Squishing God into a Small Box
Psalm 18 (Incredibly Beautiful!)
We like to keep God small and manageable. We may visit Him on Sundays from eleven until noon. We may look up into the night sky and exclaim His wonders. We may talk to Him when a friend has had a heart attack or our children are late arriving home. But we like to keep him contained. Not too big. Not too out of control.
We forget that the shepherd David was also outlaw and warrior before becoming king over a divided nation. He saw God larger than life. And he wrote love songs to Him.
David saw God rock the mountains with His anger, coming to his rescue on the wings of the wind, striking with hailstones and coals of fire, his arrows of lightning scattering the enemy. (Psalm 18:6-14)
Ice and fire: the weapons of God. Recently there was a horrific hailstone in my hometown. When I visit cousins and childhood best friends, they have photographs of their lawns covered in white-ice golf balls. Their roofs must be replaced. Their cars were totaled from the damage. People who were caught outside are covered with round bruises on their shoulders and chest. God is in the storm.
This is the God I want to know. This is the God I want to fight for me. This is the God I want to follow as the enemies gather around me, and I shrink back one step and then two.
Most days, my biggest enemies live inside my own small brain. Fear of failure. Warriors of rejection. Swords of ‘Settle for less’ and daggers of ‘don’t even try’.
David sings of a Mighty God, as secure as a rock under our feet, equipping us with strength. He gives us the feet of deer, confident on the mountain heights. He gives us hands trained for war: strong enough to bend a bow of bronze, as we pursue our enemy. “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.” (Psalm 18:35 ESV)
Don’t be afraid of a mighty God, larger than your own small life. Stop trying to contain Him and control Him. He is powerful. He is mighty. He is able to fight your biggest enemy
Question: Do you think God is too small to take care of you? Can you imagine what your life would look like if you looked at the bigness, the possibilities of your powerful God?
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