Dec 17

Psalm 46 can be seen both as a song describing a literal shaking of the earth and a figurative shaking. At the end, Scripture does say that all the forces of nature that we are so familiar with will begin acting in ways never seen before and that the entire world will be shaken to its foundations. But those who rely upon their God for protection will not be afraid even then.

"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging" (vs. 2, 3).

But there is also a deeper meaning to these words. The world relies on its philosophies, religions and worldviews to interpret what it sees about it. But since these perceptions are based on false premises (that there is no God, or else based on a false god), what comfort or understanding can those who hold these views find when nothing seems to make sense anymore, when all they had known about reality is vanishing right before their eyes? Where is their vaunted wisdom then?

"The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?" (Jer. 8:9).

At the end, God will shake all that he has created, both the heavens and the earth, and only what is unshakable will be able to survive that shaking -- for that is its very purpose. Then it will be seen who has chosen wisely and who has chosen foolishly for what they depend upon to take them through the great shaking of God.

Scripture for today: Jeremiah 8:7-9; Heb. 12:25-29
Thought for today: It is wisdom to choose Jesus; the foolish choose anything else.
Prayer for today: You are wisdom, Jesus, and I look to you for wisdom to fortify myself for all the challenges of life, not just those of the last days.

DEC 17