God is Indescribable - a Strong 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. 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).

 

If you’re somewhere in the neighborhood of my age you will remember the polio outbreak of the 1950’s. It was a series of epidemics in the United States that peaked in 1952, causing widespread fear and resulting in nearly 58,000 cases, over 3,000 deaths, and thousands of cases of paralysis. The outbreaks led to public health measures like quarantines, and fear of contagion resulted in cancelled events and social isolation for many children. The crisis was eventually resolved with the development and widespread use of the polio vaccines by Jonas Salk in 1955 and Albert Sabin in 1961. The first delivery system of the vaccine was a series of three injections.

 

I was only 8 years old at the time, but I remember the experience vividly. We had a family doctor who made “house-calls” as was common then. The first time he came with his little black bag I was unaware of what he was there for. Daddy simply called me downstairs to come. I did and was greeted by the doctor with the BIGGEST needle I had ever seen in my young life. Of course he said, “this won’t hurt.” Never believe that! It hurt a lot. About two weeks later the doctor came again, black bag in hand. Well, I wasn’t lining up for that again, so, I went into the garage and grabbed my baseball bat and threatened to defend myself with all the strength I could muster. Needless to say, that didn’t go well. Another big shot in the arm! I began my planning immediately, since I overheard the doctor tell Daddy that he’d see me in a couple of weeks with the last of the injections. When I saw him approaching I grabbed my trusty BB gun and climbed up in the rafters of the garage offering me a perfect snipers’ perch when he walked into the garage. Well, that ended the same as the first two with the addition of a good spanking for trying to shoot the doctor! Thankfully that delivery system was changed soon and everyone could take the vaccine by eating a sugar cube on which it was placed.

 

Here’s the point… no matter what I tried, there was no safe shelter from what I perceived as a great danger. This is at the heart of our reading today. God offers us a 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.

 

A part of God’s indescribable nature is that He is our mighty fortress! Run to Him! He will not fail you!