Monday, February 23

Turn Off the Radio - Part 1

Intro:
How hard it is to be still in our electronic culture. So much competes for our attention: radio, tv, video games, etc. This was especially clear in Best Buy on Saturday. I was there, minding my business, when all of a sudden a bunch of the tvs and sound systems decided to go crazy. Sounded like a war zone in surround sound. The place was shaking and it was sort of awesome. I was thinking, “Now that is what surround sound is supposed to be like.”

After the sound faded I was left with the normal noises of Best Buy …. people hustling around talking, Guitar Hero playing, music over the loud speaker, phones ringing, intercom voices, etc. It was bustling with NOISE. I am surprised that I did not notice the constant input of my world.

Stop and listen to your world right now. Maybe the house is not up yet and it is quiet but even the quiet is loud and there are sounds outside competing for your attention.

I want to issue a challenge for us over-stimulated Christians …. Turn off the radio! Let’s set a goal of turning off the radio in our cars this week and seek to listen to God.


Read:
Psalm 46
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.

1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes,
though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
3though its waters roar and are troubled,
though the mountains tremble with their swelling.
Selah.

4There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad,
the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
5God is in her midst. She shall not be moved.
God will help her at dawn.
6The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved.
He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.
7Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.

8Come, see Yahweh’s works,
what desolations he has made in the earth.
9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots in the fire.
10“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah


Think:
Psalm 46 is a Psalm of noise. The words of the psalm indicate lots of input and lots of fear. The earth is unsettled (v. 1-3) yet God is actively moving (v. 4-7), the nations are at war (v. 8-9) yet God is active and can be known. In our noisy world, God is actively moving and can be known BUT we have a responsibility to PAUSE.

Three times in this psalm we read the word “Selah”. The exact meaning of the word is unknown but most folks agree that it is a musical PAUSE, a place where the singer stops to reflect on what was just said. 3 times in this psalm the worshipper is to stop, PAUSE and reflect on God. So often, we move from event to event, meeting to meeting, person to person without stopping and reflecting.

Verse 10 really is our invitation. How awesome that the God of creation, the God of kings, the God of gods can be KNOWN … wants to be known. In the midst of great noise and confusion God commands the people to be still, to trust Him.

Why do we like noise so much? Is it possible that if we get quiet we might not like what we hear or don’t hear? Is there not a fear that we might actually hear God and that He might have something to say?

Do:
PAUSE a few times today and take account of the noise around you. Where can you go and get quiet this week?

Will you take my challenge to turn off the radio in your car this week? Let’s try to be still and see if we don’t run into a God that wants us to know Him.

Have a God-revealing week.