Whose Side are We On?

Psalm 79, Micah 4:6-13, Revelation 18:1-10

You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued.

There the Lord will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.

- Micah 4:10

A while back I wrote a devotion entitled “Whose Side are You On?” for a family event. The scripture I was asked to ponder for a devotion now for our church family brings to my mind this title once again. In the passages of Micah 4:6-17 and Revelation 18:1-10 the writers Micah and John tell us about bad days coming for God’s people. Psalm 79 speaks of some of the same thoughts. I always feel God’s Word spoke to the people in the day it was written but also continues to apply to us today. These passages tell how God’s people can expect trouble. I’ve been studying John 15:18-19 where Jesus says: “If the world hates you keep in mind it hated me first. If you belonged to the world it would love you as its own. As it is you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” And again, in John 16:33b “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

First, I ask the question, what brings this trouble? Well, in Psalm 79, Micah 4 and Revelation 18 trouble comes because God’s people turn to the world instead of God therefore God abandons them to the world’s nations who conquer Israel. In Micah’s day it was literally Babylon and in John’s day it was a future, unknown nation referred to as being similar in wickedness to Babylon of old. In every situation I see God calling His people to look to Him for the answers. Even when it was sin that brought discipline from God and His people suffered, he sent them prophets such as Micah to call them to repentance and trust. It feels like (in a personal way) God says, “Are you going to trust Me or your world? Whose side are you on?” The Israelites were challenged by their prophets to stop following the ways of the world. They not only worshipped their idols, but often turned to other nations for help in battle. I believe today we often look to the world first for help in times of trouble. We may look to our leaders, or pastors, or teachers, or doctors, or parents and friends, or even our money before we go to God. This is so human, but God says, “Come to Me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Does this mean as we look to God all our troubles will disappear? No! Many of us have sickness or sorrow and problems that God allows in life. The comfort I find in these passages of Micah 4 and Revelation 18 as well as Psalm 79 is that in the end God overcomes all trouble and has great things in store for those who trust Him and cling to Him even when we make mistakes along the way. I don’t know what you decided as you face trouble – but as for me I want to be on God’s side and continue to strive to go His way!

~ Vera Grimmius