Like the Frantic Shaking of a Tree

661- Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 22:3, “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.” (2 Sam 22:3) Violence. It seems to be everywhere these days. It seems to be on the rise. Senseless shootings, terrorists acts, bullying, domestic violence, even in the sanctuary of the womb, violence is an ever-present threat. Our world is becoming increasingly like the world in the days of Noah, when “the earth was filled with violence (Gen 6:11) The discerning Christian should take heed to this rise in violence, for it is a sign of the second coming of Christ. As Jesus said in Lu 17:26 "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 "Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” This word for violence that David uses here is interesting and it must be looked at in the context of taking refuge in the strong hold of our unshakeable God. This same word is found in Job 15:33, “ He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,” So this violence is like the frantic shaking of a tree in an attempt to dislodge the fruit. And David is not saying that he will be spared violence, He is saying that God saves him in spite of the violence. Christians are not immune to the violence found in this world, but David reminds us that through it all God is our Savior. So take heart my friend. Though violence increases all around us, persevere, for God will not allow you to be shaken from the vine. He is your Savior. Christ is the vine, we are the branches. Remain in Him and be secure no matter the storm around you. Ro 8:38, 39 assures us, “ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God, help us to persevere in the midst of this violent world.