question! “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth”(v. 2).

 

Where does your help come from? Where do you look for help? Psalm 121 was written for people who looked to the ETERNAL who made the heaven and earth and who was honored by His people when they went to the FEAST to worship HIM.

Verses 3-4 tell us that while we sleep, God doesn’t. He is always awake, always diligent and “He watches you.”

Verse 5 tells us that “The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.” The word “keeper” means “observer” or “guard” “one who keeps watch” or “protector.” If you worship the true God of the Bible and go up to Him, He then is your protector. He is our shade when the sun beats down upon us!

Therefore, we don’t worry about the sun by day or the moon by night (v. 7). And then we read verse 8, “The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.” Who is our Protector? The LORD and he will keep your life and protect you from all evil as you go up to worship Him at His feasts. That is the context of this psalm.

In just three weeks we shall be at His festival celebrating a time when the world will be at peace and when swords will be beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks, where there will be no more terrorist attacks and where the nations will not study and learn WAR! That’s the time of real world peace!

May God grant you comfort and faith through the power of HIS Word.

With deep sadness for our nation but great hope in Our God…

David L. Antion