Stop. Look. Listen.

 

12-28-2021

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. 

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe: God at your service from the crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but the Earth does anything he says - Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee.

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. 

(Psalm 46 - Eugene Peterson’s The Message)

We really love the way the late Eugene Peterson placed the Psalms into natural Hebraic language. It is earthy, simple, folksy. He “translates” as if it were not high English but rather everyday Hebrew.

Psalm 46:10 is a favorite Bible verse many people: “Be still and know that I am God.” Yet, the way Peterson surmises it brings a more literal understanding. Listen to it again (using Hebraic imagery) - “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”

How many of us are worn out? How many of us are simply beat down physically, mentally, emotionally and yes, spiritually? Running here and there…completing one task only to have three more staring you in the face…plugging one hole only to have two more pop open. It is exhausting this thing called life. Compound that with health, financial and relational stress and it is often more than we can bear.

So, hear again Peterson’s call to step out of the traffic of life that surrounds us, causes us anxiety, and pushes us to our limits. Step out of the traffic that overwhelms, rushes us along, and causes us to miss the scenery around us…including glimpses of God.

“Take a long, loving look at me, your High God.” What a beautiful turn of phrase.

When was the last time you took a long, loving look at God? The infinite, transcendent, supernatural, divine, immeasurable and invisible Yahweh. How do you even see the Holy One of Israel? Is it possible for creation to see the Creator?

Without oversimplifying it, we stop running aimlessly in the “rat race” of life and look “above everything else.” God is above it all. Therefore, we must look above it all.

It is literally a change of perception.

Our attention to and awareness of our surroundings and circumstances are critical if we are to drop out of the craziness of life, and longingly gaze upon our King. The purposeful ability to concentrate and meditate on our Heavenly Father is something that just does not occur. It takes time, effort, sacrifice. You have to pull yourself out of the traffic and gaze.

None of us are certain as to what 2022 will hold. We don’t have a clue concerning tomorrow. But, as the old hymn reminds us: “But I know Who holds tomorrow and I know Who holds my hand.”

Some may argue, “Doesn’t the Bible say in Exodus that you cannot look upon God or you will die?” Well, yes, that is true…literally, that is. But, maybe we should understand this particular offering of Hebrew poetry as metaphorical. You know, such as “A mighty fortress is our God.”

If we apply the metaphorical understanding to looking upon God then we will realize Jesus’ message of “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

Stop. Look. Listen. (To borrow and reimagine an old saying.)

As we prepare to enter a new year let us not worry about promises or resolutions. Let us not focus on losing weight, making money, getting organized, or volunteering more at the food pantry. Those things are wonderful - but they are secondary. There is one thing needed. One thing that is primary: stop, be still, and gaze upon God...and maybe, just maybe you will hear his "still, small voice."

Might we suggest, as January 1 approaches, to take time to walk outside, or at least look out the window, and in the midst of the chaos gaze upward. Outward. Wise men and shepherds looked for the Christ child and both found him. Both gazed upon him. Let us take our cue from them and look above everything else to find him - the One who fights for us and protects us.

Stop. Look. Listen.

Steve and Missy