CALLING ALL CHILDREN OF KORAH IN ALL OUR CHURCHES

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

For Christians, Psalm 46:1 is a very familiar verse, often quoted whenever and wherever.

But oftentimes, the introduction for this chapter is always disregarded and unnoticed by many. You may don't even know what I am pertaining about. Well, I am pertaining to the introduction of this chapter. If you have your Bible right now, you can check what does it say about Psalm 46.

For this particular chapter, the instruction goes like this:

To the chief musician

To the sons of Korah

A song upon Alamoth

It is important to consider this because understanding this will unravel the chapter to you like never before. 

We noticed that the writer is talking to the "chief musician," possibly somebody who leads in the singing of the said verses. You may wonder - who were the sons of Korah?

In Number 26, we read that Korah, his family and company were swallowed up by the earth because of their sin. We read accounts like this in the Old Testament – how God can wipe out an entire generation because of their sin. However, we read in verse 11, we read that the sons of Korah were spared from death, and instead were given the privilege to be singers in the temple! Imagine the emotions running through them at the moment – grief for their parents and relatives who were killed, and fear of a God who does not tolerate sin and issues harsh punishment for it. But the amazing thing is that they turned all these around and imbibed an attitude of thankfulness, service and happiness. They praised God all their lives in the temple. God somehow knew that the one whose sins has been forgiven sings differently from the rest in the temple who are just there for the rituals.

The last line of the instruction reads: a song upon Alamoth. The word alamoth means lively and joyous. The singers were being instructed to sing the verses to a happy and energetic melody. Isn’t this ironic? The sons of Korah, identified as sinful and treated as outcasts in society, were leading the praise and worship service and whistling happy tunes! Who would ever participate in that kind of worship service? Perhaps the people of that time rejected the sons of Korah because of their past. No wonder the Psalmist emphasized the opening verse, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Note the word "Present?" The sons of Korah live on the present and not in their past. They fully believed that God is their only refuge not people, their strength is what God says, and not on what people says.

Hence, the story behind this chapter implore us that we should focus on the songs they are singing, rather on the sins they have committed. The dynamics within the story of the sons of Korah is something which must be looked at by the contemporary church. 

Radical truths to learn and to live by from this discovery:

1. God is a God of second chance. Many people will judge you as unworthy because of your sins, but rise up in the forgiveness of God.

2. The love of God is enough to motivate you to worship Him.

3. It is not the past that ought to define you but the present which God has given you. God takes care of the past when you trust Him for your present.

4. Don't allow people's judgment over you determine who you are. Live on God's declarations for your life.

5. Just to ponder God's mercies and grace is enough for you to live with excitement and joy.

6. God sees you based on what your heart sings and not on past sins. God forgives.

7. You can be better than ever.

8. Only God has the right to pronounce an end to you, but as you live, no man has the right to pronounce your end.

9. Your downfall, your problems and your painful experiences are just a book, a poem, an art, and a song in the making. 

8. Don't under-estimate outcasts. Their names could land in the introduction of a beautiful psalm.

I can relate to this. I can say that I am one of the sons of Korah. Many people thought that I am unworthy and I don't deserve another chance. Some has judged me bitterly. But just like the sons of Korah, I rose up in grace and love of God, not in bitterness and hatred. I took the challenge to still rise up by His grace and sing aloud the songs of "Alamoth" meaning songs of rejoicing. And I can shout right now - "No matter what this world will do and no matter what people will say, I will rise up because God is my refuge, my strength and my very present help right now."

Have you been wounded by religion?

Have you experienced rock bottom?

Have you been fallen and have thought you are hopeless?

Have you been wondering if there is hope?

Yes, there is hope. God is already the One calling you and saying to you - "Yes, I am the only One who is your refuge, your strength and your PRESENT help."

Let me now call out there more sons and daughters of Korah - 

to rise up, show this world how powerful and magnificent is the radical grace of God in our lives,

to rise up, and enjoy life to the fullest

to rise up, be free, be passionate and make a difference!