Four Things to Remember in the Storm

September 14, 2019

Worship in WORD

Psalm 29:11                          The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. NIV (’84)	Psalm 29:11                            The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. , New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved_.
Psalm 29                              A Psalm of David. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. KJV	Psalm 29                   Ascribe to the Lord  Glory                                              A Psalm of David. 11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! ESV

I. Splendor – vv. 1-2

II. Storm – vv. 3-9

III. Sovereignty – v. 10

IV. Stillness – v. 11

Stillness

When I originally created this outline for Psalm 29, I was of the mind that the peace the psalmist spoke of was the peace that follows when a storm ceases. However, I have since rethought that and believe that David is speaking of a peace that is found even amid the storm.

They have nothing to fear in the tempest and storm; nothing to fear from anything. He will bless them with peace IN the tempest; He will bless them with peace through that power by which He controls the tempest. Let them, therefore, not fear in the storm, however fiercely it may rage; let them not be afraid in any of the troubles and trials of life. IN the storm, and IN those troubles and trials, he can make the mind calm; BEYOND those storms and those troubles he can give them eternal peace in a world where no "angry tempest blows."

(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997-2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

There is an inner stillness which all believers can experience in the middle of their storm. A strength to endure the fiercest tempest that arises in their life.

In saying this, I can think of no better example of the power and peace found – even when the gale winds are blowing, and the waves threaten to drown us – than in the life of our Lord himself. We remember the story recounted in the synoptic gospels. Let me share it as it was reported in Mark. His is the shortest of the gospels, but ironically he has the fullest account of the incident.

Mark 4:35-41³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."  ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
NIV

Here we see Jesus asleep and at peace even though a “furious squall” arose suddenly and threatened to capsize the boat. We observe the strength He had in standing and quelling the storm. We also note the disappointment our Lord expressed to His disciples – “"Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

If we look at all three accounts, their reporting of what Jesus said differ a little in form and content.

"You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Matt 8:26 NIV"Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:40 NIV"Where is your faith?" Luke 8:25 NIV

Matthew records a statement and a question, Mark has two questions, and Luke records only a question. While it may be possible that Matthew, Mark, and Luke may have given an interpretive account of what Jesus said, I don’t believe that is the case. I see no reason why Jesus could not have said all these things.

This is how I imagine it took place. The disciples awaken the Lord, Who stands, looks ups, and rebukes the storm, which immediately abates at His command. He then looks around and into the face of each frightened and cowering disciple. There is a look of sadness and disappointment. What He says next must have pierced the hearts of the residents of that sailing vessel that day. "You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” He said in a slightly raised voice to His trembling troops. I can then see Him bow His head down and shake His head then slowly raise His head and with a piercing gaze look each one in the eye and breathed out softly, “where is your faith?”

You see they had failed to believe the promises of God for strength and peace. They didn’t realize that these things resided in the person who slept unalarmed by the tumult that tossed them about. They forgot the promise the Lord gave. It is found in His command in verse 35.

"Let us go over to the other side."

He didn’t say, “I am going to the other side.” No, He said, “let us go.” So here He commands them to go, but He also says He will go with them.

They failed to recognize God’s presence, they forgot His promises, and finally, they faltered when it came to claiming His providential care. You see, it was not wrong to be afraid in the storm, and it wasn’t a sin to wake the Saviour. Their trespass was in doubting His love and that He was sympathetic to their situation.

"Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

It is okay to cry out to the Lord for help. It is what a helpless child does when they find themselves in a troubling situation. However, it hurts when they question the love and care of their parents when they rise to help them.

What was the Disciples response to all that happened?

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

The Greek here reads literally, “they feared a fear greatly/intensely.” In the previous verse, the Lord asked why they were “so afraid?” The word our Lord uses speaks of being “timid” or “cowardly.” Here in verse 41, their focus on their predicament dissolved into perplexity over the person that calmed the storm. Their cowardly fear changed to that of terror, awe, and incomprehension. At His word “the wind died down and it was completely [megál¢ from the root word megas] calm. But another storm arose in the disciples' minds that caused them to fear a fear greatly/intensely [mégan from the same root word megas]. The former fear revealed their lack of faith. The latter fear, the dawning of faith as they dealt with the “mysterium tremendum et fascinans”* that filled their hearts in the presence of the One who with a mere word tamed the tempest.

* I’m borrowing a phrase I have come across in my studies. It is a phrase coined by Rudolf Otto. I have not read any of his works. Therefore it does not mean I share his theological beliefs. I believe, however, that this phrase is a good description of the inward response of the disciples in the boat. Eleven of them would respond to their internal storm with full-blown faith. One would let it propel them to abandon ship.

• "Mysterium": Wholly Other, experienced with blank wonder, stupor
• "tremendum":
• awefulness, terror, demonic dread, awe, absolute unapproachability, "wrath" of God
• overpoweringness, majesty, might, sense of one's own nothingness in contrast to its power
• creature-feeling, sense of objective presence, dependence
• energy, urgency, will, vitality
• "fascinans": potent charm, attractiveness in spite of fear, terror, etc.

Worship in Witness:

What then can we learn from all this? For in every storm, there is not only portent and promise, but there is also pedagogy. It is the Lab in which we discover truths about our God and knowledge of His ways. It is a test to see what we have learned or lack. All these elements were present in the boat that day. The Lord had already taught His students by word and deeds many things. Now it was time to test them on what they had learned and whether they believed in Him – their Master and Mentor. It also was the lab in which their faith would be stretched, and their understanding expanded.

I have found this to be true in my own “boat in the storm” experiences. Especially the one I have been in for almost 5 years now. A monsoon that has continued with no end in sight even until today. I have risen upon the billows, buoyed by faith, and have spied the distant shore where the Celestial Kingdom resides. I have had the same billows crash upon my deck, and despair and doubt cause me to cry for help to the Lord of the storm. It seems the Master Teacher has to resort to much repetition when teaching me.

Repeatedly He reminds me that I must:

1.  Remember His presence in the storm

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. Ps. 29:10

           

Deut 31:6 

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
NIV

Deut 31:8 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
NIV

Heb 13:5-6 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we can confidently say,

"The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?"ESV    

Matt 28:20b 

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
ESV

2.  Rely on His promises amid the storm

Ps 29:11

The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord blesses His people with peace. HCSB

Gen 28:15 

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." NIV

2 Cor 1:20 

 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.NIV

Heb 13:8 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.NIV

2 Peter 1:3-4 

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
NIV

3.  Request His power to protect, persevere, pilot, and prevail through the storm

      The Lord gives strength to His people...

Isa 40:29-31 

²⁹ He gives strength to the wearyand increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.
NIV 

Ps 68:35 

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

TNIV

Eph 3:16-19

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
NIV 

Phil 4:13 

 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
NIV 

Col 1:11-12 

¹¹  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
ESV

4. Rest in His peace in spite of the storm

...the Lord blesses His people with peace

Num 6:24-26 

²⁴ "'"The Lord bless youand keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine upon youand be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward youand give you peace." '
NIV 

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
NIV 

2 Thess 3:16 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
NIV 

Isa 26:3 

You will keep in perfect peacehim whose mind is steadfast,because he trusts in you.
NIV

https://dailyverses.net/images/en/niv/2-thessalonians-3-16.jpg

Worship in Song:  In the Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson

When the solid ground is falling out

From underneath my feet

Between the black skies and my red eyes

I can barely see

When I realize I've been let down by my friends and my family

I can hear the rain reminding me

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds, me in the eye of the storm

When my hopes and dreams are far from me

And I'm running out of faith

I see the future I pictured slowly fade away

And when the tears of pain and heartache are pouring down my face

I find my peace in Jesus' name

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm

When they let me go, and I just don't know

How I'm gonna make ends meet

I did my best

Now I'm scared to death

That we might lose everything

And when a sickness takes my child away

And there's nothing I can do

My only hope is to trust You

I trust You LORD

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control

In the middle of the war, You guard my soul

You alone are the anchor when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm

Publishing: © 2015 Songs Of Emack (ASCAP)/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP), Capitol CMG Genesis/Christopher Stevens designee (ASCAP) (Admin. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com).

Writer(s): Ryan Stevenson, Bryan Fowler

  

Lyrics: http://www.klove.com/music/artists/ryan-stevenson/songs/eye-of-the-storm-lyrics.aspx

Warning: Lyrics quoted from a website that is not secure

Video: https://youtu.be/-sx8wTnnfSc