THE SHAKEN LAND

Psalms 60:1-3

1 You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us;

you have been angry-now restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;

mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

3 You have shown your people desperate times;

you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner

to be unfurled against the bow. Selah

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,

that those you love may be delivered.

The land of Haiti has been shaken. The earthquake of January 12th, 2010 has shaken Haiti’s infrastructure, the government, the economy, people’s emotions / mental state, and people’s lives. Most importantly it has shaken the nation spiritually.

In this Psalm, David is speaking of God’s judgment bursting forth upon them. I believe the quake was God’s judgment for both the wicked and His people that all people may bow down before the Lord and call upon His name and turn from their own way, as many have already done.

Now we are to pray as David prayed, “….now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fracture, for it is quaking.” “Save and help us with your right hand that those you love may be delivered.”
As believers, what should be our stance? Should we be blaming others for our trouble? NO! Should we be blaming God? NO Should we be wallowing in self-pity and/or focused on our own needs? NO

Our first stance is to position ourselves in prayer for the land and its people, including the government and the wicked. The second stance is to make every effort to mend its fractures. We must not only call upon God to mend the land, and help us. We must act to mend the land and bring help to all that come across our path. The church of Haiti has a great opportunity to show the love of Christ, and the way to Christ. It is in the darkest times that His people shine the brightest if they are truly His people.

In order to accomplish this, we must have the same faith as David and declare, “you have raised a banner”. When David speaks of a banner here, he is speaking of God’s great might. He is speaking of victory. Praise the Lord! Those who fear Him are victorious.

A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey

I was thinking today about the people of Isreal and how God promised them a land flowing with milk and honey.

Exodus 3:8 - "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites."

God promised to deliver them from captivity and suffering and bring them into a good and spacious land. Yet, there were two requirements for them to enter the promised land. The first was to have faith in God. They had to believe that God was great enough to defeat the giants in the land and their enemies. They had to believe in God's strength and provision for them. The second requirement was that they needed to obey his command to go into the promise land. We see that the people who were brought up out of Egypt failed in both requirements for their success and blessing. As result, they had to walk around in the desert for forty years. It was the new generation who believed God and obeyed him who ended up possessing the land of milk and honey.

You today may be in a difficult situation. You may be suffering. You may be wandering in the desert, not seeing the blessing of God. God has promised those who put their trust in Him and obey His commands blessing, protection, and prosperity.

Psalms 1:1-3 -"1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. "

There will be times of suffering, and difficulty. There will be desert experiences. yet, God does not intend to leave us there. He wants to bless us. He does seek our good.

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


Yet, we are often in the desert and remain in the desert due to our lack of trust and obedience in Him. Let us be the new generation of people, not like our forefathers, and step out in faith and obedience. There is no situation to great for God. he wants to see you prosper and live in peace.