God, Our Mighty Fortress

 

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1–7 ESV).

 

It has been said that confession is good for the soul. Perhaps today’s devotional will do so for me. There are many memories that have long been forgotten from my childhood; however, one continues to stick. We were living above our family meat market/grocery store in Galveston, Texas. I was always a fan of western themed television shows. It seemed like an exciting life as they rode and camped in the old west righting wrongs and protecting the weak and helpless. So, one day I decided to play “cowboy.” I was merely eight years old at the time, though that’s certainly old enough to know better than to do what I did. I pushed the couch and some chairs around enough to make a tent by throwing a blanket over the tops an leaving room underneath the blanket in a makeshift tent. I had my trusty Daisy BB gun for protection for the wiles of the outdoors and the only thing missing was a warm campfire. That’s where I went off the rails. I found a metal trash can, it was small enough, yet safe enough in my mind to build the fire in. Not having any wood to burn I though the daily newspaper would do. Crumpling the paper up in the trash can and lighting it afire it began to smoke… a lot! It wasn’t long before my dad came running in the room having smelled the smoke from beneath in the store. That turned out to be a painful learning experience on the pros and cons of building a campfire inside the house!

 

When I was asked “why?” I would do such a dangerous thing, I simply said that I was trying to camp out like the Lone Ranger and Tonto did. Well, that didn’t help. It is a bit funny how we try to build forts today. We use financial security, homes, relationships with loved ones, and many other things to produce a sense of security. However, God offers us even more effective security and safety from the storms of life when pain flashes through our hearts and crises rattle us to the bone. Like a great comforter and yet stronger than a mighty fortress, our God invites us to take shelter in him and to be protected by his love, which is gentle and yet stronger than any force or calamity that may threaten.

 

Build your relationship with Him and He will never fail you!

 

 

God, the Greatest Fisherman

 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6 ESV).

 

While I am not an expert fly-fisherman, I am an enthusiast in the sport. The picture I’ve included today is from an excursion I took with some friends and my son, Kyle. It was a guided excursion in Tennessee for Rainbow Trout. My expectation was certainly exceeded greatly. On this cast I was able to hook and eventually land an 8-pound rainbow! It was quite exciting for a bit. For those of you who fish you know the excitement that can unfold when you hook a fish much bigger than one you planned for. An angler—that is, a person who fishes with a rod and line—typically uses the equipment they need for catching a particular kind of fish. To catch a medium-size fish (like a trout), for example, you need tackle for that size of fish. But sometimes with that gear you can hook a much larger fish than you planned for. And when that happens, chaos can break loose.

 

The reel of a fly rod is not designed to use “drag” like others. As the fish swims powerfully away, you must take care not to pressure the thin leader or it will snap. Usually, with such a large fish, you’ll have just two options: to let the fish run, and hopefully tire it out so that you can catch it; or simply to cut the line and let the fish go. A determined angler may decide to hold on, skillfully using the rod and line through a long tug of war and gradually reeling the fish in. I chose the latter.

 

In some ways our relationship with God can be like that. We might be thinking we are free to do as we please, but God can “hook us,” and even though we might try to outrun and overpower him, he will never cut the grace-line or count us as a lost cause. He’ll fight for us and battle with us—and when all is said and done, he gives us the freedom to live a new and full life that is far beyond our imagining!

 

That is why the writer of our reading today calls Him “our Helper… therefore we have nothing to fear!

 

God, Our Closest Friend Forever

 

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:11–17 ESV).

 

One of God’s greatest gifts to humanity is relationships. We are created for relationships; we are designed by God to be in community with others. I have been blessed to have been around many people all my life. Some have become close friends over the years. While others have occupied brief interactions in passing by. And still others have been friendly acquaintances. With some friends our relationships can feel as close as family, like a brother or sister, and we may love them just like family members. These are friends who will be there in both good times and bad, triumphs and tragedies, times of joy and times of sorrow.

 

There are often times I forget that my closest friend is Jesus. He isn’t a passerby who merely sizes us up, or an acquaintance who enters our life from time to time. Jesus is our brother, our closest friend, who gave up his own life so that we can become the adopted children of God, members of God’s everlasting family, and coheirs in his eternal inheritance. I like the way the Apostle Paul writes this truth:  

 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17 ESV).

 

Pooh Bear was right… we will be friends with God forever!

God, the Healer of the Brokenhearted

 

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:17–18 ESV).

 

"You Never Even Called Me by My Name" is a song written by Steve Goodman and John Prine. Prine requested to be uncredited on the song, as he thought it was a "goofy, novelty song" and did not want to "offend the country music community". Goodman released the song on his 1971 debut album Steve Goodman to little acclaim. It was more famously recorded by country music singer David Allan Coe on his 1975 album Once Upon a Rhyme. It was the third single release of Coe's career and his first Top Ten hit, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard country singles charts. The song, over five minutes long, is known for its humorous self-description as "the perfect country and western song."

 

In a spoken epilogue preceding the song's iconic closing verse, Coe related a correspondence he had with Goodman, who stated the song he had written was the "perfect country and western song." Coe wrote back stating that no song could fit that description without mentioning a laundry list of clichés from the genre: "Mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or getting drunk". Goodman's equally facetious response was an additional verse that incorporated all five of Coe's requirements, and upon receiving it, Coe acknowledged that the finished product was indeed the "perfect country and western song" and included the last verse on the record:

 

I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison

And I went to pick her up in the rain

But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck

She got runned over by a damned old train

 

Whether or not it’s the perfect country song, I’ve listened to it many times. It feels true to life, and that may be why people never seem to tire of songs like it: almost everyone can relate. Most of us have felt empty after a breakup or asked, “What went wrong?” after losing someone we love.

 

Thankfully God’s Word provides some guidelines to help us answer our questions and give us peace of mind when heartache and heartbreak happen. When we hurt, Scripture can provide comfort. It also gives us a way to express how we feel, especially when we don’t know what to say or how to say it. Much of that language can be found in the Psalms, and many psalms were written by people who shared their feelings candidly and honestly.

 

David, the writer of our reading today (Psalm 34), didn’t have to search long for peace, and neither do we. God is near to those who hurt, and we can trust today that the One who gave the sun its ability to shine, who told the waters how far they could go, and who constantly watches over the universe is also near to you—and he’s saying, “I’ve got this, and I’ve got you.”

 

God, Our Provider

 

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:14–21 ESV).

 

Our reading today is known as “The Feeding of the 5,000.” It is told by Matthew in his gospel account. His viewpoint was from that of a disciple. I often wonder what it would have been like to be a person in the crowd. Imagine being surrounded by thousands of people—men and women of all shapes, sizes, and ages. You would probably see young children running around as parents tried to corral them along the shoreline. And seniors slowly shuffling to find a place close enough to Jesus so they could hear him speak. It was probably an example of what people have called “organized chaos.” Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t know what to do with the hungry followers (vv. 15-17).

 

What was it like to see the calm and measured face of Jesus in the midst of such a hectic scene? How did Jesus know he could feed all those hungry people with just “five loaves of bread and two fish”? That last question is easy to answer. Jesus knew he could feed the starving crowd because he was and is the Son of God, who not only provided the bread and fish but also created the earth and established everything in it, from the waters where the fish lived to the land that provided the grain used to bake bread. Knowing the power of the Creator gave Jesus the opportunity to invite others to know him too.

 

Trust Him for your needs. He will not fail you! He is Jehovah Jireh! He is the God Who provides!

 

God, Our Defender

 

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:17–19 ESV).

 

God is portrayed in Scripture as a powerful defender, shield, and refuge who protects believers from spiritual and physical harm, often fighting on their behalf. Relying on God as a defender means trusting in His timing and justice rather than relying on self-defense, allowing for peace in the face of opposition. He is called a shield and fortress (cf. Psalm 18:1-6). He is described God as a rock, fortress, and shield, delivering believers from enemies. Further, God is not passive; He defends reputations, acts as a lawyer for His children, and works on their behalf. He is also shown as a Promise-Keeping Defender (cf. Isaiah 54:17). The prophet promises that no weapon formed against believers will succeed, which is a theme seen throughout the Bible. Perhaps the promise I depend on most is how God is described as a "very present help in trouble" who does not sleep or slumber while watching over his people. I find I need Him in the most inopportune moments of life.

 

You may be one of those people who have a strong relational safety net. This has been your means of protection when you face a sudden tragedy or unexpected loss. Parents or guardians and other family members are often seen in this way. When we know we have access to that kind of security, everyday life can seem easier and less stressful. I have found that my family is such a strength to me in times of difficulty.

 

But some people do not have those types of relationships. What’s more, there may be several reasons why a person might face unfortunate circumstances. We can imagine a person who, after the death of a spouse or partner, is experiencing loneliness or the fear of having an increasingly isolated life. Or perhaps we can imagine the trauma of a teenage child who loses a parent—and their life is suddenly changed forever. Maybe you know someone with a story like that—or maybe something like that has happened to you.

 

Wherever you are and whoever you are, God is your rock. And no matter what you’re going through, God sees you. God is there to defend you, protect you, clothe you in righteousness, and nourish you with the bread of life, which is Christ Jesus.

 

God, Our Advocate

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:13–18 ESV).

 

The concept of God as an Advocate on our behalf is very prominent in the Scripture. In our reading today the psalmist describes the immeasurable size and scope of God’s kingdom. There is no beginning or end to the Lord’s reign or to his ruling power. With the coming of Jesus and His work on the cross He has assumed the principal position of advocate on our behalf.

 

According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ acts as our advocate (parakletos) with God the Father, pleading our case and defending us against accusations when we sin. As the "righteous" intercessor, he uses his own sacrificial death as justification for our forgiveness. This role provides assurance that believers have direct access to mercy. John Calvin’s quote (attached here) is one we would do well to both understand and apply in our lives. The Scripture has several essential applications.

 

It speaks of legal defense. Just as an attorney defends a client, the Apostle John describes Jesus as the one who speaks in our defense, arguing that the penalty for sin has already been paid (cf. 1 John 2:1). It also speaks of intercession. Jesus continuously lives to make intercession for believers, repairing relationships between humanity and God.

 

We have also been given a "Helper" at our side. The Greek word parakletos often translates as comforter or helper, indicating Jesus serves as our counselor. His advocacy is not based on our innocence but on his own righteousness and the proof of his sacrifice. This helps us in every moment when we feel as if we have failed beyond the possibility of hope. Thus, the concept of Christ as our Advocate is meant to encourage believers to turn from sin, knowing they have a defender in heaven, and to bring confidence in God's forgiveness. The psalmist in our reding today also points out that the Lord picks us up when we fall and builds us up when we feel unworthy.