God, helps at Dawn

God, helps at Dawn (  psa 46:1~5)

 

 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

⁴ There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

 

Intro)

1. This is section from article called 'Vacation of God'. A young boy used to attend church holding his parents' hands, but in one summer they went away as vacation for a week. Boy wrote a letter to God, because he felt bad about not attending church, which was saying like 'Dear God, we will be away for a week. We will not be able to meet next week. We will have fun, but how stuffy will you feel in the church alone? Well, I will come by when we come back from vacation. Bye.'

 

Who is God this young boy thought of? God who is locked, stays, protects, and listen to all kinds of people's story like animals in the cage.

 

Many people who have faith in God do not keep God as their master in their house. Master has been replaced as TV and computer (internet). Even at work God is not owner of business, but boss and who has power in the market.

If we are truly righteous Christian we should be able to find a way to find our God in their life and family. We have to be a Christian who can call name of God in deadly competition, work, and struggle of illness.

 

If then, what is our priority should be in our life? It knows God right.

In Psalm 46:10 it says "¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." This means make God by God. We have to accept him as who he is and we have to stop serving him like he is in the cage, but in our life. We have to serve almighty God as who he is.

So, we have to know how to serve him right. In other translation of Psalm 46:10 says 'you shall stop your hands, and know I am your God.'

In Hosea 6:3 says "³ Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.' Knowing who our true God is is most priority in our life.

 

 

 Body)

A) First, God says he is our shelter.

What does shelter mean? In Old Testament there are Cities of Refuge. If someone kills somebody by accident or what reason, this person could go to city of refuge and save life from vengeance of victim's family until the murderer could receive fair trial. Israel has 6 Cities of Refuge and its spread in every 30miles, so people could walk there by walking one day. The law of Israel protects whoever is in the city of refuge.

 

 

Breakwater at port in near ocean works as refuges as well. Today we have underground refuges for prevention of nuclear war, and underground shelter will protect quite a lot of nuclear effect. These are like city of refuge. This is where we can protect ourselves from danger, disease, and crisis.

 However, God became our greatest and safest shelter for us. In old days Israel used to receive many invasions by foreigners, and whenever that happen God listens to their prayer and protect people of Israel.

 
B) Second, God says he is our power.

Many people are lack of power (strength), so they work hard to improve their weakness. Many in business want to get promoted, but they do not have power, and look for who got power in their family to help them out. Most of people are busy seeking for power which comes in different form such as knowledge, authority, and material. They are all different powers in this world, but true power is our God. His help will be big help in our life.

 

When I was young and lived in Korea we used briquette as heat energy. When briquette delivery guy comes and going up the hill many struggles, but when someone comes push a little, although the helper is small kid the aid will have great result.

When time is hard little help could be great help, but when God help us how helpful would that be?

 

In Psalm 18:1 David says 'I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.'

David confesses his power is God's power. When David was young he was only a young boy, but when beasts come while he raises sheep, he could always scare them by stone slingshot.

When later on when he defeated Goliath of Philistines he claims 'God is my power!'

We are small and weak, but God gives us power to do great thing.

 

In Isaiah 40: 30-31it says '³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: ³¹ But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' God is who gives us great power.

C) Third, God said he is the big help when we are in hardship

 Psalm 121:1-2 says ' I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.' This says big help comes from God.

 Ignorant people in nowadays do not ask help from God, but to Idols, and authority.

Everyone, how do we come forth to ask God a help? Prayer, Yes, when we pray God helps us.

 

There is a father and son and father gave an assignment to his son, which was moving big flowerpot and put it into living room from yard. Son says 'Dad, it is too heavy for me.' Dad replied 'Try to do your best.' Son tries his best, but he could not do it and father said "you are not doing your best. You could ask me for help too." So, son asked for his help and they moved big flowerpot. This is a picture of our life, is there assignment that is too much to accomplish? Ask help from God.

In today's text says '⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

It says God helps at dawn. Night time is usually symbol for time of hardships and pain, and dawn is when those things are started to wear off,

And it shows God wants to help us right away when we need God.

 

 

There were famous 2 siblings singers (brother and sister) in Korea, one of them became pastor now.

They are child of famous Wandering Theatre, but 3 years After 6.25 Korean War both of their parents passed away and at age of 12 they became homeless. They had to eat whatever left on street, and had to sleep under stalls. When winter came time was much harder, they could not find food and had to eat icicles to fill their empty stomach. the temperature dropped down to -25~-30c siblings hug each other and said "I can't sleep, I've heard if we fall asleep in this cold temperature we will die." one day there was many crowds in the street, siblings wondered what is going on, and found out someone is selling a soup that is made with cheap vegetables, but to hungry people it smelled good. Younger sister started to cry, because she wanted to eat it, but she can't. She said “I want to eat it! I'm starving to death!!" brother hold her and said “we don't have money to afford one! We can come back again when we have money!" however, there was old lady who just bought soup walking by them. Her foot was slip on icy street, and her soup fall on brother's hat. It was not much but they get to eat the soup. Is this not a grace of God?

  

 Later on, siblings meet one of member of Wandering Theatre, and they joined together and started to sing. Sister made girl group 'Korean kittens' and brother made group called ‘Key Boys' and they started to get popular, and they got married to their loves. However, somewhere around age mid 30 brothers vomited blood. They went to hospital and doctor says its tuberculosis, and he can live less than a year.

Brother was blinded by being famous in world, and he was carless for his family. He calls to his wife with courage and she decides to nurse him with best effort she could make, and she started fasting for 40days. She fed him whatever is good, and miracle happened. He gained his health again.

 

Sister became a successful singer in America, and came back to Korea, joined her brother, became a group, and they succeed. Their prayers came true, later brother gained faith for Jesus and became a pastor.

 

 

 

Con)

 Yes, God's grace is aid that comes at dawn. God helps us in unexpected way and when we could not ask for help. This generosity of God that we are earning is great blessing from God. Why? Because God is our shelter, big help, father, shield, and refuge. When you are going through hardship think about God who helps at dawn. I hope we become who always remember about God who cures, and helps us, so we praise and worship God. Hallelujah!