"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." (Psalm 46:4-5)
The first people to sing this psalm would have had their minds fixed on Jerusalem as the city of God, the holy place where God dwells - and with the mighty Assyrian army camped around them at night, ready to attack, Israel sought refuge with God. King Hezekiah called on God's strength. In 2 Kings 18:9-19:37 we read of the terrors that faced Jerusalem by night - and God acting to bring peace to his people by the 'break of day'.
For us today, we have a greater victory in mind...
The 4th Century Church father, Ambrose of Milan, put it this way; "By his resurrection at dawn, the Lord confers on us wonderful and heavenly helps. His resurrection dispelled the night and poured on us the light of day...The Lord Jesus suffered, and by his blood forgave us our sins. The light of a pure conscience shone out and a day of spiritual grace dawned with splendor." (Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on Twelve Psalms 46.14)
All followers of Jesus now 'belong to the day'; looking forward to seeing the glorious city of God that this psalm hints at, and Revelation 22 reveals to us. "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5)
Peace like a river!!
So when darkness surrounds us, when the cities of man are in lockdown, when we are isolated, when the comforts and securities in life crumble before us, remember that Jesus entered into our darkness and clothed himself in it, so that we would be in his light. And those in his light will reign for ever and ever.
In his light,
Mike Eastman
Song: We belong to the day (Emu Music - used by permission)
