Advent of Peace: Peace in the Midst of Chaos

INTRODUCTION: Happy place? TENSION: Christmas isn’t a normal time to say peace has come, yet we are celebrating the prince of peace. What if this year was a year of peace, how different would that be?

Before we get into the passage, let me set something up for you: 2 Kings 17-18. Assyria is attacking. They come and destroy all the other cities they are marching on Jerusalem. Stop at surrounded part.

You would have gone through a range of emotions. Let’s see what Israel says.

Psalm 46:1–3 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

God is - For us, how? by being our refuge and strength.

Refuge and strength - A refuge is a place you can run to, be safe at. Notice it says he is this. Not that he provides it. Strength - The outside world is scary but God is strong.

A very present help in trouble - Not just a help, but a present help. Not just a present help, but a very present help. said as emphatically as he could to say God is with us. We often say call me if you need anything. Which is good, what’s better? Saying I am here.

Therefore we will not fear - So what is our response. No fear. Why because God is with us.

Though - the whole world falls apart - HAHA ILLUSTRATION - living in OK, Tornado warning and earthquake happening at the same time. This is what it actually felt like in Jerusalem.

Seleh - musical notation , means to stop and rest.

You can have peace because God is with us, (46:1-3)

There was no time stamp on this. God is still the present help. He is still our refuge.

Psalm 46:4–7 (ESV)

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

river whose streams - compare this to what we just talked about. Whole world falling apart. Now a peaceful steam. This is my happy place.

Hezekiah made a path from the steam to the city.

the holy habitation of the most high - This is talking about a city. I know the Brooksville people are thinking, but does it have to be a city.

What is that today - I would argue its the church. God is in our midst.

She shall not be moved - God isn’t moved. When the world is falling apart, he doesn’t move so draw close to him.

AFTER VERSE 7 - finsih hezekiah story. They send word into the city. They will destroy them. But Hezekiah prays. And God turns certain death to victory as the angel of the Lord kills 185,000 soldiers.

1 Angel did that. Now imagine an army.

He isn’t going anywhere, (46:4-7)

Psalm 46:8–11 (ESV)

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

HAHA ILLUSTRATION - IF TIME. NEIGHBOR AT IRMA.

V11- iMAGINE now: Luke 2:8-12

Luke 2:8–12 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And He reigns above all our circumstances. (46:8-11)

CONCLUSION: Tornando?

Psalm 46:4-7: You can have peace because God can’t be moved.

Psalm 46:4 (ESV)

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

Mountain stream - my happy place.

What river is he talking about here?

city of God - jerusalme?

Psalm 46:5 (ESV)

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

God ain’t moving. The stream that we need is also not moving. Going back to the same place every year. ...

Psalm 46:6 (ESV)

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

Was this written in the years 2023. It has always been the same. Should the Lord tarry, USA won’t last forever or another country. One thing remains.

Psalm 46:7 ESV

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

You can have peace because God is with us.

CONCLUSION:

INTRODUCTION: Happy Place, for me not the beach. To much sand and speedos.

When we think of the Christmas season we usually don’t think of Peace; yet we celebrate the prince of peace. Biblical peace is wholeness, completeness. Sometime God has to remove parts of us to make us whole.

Psalm 46:1–3 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

God is our refuge and strength - God is: This actuaritly describes God. It’s not that he provides refugue. He is it. There is a big difference between someone giving comfort and being a comfort.

A ver present help in trouble - Notice how imphatic that is. A very present help. (DO SOME WORD STUDIES ON VERSE 1)

Therefore - Becuase that is true of God, what is our response?

We will not fear - If God is our refuge, something that we run into. Then why be scarred. Why be worried? You can have peace.

Though... - the world literally collapses. Today, it would be like though nuclear bombs happens. But could be Though I have cancer, though I am scarred about where my next meal is coming from, though......

Have you ever been through an earthquake. You feel very helpless.

Seleh - Stop, pause. Give praise.

You can have peace because God helps us in in our troubles,

Psalm 46:4–7 (ESV)

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

So while the world is falling apart there is a peaceful river and city.

River - Stream gives life, prosperity. You go down every morning and get the water you need for that day. If it ever dries up your dead. But you never worry about that because it is a stream that never runs dry.

God is with his people. Every morning you go back to God.

My happy place a river in the mountain.

He isn’t going anywhere,

Psalm 46:8–11 (ESV)

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold - Come examine what God has done. Sign at grand canyon: just look.

How he has brought desolations on the earth - How does this bring us peace? He destroys death.

Be still - command. Stop, be still.

Know - think on this : That he is God.

With us - Emmanuel . God is with us. God is emmanuel.

IT’S HARD TO BE AT PEACE WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE.

He is staying with us.