If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say-
if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;
the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124)
Engulfed.
For Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the reality of what he was facing must have been engulfing.
For our nation, engulfed in high inflation, divisive tribalism, great strife, and unworthy leadership…
For the people of Ukraine, whose lives have been engulfed by a war neither legal or necessary, surrounded by power hungry and corrupt tyrants, and uprooted by the chaos of their circumstances…
For families engulfed in the news of cancer and its implications…
For friends struggling through life engulfed in debilitating physical pain…
For a family engulfed in grief of a loved one because of the bad decisions of a stranger…
For law enforcement officers engulfed in others’ anger, rage, disrespect, and criticism, even as they are trying to do their jobs…
For parents engulfed in the mixture of tears, nervousness, and joy as they watch their high school seniors launch into young adulthood…
For Moses seeing the burning bush engulfed in flames – and the armies of Pharaoh engulfed in the reemerging waters of the Red Sea…
It is easy to be engulfed by the world, but the Psalmist reminds us that God is on our side. In fact, the Psalmist reminds us that IF the LORD had not been on our side we would have been swallowed up by our circumstances. BUT, God is the one who has not let us be captives, who has been and continues to be our help. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Surely, that kind of power and love can – and will – help us when we are engulfed by life.
It is easy in the midst of engulfing life circumstances to lose focus on our peace, our anchor, our rock. Sometimes our anchor is our spouse, holding on to us, encouraging us. Sometimes our rock is a friend or relative who says or does the right thing at the right time, acting as a great blessing. But always our Rock and our Redeemer invites us to come into his arms of love and to rest in the shadow of his wings. This invitation is to Peace that passes all understanding, to gaze only on His Face and to let the rest of the world fade away.
O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer, the Maker of heaven and earth, the giver of all good things, the Lamb of Salvation, the Spirit of Peace; thank you for being our help. Thank you for your faithfulness and love, your encouragement, and your power poured into our lives. When we are engulfed in the cares, the trials, the struggles, the chaos of this life, help us to release it to you and to focus on your peace and goodness. Jesus, calm the storms in our lives, and help us to cast all our cares upon you. Praise be to the God who is on our side! Amen.
“And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.” (Psalm 78:35 AMP)
(adapted from an August 21, 2022 post)