Enthroned Above the Waters: God's Sovereignty in a Time of Unrest

"The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever.  The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord blesses his people with peace." 
-Psalms 29:10-11

Today as I was studying my Bible this verse stopped me in my tracks.  Admittedly, over the past few weeks I have had a hard time picking up my bible.  Ever since I had to start home schooling my first grader it's been pretty stressful.  I have always considered home schooling but certainly not with a three year old and a nine month old running around!  It's interesting because being in God's word has become essential for my life and when I neglect it because I am tired I feel anything but eased.  But God is always a patient reminder.  I go to scripture because it's there that I find true rest.  It's there that I am filled. 

Over and over again it's been proven.  When I give Him my time, my heart, and my mind He answers me.  Opening up to Psalms 29:10 gave me pause because it is exactly what I needed to hear from the Lord in this moment and maybe, just maybe you needed to hear it too.  

"The Lord sits enthroned over the flood."  What a picture for our current times.  It would be inaccurate to say that I am merely stressed about teaching first grade.  I think we all can agree that our world feels upside down at the moment.  First we were hit by a novel virus that affected our families, our jobs, major life events, travel plans, the list goes on.  With it came a wave of fear that left many paralyzed.  Next came an even greater grievance.  Our nation watched as a violent act of racism once again occurred at the hands of our law enforcement.  With it came more fear and anger leaving us with the urgent question:  how does this happen?

It seems that we have entered into a time of labored breathing for great flood waters have rushed into our path.  Many of us are anxious and on edge as we've seen division arise out of the current events.  I have myself wrongly lashed out in frustration.


Yes, the waters are deep but the Lord sits over them.  COVID-19, racism, violence, division, these are certainly not from God, in fact He is deeply grieved by what He sees in the world but take heart because He has overcome the world.  We must remember that what we see is not a battle between flesh and blood but rather a battle of the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12).

Another translation of Psalms 29:10 reads like this:  "The Lord rules over the deep waters."  God is fighting in the spiritual realm and though we cannot fully understand as we look out on our times we can rest in the knowledge that He is sovereign.  God rules over evil and it will not prevail.  He is the one thing in this world that we can be certain of.  An unchanging, mighty force who calls out, "When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the one who steadies its pillars." -Psalms 75:3.  Whom else should we run to?  Where else should we seek shelter?

We feel a great exhaustion but let us remember our God who is greater.  Let us take to prayer and to the reading of His Word so that we may recall His faithfulness.  Even as flood waters recede they are going to leave behind evidence of ruin.  We have got to rebuild and it is only by recalling the past faithfulness of the Lord that will give us the confidence to press forward.

I have been mentioning the Psalms throughout this post but another great place in scripture to be in this season is the book of Nehemiah.  I urge you to read it yourself but I will sum it up here.  In Nehemiah's time, the Jewish remnant that had returned to Israel post Babylonian exile was facing a huge problem:  Jerusalem's wall had been destroyed.

Nehemiah, who was still living in Persia was deeply grieved when he heard the news so he returned to his beloved city to lead the Jewish remnant in rebuilding not only the wall of Jerusalem but also in the rebuilding of their communities and their law.  Nehemiah was able to succeed in bringing restoration and unity by seeking God's provision and faithfulness.  It is only when we seek His provision that our hands are able to build.  Our power is sourced from He who sits over the flood.

And here is the glory of it all:  God used Nehemiah and His remnant people to stabilize Jerusalem, which would make way for the life and ministry of Jesus 500 years later.  Let's dwell on this for a moment.  Jerusalem's restoration in that time would eventually impact the Man who's flesh would split open on our behalf.  God is always in the midst even if we don't see the promise for 500 years.

Imagine what promises we could usher in for generations to come if in this moment we seek the provision of God and choose to rebuild.  Let us confess our need for the Lord in this moment and may we wait with hopeful anticipation to see His divine intervention in the heart of our nation and our world.  He is bringing peace and unity in way that our eyes have not yet seen.

I am expectant and I hope you are too for God is enthroned above the waters and it is He who steadies the pillars!