A New Year, New Rhythms, and the Gift of Revelation: In the Middle of An Uproar
Image by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash
A New Year, New Rhythms, and the Gift of Revelation: In the Middle of An Uproar
So, as we embark on this new year and establish new rhythms, I want to remind you that engaging with God through the Bible is an essential component of spiritual growth. Not because the Bible is a kind of handbook or reference guide, but because God, nourishes is with his living and active revelation, gives us the ability to know him deeply. Over time, the Bible helps us to recognize God’s presence and, bit by bit, and often in the midst of crazy, confusing, or even commonplace circumstances, we grow.
Yes, it takes discipline to engage with God through the Scriptures, but God’s Spirit is right here to help, teach, and speak to us in both mundane and uproarious circumstances (John 14:26–29; 16:13–15; Ephesians 1:15–19).
5 Psalms and 1 Proverb a Day
In my mid-twenties, I began reading five psalms and one proverb a day. This practice enabled me to read the entirety of both books every month. Sometimes I liked keeping track and ticking the boxes, and many times I sort of forced myself to stick to the task simply for the sake of discipline.
But there came a point in 1993 when Psalm 2 took on real-time meaning for me. In fact, it was the story below that reminded me to consider Psalm 2 again as I strained to make sense of today’s politically charged climate.
So, bear with me…
The October Coup of 1993
Bob and I were living in Moscow, Russia as Cru staff in the fall of 1993 during what is historically known as the October Coup. This event marks a constitutional crisis that had taken place between Boris Yeltsin, President of the independent Russian Federation and the Communist led Russian parliament representing the Soviet era.
This was no small crisis.
For context, we had relocated to Russia in the fall of 1991 during a politically chaotic time in Russian history that was marked by the dissolution of Soviet era communism (1917–1991) and the emergence of an independent Russian Federation. We stood in Red Square, the very heart of Russia, on December 26, 1991, and watched the lowering of the Soviet flag and the raising of the Russian flag.
The October Coup represented the implications of this shift in politics.
The tension between these two ideologies escalated the fall of 1993. Yeltsin sought to abolish the Russian parliament who had vowed to protect the Soviet era constitution. The parliament in turn impeached Yeltsin and declared Vice President Alexander Rutskoy as acting president.
The conflict reached fever pitch on October 3rd when the parliamentarians stormed the Ostankino Television Center and then barricaded themselves inside of what is known as the Russian White House.
I had a conversation that day with a taxi driver who, as he drove me to my destination, anxiously expressed his concern over the increasing violence. My Russian skills were just good enough to follow the conversation but required a new set of vocabulary words like, “shelling,” “gunshots,” and “bombing.”
I returned home on foot, Bob met me halfway there, and we hurried to our flat driven by a palpable sense of uncertainty. Once home, we turned on the local news, our sole source of information, and the screen went dark. We knew then that the crisis had intensified.
On October 4th, Yeltsin declared a state of emergency and ordered the militia to take position. Tanks barreled down Leninski Prospect, the main artery into the city, and proceeded to shell the White House. Some 142 people died in that skirmish.
Psalm 2: Perspective
I vividly remember searching the Scriptures back then and calling out to God in earnest. We felt afraid, anxious, and way out of our depth. On that particular morning, the Spirit reminded me of the opening words of Psalm 2.
Why are the nations in an uproar
and the peoples plot in vain?
I found both comfort and perspective in these words because, in that moment, our circumstances and that of the citizens of Moscow hinged on the outcome of these uproarious events. The psalm goes on to speak directly to the kings and rulers of the earth who set themselves against God. These earthly kings and rulers, whether they believe it or not, plot in vain for power.
God, whose reign is comprehensive, is not alarmed by these outbursts but instead laughs.
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision…“
As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
These few words did not magically remove our sense of anxiety but proved to lend perspective. God the King allows these disturbing events to happen and ultimately blesses those who take refuge in him and warns those who do not.
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling…
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
5 Psalms and 1 Proverb a Day in 2026
As I reflect back on those days, I cannot help but consider the number of attempted coups, hostile takeovers, and violent demonstrations that have taken place since 1993 and are still taking place today. I am also reminded of how many attempted coups, hostile takeovers, and violent demonstrations are detailed for us in the metanarrative of Scripture, the true story of the whole world.
Please hear me, this exhortation to get to know God by reading the Bible is urgent because most of us live in the middle of an uproar, we need an anchor, perspective, and hope. The discipline of reading the Psalms and Proverbs lays the groundwork for a lifetime of encounters with God, like the October Coup of 1993.
Take one simple step and start reading 5 Psalms and 1 Proverb a Day in 2026. I can guarantee this discipline, over time, will cause growth and will lend a kingdom perspective.
