“Some exceedingly small thing?”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Friday, December 24, 2021

Psalm 46 (Forward, p. 56) CEV p. 582

Today’s psalm has probably been the focus of countless sermons and meditations over the years. After all, it is the inspiration for Martin Luther’s famous hymn, ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’ Accordingly, it has much to say to us. However, today something caught my eye with this psalm that had altogether escaped my notice in times past. It was the inscription, “A song by the clan of Korah” (GNB) or “To the chief musician for the sons of Korah” (KJV). That really intrigued me, for I immediately wondered who this might be who either inspired or composed this incredible psalm.

In doing some research, I discovered that Korah, while a notable figure in the Scriptures, was anything but laudable, or exemplary (except in a negative sense). He was one of the three Levites who rebelled against Moses and Aaron, claiming that they had just as might a right to be the leaders of Israel as those two individuals had. (That story is told in Numbers 16:1-40). The account there tells us that the three individuals, plus their entire households, were punished by God by being swallowed up bodily into the earth. Obviously, however, some of their descendants survived (Numbers 26:11) and continued to serve God in the Temple, albeit in a lesser way from what Korah and his fellow conspirators had desired.

Their story then, seems to have quite an immediate bearing upon today’s psalm and what it says:

a) It says that, while still maintaining the family name (for better or for worse, because it obviously still was tainted by memories of the past), they refused to be defined by it or limited by it. They were willing, and able, to move on with the Lord. They had experienced something of the grace and mercy of God—a grace and a mercy that were not at all dependent upon who they were or were descended from.

b) Secondly, they were willing to continue in the ‘second fiddle’ position that God, in His sovereign judgment, had laid out for their family and its members (see Numbers 4:1-20). They were willing to find fulfilment and purpose in that lowlier but no less important role.

c) And finally, in that humbler and less exalted role, they were able to see the hand of God at work. They saw that God is always there for us and always willing to be our fortress and our defence. That regardless of what storms might come and afflict our times, that God is still there for us.

To me, this has a powerful lot to say to us today, firstly, that each of us stands before God in our right, neither judged nor limited or defined by anything from our past generations. Secondly, that we each have a role to play, whether it be big or small, significant or insignificant, in God’s wise economy. And finally, that, no matter where we are, that we are not alone, that God is with us, and that we can see His hand at work to help us and protect us. These are the lessons from the clan, the sons and daughters of Korah, that all of us can take to heart. This may seem like an exceedingly small thing, but it isn’t. Amen.

Forward notes: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High” (verse 4).

“My friend Anna always bakes a cake on Christmas Eve. ‘Why a cake?’ I asked her once, as I’m used to eating strawberries dipped in chocolate fondue that same night. ‘It’s a birthday cake for baby Jesus, of course!’ she replied. She went on to tell me how her family lights birthday candles and sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to the newborn king.

“Like the “river whose streams make glad the city of God,” the myriad traditions we use to usher in the birth of the Christ child make glad the city of God. When we sing the songs—be it of birthday cheer or a hallowed ‘Silent Night’—we remember Jesus. When the light of a candle is passed from person to person, illuminating a sanctuary in the glory of the Son, we remember Jesus. And when we give and receive gifts, no matter how big or small, in thanking the greatest Gift-Giver of all, we remember Jesus.

“All of these gladness-bearing streams reflect ‘the holy habitation of the Most High,’ a praise of thanks sung to the Three in One.”

Moving Forward: “What traditions do you or your loved ones hold dear on the eve of Christmas?”