Looking Beyond Circumstances
Looking Beyond Circumstances
In our “Is God Really Good?” sermon series, we looked at several Psalms while wrestling with the brokenness we see in our world. When God divinely overlapped our Wednesday night women’s study with the sermon on Psalm 46, He led us to discover the story behind the Sons of Korah, the men that God inspired to write this Psalm. The knowledge of their family story led to a broader perspective, and it personally challenges me to look beyond circumstances to trust in God’s strength—even when the world’s brokenness seems overwhelming.
The Sons of Korah were from the Israelite tribe of Levi, who were set apart by God for full-time service to Him (Num. 8:16-19). The families within the tribe were assigned specific duties—at first related to the Tabernacle, their portable place of worship, then at the Temple that was built centuries later. In the early years, this particular family branch was responsible for transporting the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle, after the priests wrapped the holy objects according to God’s specific instructions. In modern terms we might call them “roadies” of the Tabernacle.
The divinely appointed “roadie” tasks of their family differed from the others—they had to carry these wrapped holy items on their backs, but their cousins got to transport their items on a cart. They were not allowed to look at or even touch these items directly (God gave that job to the priests). If they did, the penalty was death, but the priests were supposed to do everything they could to prevent this (Num. 4:17-20). Their father Korah eventually undervalued their divine family role and became envious of the gift of priesthood that God granted to Moses and Aaron.
Korah’s “gift envy” led him to challenge their priestly authority, and this was the foundation of their family brokenness. He enlisted two other malcontents along with 250 leaders to revolt against them (Num. 16). Though he was reminded of his family’s significant role to God (16:8-10), he continued his rebellion even after a due diligence warning of consequences (16:29-30), and notification that his rebellion was directly against Him (16:11). He chose not to heed, then an earthquake suddenly swallowed up their entire family alive in the ground as an act of judgment (16:32-33).
So how could the “Sons of Korah” write Psalms that historically happened later? This is one of those “but God…” moments in the Bible where God intervened and graciously spared a remnant (Num. 26:9-11), and still fulfilled the divine purpose for their family. The prophet Samuel came from this family line, and he anointed the first two kings of Israel. The Sons of Korah became custodians & doorkeepers in the tabernacle (1 Chron. 9:19, 32), and were prophets as well as choral and orchestral music leaders there during King David’s reign. Heman the psalmist came from Korah’s family, and if it weren’t for King Solomon being the wisest person during his own reign, Heman would have been named on top of the list along with a select few songwriters (1 Kings 4:31). The Sons of Korah wrote Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, and 87-88. I challenge you to read them with their family history in mind and then ask the question, “Did they truly believe that God is really good?”
Now that you know their family history and God’s merciful intervention, reread Psalm 46 with a fresh perspective. The Sons of Korah experienced family sin and brokenness to a high degree, yet they responded with expressions of utter confidence in God as refuge, strength, and helper in trouble (46:1). They moved on to a life with God—this should cause a “selah” (musical pause) for all of us! Perhaps they remembered their father so vividly (46:2-3) that “though the earth give way” they would not be afraid. These verses remind us that no matter what we see with our eyes, we can look beyond our circumstances and trust God as our refuge, strength, and “ever-present” help—not a sporadic one! These men were well acquainted with brokenness, so from personal experience, they encourage us to remember God’s power: “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10a
linda@gospelalliancechurch.org
This was written as a continued reflection on the sermon titled “Is God Really Good… In A Broken World?” dated 12/22/2024. This sermon can be watched here: https://gospelalliancechurch.subspla.sh/d7fb9xx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-G11zqI9aw
In our “Is God Really Good?” sermon series, we looked at several Psalms while wrestling with the brokenness we see in our world. When God divinely overlapped our Wednesday night women’s study with the sermon on Psalm 46, He led us to discover the story behind the Sons of Korah, the men that God inspired to write this Psalm. The knowledge of their family story led to a broader perspective, and it personally challenges me to look beyond circumstances to trust in God’s strength—even when the world’s brokenness seems overwhelming.
The Sons of Korah were from the Israelite tribe of Levi, who were set apart by God for full-time service to Him (Num. 8:16-19). The families within the tribe were assigned specific duties—at first related to the Tabernacle, their portable place of worship, then at the Temple that was built centuries later. In the early years, this particular family branch was responsible for transporting the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle, after the priests wrapped the holy objects according to God’s specific instructions. In modern terms we might call them “roadies” of the Tabernacle.
The divinely appointed “roadie” tasks of their family differed from the others—they had to carry these wrapped holy items on their backs, but their cousins got to transport their items on a cart. They were not allowed to look at or even touch these items directly (God gave that job to the priests). If they did, the penalty was death, but the priests were supposed to do everything they could to prevent this (Num. 4:17-20). Their father Korah eventually undervalued their divine family role and became envious of the gift of priesthood that God granted to Moses and Aaron.
Korah’s “gift envy” led him to challenge their priestly authority, and this was the foundation of their family brokenness. He enlisted two other malcontents along with 250 leaders to revolt against them (Num. 16). Though he was reminded of his family’s significant role to God (16:8-10), he continued his rebellion even after a due diligence warning of consequences (16:29-30), and notification that his rebellion was directly against Him (16:11). He chose not to heed, then an earthquake suddenly swallowed up their entire family alive in the ground as an act of judgment (16:32-33).
So how could the “Sons of Korah” write Psalms that historically happened later? This is one of those “but God…” moments in the Bible where God intervened and graciously spared a remnant (Num. 26:9-11), and still fulfilled the divine purpose for their family. The prophet Samuel came from this family line, and he anointed the first two kings of Israel. The Sons of Korah became custodians & doorkeepers in the tabernacle (1 Chron. 9:19, 32), and were prophets as well as choral and orchestral music leaders there during King David’s reign. Heman the psalmist came from Korah’s family, and if it weren’t for King Solomon being the wisest person during his own reign, Heman would have been named on top of the list along with a select few songwriters (1 Kings 4:31). The Sons of Korah wrote Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, and 87-88. I challenge you to read them with their family history in mind and then ask the question, “Did they truly believe that God is really good?”
Now that you know their family history and God’s merciful intervention, reread Psalm 46 with a fresh perspective. The Sons of Korah experienced family sin and brokenness to a high degree, yet they responded with expressions of utter confidence in God as refuge, strength, and helper in trouble (46:1). They moved on to a life with God—this should cause a “selah” (musical pause) for all of us! Perhaps they remembered their father so vividly (46:2-3) that “though the earth give way” they would not be afraid. These verses remind us that no matter what we see with our eyes, we can look beyond our circumstances and trust God as our refuge, strength, and “ever-present” help—not a sporadic one! These men were well acquainted with brokenness, so from personal experience, they encourage us to remember God’s power: “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10a
linda@gospelalliancechurch.org
This was written as a continued reflection on the sermon titled “Is God Really Good… In A Broken World?” dated 12/22/2024. This sermon can be watched here: https://gospelalliancechurch.subspla.sh/d7fb9xx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-G11zqI9aw
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