Lord of Armies

Psalm 46

Introduction: Story of Joplin, MO tornado - May 22, 2011. Total devastation (see pictures). This was hard to witness/imagine because Joplin was a placed I called home for so long. Doing ministry through “Camp Noah” was even harder - hearing personal stories of children had experienced and lost. For many of them, it truly seemed as if their world had fallen apart.

Connection to Psalm 46: many believe Psalm 46 was written during a time when God’s people would have felt much of the same way. Although an EF5 tornado had not destroyed everything they once knew about their homeland, a neighboring enemy known as the Assyrians certainly threatened to do much of the same. During the prophet Isaiah’s ministry, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Israel & Judah. General history (not just biblical history) would tell you that the Assyrians quickly became known for their brutal war tactics. Sadly, Israel had already fallen to the Assyrian’s brutality and now they had their eyes set on Judah. At the time, King Hezekiah reigned as Judah’s king. Isaiah 36-37 gives the account of the King of Assyria demanding Hezekiah and the people of Judah to surrender to the Assyrians…or else! Assyria’s king even mocked the people of Judah claiming no god had or would ever save them from their enemies.

When the world seemed to be falling apart, what did Hezekiah do? He fell on his face before the Lord and pleaded for His help. And guess what happened as a result? The Lord answered! That night, the Lord’s angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. It was after this incredible moment in Israel’s history that most biblical scholars and commentators believe Psalm 46 was written.

Let’s READ this Psalm together now: PSALM 46

BIG IDEA: When your world seems to be falling apart, rest in the Lord of Armies!

Think about this for a moment: how would you describe yourself and/or your life right now? Is there anyone here today that would say, You know what…I can completely relate. It actually does feel like my relationships, my marriage, my family, my life, my world is falling apart right now. Or maybe this doesn’t describe how you feel at this very moment, but you have in recent past. Or maybe you personally aren’t experiencing this, but you know someone who is.

If that’s you, I pray you would find encouragement from Psalm 46 and hope in this truth:

WHEN YOUR WORLD SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART, REST IN THE LORD OF ARMIES!

Transition: I want us to reflect on four specific ways Psalm 46 encourages us to do just that...

Rest in the Lord of Armies’ PROTECTION (v. 1-3)

Think back to the story I shared a moment ago about the Joplin tornado. What was so gut-wrenching and heartbreaking about many of stories that were shared about those who lost their lives was the reality that many did not have adequate protection. When the storm came, many sought shelter and protection in stores, restaurants, or certain parts of their home. They certainly did as best they could but for some it wasn’t enough.

What about you? When the earth trembles, the mountains topple and quake, where do you find refuge and shelter? Who or where do you turn to to find strength and protection?

My encouragement and plea to you would be to rest in the Lord’s protection. He is our refuge. He is our strength. He is our helper who is always found in times of trouble. You don’t have to go on a hunt to find him. He is not hiding from you. There is no reason to fear. He is not far from you. He is there especially when your world seems to be falling apart. Rest in the Lord of Armies’ protection.

Rest in the Lord of Armies’ PROVISION (v. 4-7)

Throughout scripture, a river is used as an analogy for life and vitality. Think back to the Garden of Eden for a moment. Genesis 2:10 mentions a river that flowed out of Eden which then became four rivers. Here you have this beautiful picture of God’s provision of life flowing from the very same place where life began. Psalm 46 mentions much of the same...

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 46

4 There is a river—

its streams delight the city of God,

the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.

God will help her when the morning dawns.

While most early readers of this psalm would have envisioned Jerusalem as the city of God, we know a new Jerusalem is promised to us when Christ returns once again. At that time, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. But the important emphasis here is this: “God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.”

The Lord’s promise has always been to provide for His people. And as long as the Lord is the provider of His people, the Church, you can rest assured that His people will not and cannot be toppled; His Church cannot be defeated! He will always provide. He will always help. No matter how bad your situation looks or feels at any given moment, He promises to provide for our every need just like a river provides life to its surroundings.

Be honest: when your world seems to be falling apart, do you rest in the Lord as your ultimate provider? Or do you look elsewhere perhaps to a particular PERSON, PLACE, or even POSITION? Who or what do you consider to be your very source of life? Is it your family? Your children? A friend? Your finances? Your job?

How would your life be different if you were to rest in the provision that only the Lord of Armies can provide to you?

Rest in the Lord of Armies’ POWER (v. 8-10)

I love the invitation that is presented to us in these verses. Listen to this again...

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 46

8 Come, see the works of the LORD,

who brings devastation on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.

He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;

he sets wagons ablaze.

Let me ask you something: how often do you pause to reflect on the works of God that you’ve seen and experienced in your lifetime?

Sadly, this is something I think we don’t do nearly enough. I fear that for some of us, when we hear the psalmist write, “Come, see the works of the LORD” many of us say to ourselves, “Well, wouldn’t that be nice?” What a shame! Everyday we live and breathe we see and experience the works of LORD…problem is, we just don’t pay attention!

I’ve been blessed to have witnessed the Lord work in incredible ways in the past. I’ve seen Him miraculously heal. I’ve seen him free the captive. I’ve seen Him completely restore. I’ve seen Him humble the proud and lift the spirit of the poor. I’ve seen intervene in ways that I never could have imagined. I wonder, have you seek the works of the Lord like this too?

Despite how you would answer that question, understand this:

“Every page of scripture is an invitation to come and behold the works of the Lord.” -Danny Akin

Do you want to experience the works of the Lord for yourself? Open His Word! When you do, you’ll discover that the same power He displayed time and time again throughout history is the same power available to those who receive the gift of His Spirit through faith & belief.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

But there’s no denying that our tendency is to rely on our own power, isn’t it? Especially in those times when our world seems to be falling apart, we tell ourselves we have to bear down and tap into that deep inner sense of power and strength. We even convince ourselves there is power in numbers - that if we just have the right people around us we’ll be able to fight our way through the battle.

Now, listen: I’m not trying to lessen the importance of a good support group or the fellowship of brother & sisters in Christ. However, no matter how strong you think you are, no matter how much the best of friends may strengthen you, the power or strength you will find in those places will always pale in comparison to the power of the Lord of Armies!

Notice the only command of this psalm is found in verse 10:

Christian Standard Bible Psalm 46

10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,

exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

Some versions (and most likely the ones we know best) translate this verse “Be still...” which is not a horrible translation, but, in my opinion, not the best translation. The word used here actually means “to cease or to stop.” In other words, this is a call to stop worrying, stop fretting, and simply to know that HE IS GOD! He is the powerful one. He is the one doing the fighting which means you don’t have to! This is so hard for most of us to accept!

When you’re in a seemingly impossible situation that you can’t overcome, what’s your initial response? Fight your way through it? Or REST in His ultimate, divine power?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Rest in the Lord of Armies’ PRESENCE (v. 7, 11)

This phrase “Lord of Armies” (or “Lord of Hosts” in other translations) is repeated twice in this psalm alone, but did you know this title for the Lord appears over two hundred times in the Old Testament?

Our God is the ultimate warrior. He is our stronghold. He is Lord over every army of heaven and on earth. There is no one greater, no one higher, no one more magnificent than The Lord of Armies! And as incredible as that may be, this almighty, all-powerful God is with us! This is one of my favorite truths in all of scripture!

Do you realize how near

CONCLUSION:

So, if it’s true that your world is falling apart, I pray that you would rest in the Lord of Armies PROTECTION, PROVISION, POWER, and PRESENCE.

Understand this: All of these are true Jesus Christ! As God’s one and only Son, Jesus is our protector. Jesus is our provider. Jesus is the preeminent, all-powerful One. Jesus’ presence resides within us through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is Jesus who says to us...

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

But hear this clearly: you don’t have to wait until things fall apart to turn and find refuge in Christ today. Clearly, God uses those times of desperation and fear to draw us to Himself, no doubt. But perhaps Jesus is calling you to Himself today to ready you for those times of desperation.

I’ll close with this: Martin Luther wrote the hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God after finding reflecting on the powerful truth of Psalm 46, but specifically verse 1 - “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.”

Perhaps you’re familiar with this hymn, perhaps you’re not. But the second verse of his hymn goes like this:

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing. You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; The Lord of Hosts his name, from age to age the same; and he must win the battle.

Are you ready to respond to this invitation today? To cease from your fighting and your striving?

Is the right Man, Jesus Christ, on your side? When He is, that is when you will find true rest for your soul! Rest that comes from placing your faith, your trust, your hope in Jesus!

WHEN YOUR WORLD SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART, REST IN THE LORD OF ARMIES!