A Very Present Help

If you’ve watch any television, you’ve probably seen this State Farm commercial on television:

 

Two young men are pulled over on the side of the road in their car eating buffalo burgers when nearby buffaloes start to attack the driver’s side of the car.

 

The passenger tells his friend; “Do the jingle, do the jingle!”

 

The driver sings; "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!"

 

When the suddenly an insurance agent appears in the back seat of their car and says; “Hey guys.”

 

The two men scream as the buffalo continue to attack the car and the agent tells the driver of the car, “Do it again, do it again!

 

The driver sings "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!” and the agent adds; “in my office!” and they are transported to the insurance agent's office where they appear huddled together and say; “I think we’re good!”

 

And yet, in the real world, when trouble comes and we sing; "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." Nothing seems to happen.

 

So where can you go when disaster strikes? Who can you call? Is there really someone who can come to your immediate rescue and get you instantly out of disaster?

 

If you’ve been around the block a few times, you’ve probably understood that it doesn’t happen this way in the real world; or does it?

 

The Bible tells us that perhaps there is someone to whom we can call who will come to our rescue; immediately. In fact He is closer than you probably realize.

 

In Psalm In Psalm 46 the psalmist writes; “I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From His palace He hears my call; my cry brings me right into His presence— a private audience!” (Psalm 18:6 MSG)

 

In Psalm 46 the psalmist writes that; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NKJV) or as another version says it; “ready to help when we need Him” (Psalm 46:1 MSG).

In verse seven we read that “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 46:7 NKJV).

 

And because He is so near, “we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.” (Psalm 46:2-3 NKJV)

 

So how do we get Him to come? Is there a jingle that we can sing?

 

In Psalm 46 the psalmist tells us to; “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything” (Psalm 46:10 MSG)

 

In other words we need to simple pause and be still, and know that He is God, not us!

 

And the results are even greater than transporting us to another office. We get transported to God’s dwelling place or tabernacle (Psalm 46:4). We are transported to His refuge or high tower (v.11)

 

Call out to Him right now. Do the jingle, do the jingle! He is waiting to come to your rescue!

 

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson