We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure
Psalm 96:10-13
“Say to the nations, 'Yahweh rules
as king!'
The earth stands firm; it cannot be
moved.
He will judge people fairly.
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth
be glad.
Let the sea and everything in it roar
like thunder.
Let the fields and everything in them
rejoice.
Then all the trees in the forest will
sing joyfully
in Yahweh's presence because he is
coming.
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with
righteousness
and its people with His truth.”
Moved as used in “the earth stands
firm; it cannot be moved” is the Hebrew word mowt, Strongs
#4131. It means to be taken off course or dislodged. The
opposite or to be firmly established (stand firm) means to be firmly
anchored.
It is the same word used in Psalm
104:5, “You set the earth on its foundations so that it can never
be shaken [mowt].
“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change [mur mur],
though the mountains shake [mowt] in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam [hamar, be in termoil],
though the mountains tremble [ra as, afraid] with its tumult.
Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city;it shall not be moved [mowt];
God will help it when the morning dawns.
That which cannot be moved is that
which is firmly anchored in Christ.
Psalm 112:7-8 says about the righteous,
“He is not afraid of bad news.
His heart remains secure, full of
confidence in Yahweh.
His heart is steady, and he is not
afraid.
In the end he will look triumphantly
at his enemies.”
What can be moved, and will be moved or
caused to change are those things that are not anchored in Christ –
the mountains of our pride, self-sufficiency which give us a false
sense of security.
Hebrews 12:27-29 says,
Whose voice then shook the earth: but
now he has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake [saleuo,
cast down from a secure state, disturbed] not the earth only, but
also heaven.' And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing
those things that are shaken [saleuo, cast down from a secure
state, disturbed], as of things that are made, that those things
which cannot be shaken may remain. Why we receiving a kingdom which
cannot be moved [asaleutos, unmovable,
anchored], let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming
fire.
Jeremiah and Zephaniah use the analogy
of a bottle of wine being decanted. Sometimes we are resting in
places of comfort, security and complacency. Being moved away from
our places of self-sufficiency and pride gives us greater freedom.
Zephaniah 1:12 says, “At that time I
will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent,
who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do
nothing, either good or bad.'”
Some people have totally fell asleep in
their complacency and false sense of security. In this state, they
are no longer of use in the kingdom. Ezekiel 16:49 says, 'Now this
was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were
arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and
needy.”
As we move closer to His return, the
enemy knows his time is short so the shaking (and also the awakening)
increases.
Revelation 12:10-12 says, “And I
heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:
for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them
before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of
the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not
their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you
that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the
sea! for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because
he knows that he has but a short time.”
While there is shaking as Christ
prepares to return and as people let go of their pride and self
sufficiency, becoming more anchored in Christ, when He returns to
judge the earth, there is tremendous reason for joy and rejoicing.
It is not a fearful dreadful experience
of doom where we experience wrath but a time of
singing and rejoicing as He brings forth His rule. His judgments bring forth justice. Jesus showed us
what it looked like from Him to come as king to rule in Luke
19:35-40,
“They brought
the donkey to Yeshua, put their coats on it, and helped Yehsua onto
it. As he was riding along, people spread their coats on the road.
By this time he was coming near the place where the road went down
the Mount of Olives. The whole crowed of disciples began to praise
God for all the miracles they had seen.
They shouted
joyfully, 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.'
Some of the
Pharisees in the crowd said to Yehsua, 'Teacher, tell your disciples
to be quiet.' Yeshua replied, 'I can guarantee that if they are
quite, the stones will cry out.'”
Psalm 98:8-9 declares,
“Let the rivers clap their hands
and the mountains sing joyfully
in Yahweh's presence
Because he is coming to judge the
earth.
He will judge the world with justice
and its people with fairness.”
And the Psalms are filled with pictures
of how it looks when God brings His justice and rules as King -
Psalm 146:6b-10a,
Yahweh remains faithful forever.
He brings about justice for those who
are oppressed.
He gives food for those who are hungry.
Yahweh sets prisoners free.
Yahweh give sight to blind people.
Yahweh straightens the backs of those
who are bent over.
Yahweh loves the righteous people.
Yahweh protects foreigners.
Yahweh gives relief to orphans and
widows.
But he keeps wicked people from
reaching their goal.
Yahweh rules as king forever.”
As when Christ came to earth the first
time, He demonstrates great mercy with people, even in judgment.
Psalm 72:1-2, 12-14 says,
“O Elohim, give the king your justice
and the king's son your righteousness
so that he may judge your people with
righteousness
and your oppressed people with
justice...
He will rescue the needy person who
cries for help
and the oppressed person who has no
one's help.
He will have pity on the poor and
needy.
He will rescue them from oppression and
violence.
Their blood will be precious in sight.”
His wrath was, is and always will be
directed against the enemy -
Psalm 76:7-9 says,
“You alone must be feared!
Who can stand in your presence when
you become angry?
From heaven you announced a verdict.
The earth was fearful and silent
when you rose to judge, O Elohim,
when you rose to save every oppressed
person on the earth.
Selah”
Lord, you are good and your ways are
perfect. You love us deeply. Help us to navigate these difficult
times where there is so much shaking. Help us to be fully anchored
in You. Wash away our pride and self-sufficiency. Fill our hearts
with joy as we look toward the day you will fully bring forth your
justice on earth.
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