“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:9-11 ESV)
During His earthly ministry, the Son of God commanded the wind and waves, “Peace! Be still!” The storm obeyed its Master “and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39b ESV). In our psalm, God demands that the warring nations end their ceaseless striving and acknowledge His lordship: “Be still, and know that I am God.” We do not know why God permits the wars and suffering to continue. Those answers are hidden from us. We see nations rage and kingdoms rise and fall, but it is God who “makes wars to cease to the end of the earth.” Nations and their rulers desire earthly power. They are willing to fight and kill for it, not knowing or acknowledging the power of the God who alone “makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away” (Job 12:23 ESV). God lays claim to the majesty and power that are His alone: “I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
The God who will be exalted among the nations loves the people of all nations. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). The Son of God, who commanded the wind and waves to cease their striving, did nothing to stop the violence done to Himself. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, condemned to death, and nailed to a cross. Yet there on the cross, as a weak and helpless victim, Jesus was at war with the forces of evil, striving against sin, death, and Satan, fighting to bring forgiveness of sins and eternal peace to a warring world. When the Son fell silent in death, the battle appeared to be lost. Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and buried. But on the first Easter morning, the divine Victim was revealed as the Victor! By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered every foe, crushing the power of sin, death, and the devil.
The risen and victorious Savior was raised to the right hand of the Father to reign over all things. The exalted Lord of all nations sends His disciples out among those nations with the Good News of peace and forgiveness granted through faith in His Name: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV). The Lord of hosts is with us!
Prayer: Exalted Lord, bid the warring nations to be still and grant to them the peace found only through faith in Jesus. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you been in the military? How did your faith in God help you during your service?
2. Do you ever see an end to the conflicts that rage between peoples and countries? Why or why not?
3. Christ defeated Satan at the cross and the empty tomb. What peace do you take from that?
