Bible Society of South Africa

War and peace – Day 3

Power

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

IINDUMISO 46

UThixo ungakuthi

Kumbhexeshi-kwayara; umhobe woonyana bakwaKora; iculo. Liculwa ngathi leliya lithi: “Amantombazana.”

1UThixo ulihlathi nenqaba yethu;

ngexesha leenkathazo uluncedo oluhlala lulungile.

2Ngoko ke asoyiki lutho, nokuba ihlabathi lingazama-zama,

nokuba iintaba zingaphoswa enzulwini yolwandle.

3Hayi, amanzi alo angade agqume alephuze amagwebu,

iintaba zingcangcazeliswe kukulephuza kwawo.

4Kukho umlambo omisinga isivuyisayo isixeko sikaThixo,

esilikhaya elingcwele likaPhezukonke.

5UThixo uthe zinzi apho kuso.

Ngoko ke asinakuze sitshabalale,

kuba yena usinceda kwasekuseni.

6Izizwe ziyaphithizela;

izikumkani ziyabhukuqwa.

Lakuhlokoma ilizwi lakhe

ihlabathi litsho linyibilike.

7*UNdikhoyo uSomandla ungakuthi;

ihlathi lethu nguThixo kaYakobi.

8Yizani nibone akwenzileyo uNdikhoyo.

Ewe, uliphanzisile ihlabathi.

9Ngumaphelis' iimfazwe ehlabathini jikelele.

Uyasiqoboza isaphetha,

awuvikive umkhonto,

amakhaka awantumek' umlilo.

10Uthetha ngelizwi athi:

“Phezani, ndim uThixo.

Ndizivelele izizwe;

nehlabathi ndilikrobele.”

11UNdikhoyo uSomandla ungakuthi;

ihlathi lethu nguThixo kaYakobi.

IINDUMISO 46:1-11XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

The writer of Psalm 46 zooms out. Just like in the psalms we read yesterday and the day before, this psalm is also about God as our protector. But the images that Psalm 46 uses are grand: the earth is shaken, mountains fall into the sea, kingdoms collapse.

During war, people may experience that the earth shakes and everything can collapse. It is not only the soldiers who experience this, but also ordinary citizens. But God is above it, says the psalmist, and when he speaks, everyone listens. Whatever happens, God’s end goal is clear: eventually the battle ends. Only God has the power to make that happen. He will bring an end to all wars, he will bring peace and protection to all.

God says through the psalmist that he is “supreme among the nations, supreme over the world” (Good News Translation).

How do you experience God’s power yourself and what do you notice about it in this time?

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
SIFUMANE KU-