Hear Him!

Little noises are annoying. While I can block-out the sound of a barking dog, it will drive Mr. Bill into a middle-of-the-night-porch-yelling-frenzy! One night he took off into the woods to break up a dog-tree-possum convention outside our bedroom window. For the record, no animals were hurt but I’m sure the stunning sight of a half-dressed wild man running through the woods in the middle of the night was enough to silence all of nature!

Our God is awesome – I hope you know that! I suspect, however, none of us know the true depth of His awesomeness! The Psalmist gives us a glimpse: “ 2 My refuge and my fortress … 3 He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence … 4 He will cover you with His feathers … His faithfulness is a shield and buckler … 5 You will not fear the terror of the night … 6 Nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness.” (Psalm 91). Now, Satan knows exactly what lights us up and sends us into the stew so count on his fiery darts hitting every target! For Mr. Bill, the deadly pestilence may be a barking dog , and for me, a slight scratching sound of a bug caught between the window and the screen. Whatever the “noisome pestilence” (V.3, KJV) is, it can make us forget Almighty God -- our Refuge, Fortress, Shield, Buckler. The Psalmist assures us, however, “ 1 He who dwells in the Shelter of the Most High will abide in the Shadow of the Almighty … 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you … 9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place – the Most High, Who is my refuge – no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent … 14a Because He holds fast to me in love.” (Psalm 91). Isn’t it amazing God Who spoke atmosphere into order (Genesis 1), Who numbers and calls the stars by name (Psalm 147:4), and Who calms the storm (Mark 4:35-41) – also silences the noises of our lives! If we really believe this – we do not fear, we do not fail, we do not lose heart, our faith does not stutter? I love how Matthew Henry puts it, “He [God] is neither fickle nor false, neither weak nor mortal; He is God and not man, and therefore there is no danger of being disappointed in Him. We know Whom we have trusted.” The noises of life, whether dogs or bugs or whatever, are just a silly bother – no threat at all our awesome God. Next time you hear them … hear HIM!