Stress in Crisis

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President John F. Kennedy once remarked that ‘when written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.’ Every crisis is, at the same time, an opportunity. Crises are often caused by unexpected difficulties.

All of us have problems. Many of us will face crises. How do you respond to a time of trouble, danger or unexpected difficulties in your personal life? How do we respond to unexpected difficulties in the church or in our nation? What do we do when we are ‘at [our] wits’ end’? (Psalm 107:27). What do we do when the ‘truth of the gospel’ is at stake? (Galatians 2:5). How do we respond to ‘a black day’ in our lives? (Isaiah 37:3, MSG).

The church today (we, us, them, I and they) find ourselves in one crisis after another. So much is going on financially, politically, socially, morally, spiritually- we find ourselves continuously being shaken -

Psalm 62

JEDUTHUN (יְדוּתוּן, yeduthun). A Levitical musician who—along with Asaph and Heman—oversaw music in the temple (1 Chr 25:1–6; 2 Chr 5:12).

Stillness is a DISCIPLINE!

SURELY-ONLY

67c (SN 2442) ḥāk̠â – properly, await, long for (wait confidently); "active waiting" that triumphantly looks forward to fulfillment; to tarry long – i.e. extended, "strenuous" waiting that remains confident despite set-backs and apparent "delays"; (figuratively) goal-oriented waiting, clinging to the Lord during difficult times and expecting His best.

This waiting refuses to "bail out early" and looks confidently to the appropriate fulfillment.

[2442//ḥāk̠â ("waiting") conveys "bearing up under the influence, pressure, strain, etc., involved." The LXX usually translated it hypomenein ("to endure") or emmenein ("abide in").

Reflection: Quiet, active waiting is key to hearing the voice of God, i.e. internal revelation of Himself, in faith (cf. KD at Hab 2:1).

VS 2 -Only he is my rock and my salvation,

my high stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

ROCK - 6697 ṣûr – a rock-wall (BDB); (figuratively) what can not be moved, removed, or ignored; a refuge affording enduring, unshakable protection because of its sure foundation (base) making it immoveable; preeminently used of the Lord providing absolute stability in this life and the next (Hab 1:12).

VS 4 - CURSE - properly, swift to perceive something as light (ca trifle"); reach a speedy conclusion by treating lightly (without esteem) – hence see as contemptible because considered worthless, adding insult to injury (of no consequence); overlook as slight, small, superficial, insignificant – ignoring what has real value (especially when sacred to God), rendering someone ineligible (disqualified) to receive His highest blessing; used also as a formula of cursing, the object of a grievous curse (contemptible).

VS-11 STRENGTH 55l (SN 5797) ʽōz – properly, strength which fiercely holds its ground ("does not give up an inch"), holding its place, like a stronghold with fortified towers; fierce strength that will not be sent away or ignored; able to defend without budging position – associated with fierce determination and force to retain what is already claimed.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam 3:26 NRSV).

1) Withholding of Human Exertion:

waiting for God to act is an implied withholding of human exertion. Here waiting becomes a venture of faith, a trust in God rather than human means. Hence the proverb “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will help you” (Prov 20:22 NRSV). An oppressed people prays, “O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our … salvation in the time of trouble” (Is 33:2 NRSV). Youthful strength is insufficient to ward off weariness, but “those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:31 NRSV).

2) Waiting on God with hope and expectancy

the virtue of waiting on God with hope and expectancy. To wait is to anticipate the time that God will act. The psalmist asserts, “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer” (Ps 38:15 NRSV). “And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you” (Ps 39:7 NRSV). “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope” (Ps 130:5 NRSV; see also Is 8:17). “I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Mic 7:7 NRSV). Part of the hope is that those who wait for God “shall not be put to shame” (Is 49:23 NRSV) and that God “is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him” (Lam 3:25 NRSV).

make the act of waiting for God so general as to leave it a virtual picture of the whole life of faith-on a par with being “God-fearing,” for example. Here we have references to how “blessed are all those who wait for [God]” (Is 30:18 NRSV) and to people who “wait continually for … God” (Hos 12:6 NRSV). In Psalm 31:23–24 the group designated as God’s “saints” and “the faithful” is also called “you who wait for the Lord” (NRSV). At times, indeed, waiting on God seems synonymous with the covenant itself: “From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him” (Is 64:4 NRSV).

From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:4

Psalm 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

God Alone a Refuge from Treachery and Oppression.

For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.b

3 How long will you cassailb a man, That you may cmurderb him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 4 They have counseledh only to thrust him adown from his high position; They delight inb falsehood; They cblessb with their mouth, But inwardly they ccurse.b Selah.

5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.b 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9 Men of low degree are only vanity,I and men of rank are a lie;I In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath. 10 Do not trustb in oppression, And do not vainly hopeb in robbery; If riches increase,b do not setb your heart upon them.

11 Once God has cspoken;h Twice I have heardh this: That power belongs to God; 12 And lovingkindness is Thine, O Lord, For Thou dost crecompenseb a man according to his work.