Pslam 46
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
I preached a message on this passage way back in 2019!
It was a back to school bash that I hosted at the Camp where I invited a bunch of different youth groups to the camp and we had a great time
We played games, had community, then came together to worship
Today I want to revisit this Psalm and see what God has for us today
It’s a Psalm that talks all about the Lord during the midst of hard and trying times
A word that I am sure many of us need
Psalm 46
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The context of this Psalm comes from 2 Chronicles 32:1 “1 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.”
Sennacherib stepped up as king of Assyria and is challenging Israel ready to attack and destroy them
That’s when Hezekiah who was the priest stepped up and started preaching to the people
His message? God is our refuge and strength
The first thing he wanted the people to remember is that God is where their strength lies, not in anything else
Just the Lord
Pray that we rely on God’s strength and not ours
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
He continues to explain how the earth is in constant motion
How there is so much uncertainty that is going on
There is so much that the people of Israel cannot control
Hezekiah says, forget about the Assyrians, we can’t control what will happen if there is an earthquake, or a flood
We can’t control anything
So because of our lack of control we will not fear since the Lord is in control
Pray for confidence in the Lord’s control
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
Hezekiah then is telling Israel how God’s presence is like a river, steady and calm
How with the presence of the Lord, the city of Jersualem will not be moved, will not be destroyed
How the Lord takes care of His people and protects those who He loves
A steady river is peaceful
It’s something that anyone, no matter the age can enjoy
At a water park there is always a lazy river, a shallow current of water that allows anyone to sit and gently float through
It’s a place where kids aren’t allowed to rough house in
It’s usually heated to make it more comfortable and soothing
This is the imagery I get from Hezekiah when he describes the Lord as a river running through the city
Not a raging river that has destructive power, but a calm river that all people can enjoy
Pray for peace that comes from God
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
He then reminds the people of God’s complete and total power
Not only is He in control, but he is the Lord of hosts!
Lord of hosts is a reference to an army of angels
The Lord has total control over the armies of heaven, and when he speaks the earth melts, much like it was created with His Words
There is no one that is bigger than the Lord
There is no problem to great for the Lord
He is the Lord God of Hosts
The one that is able to stop any attack and call down angels
Hezekiah is pleading with the people to remember God’s power but listen to what Sennacherib is saying
32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” 33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 35 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’ ”
The enemy is going to try and make you believe that they are bigger than God
That God cannot save you
That the pain or grief or trials are to much and that you cannot do it
That you will be conquered and God will not be able to help you
Pray that we would not listen to the enemy and His lies
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
Hezekiah continues preaching to the people
Encouraging to trust in the Lord
That the Lord can do it
That the Lord will do it
The night of Sennacherib taunting the people of God look what God did
35 And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
He struck down 185,000 people in one night with one angel
The Lord of hosts (plural) sent an angel (singular) and he destroyed 185,000 in one night
Yet we still often fall in the lies that God can’t handle our situation!
He makes wars cease
He breaks the enemies bow, shatters the spear, burns the chariots with fire
He is the Lord that destroys the enemies plans and crushes anything he is trying to do
The word Behold is the Hebrew word that literally means to see
See what the Lord is doing
To see something you must stop and watch for it
Pray that we will let the Lord fight and not ourselves
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord destroyed the Assyrians in a single night because of the faith of Hezekiah and the people
The people of the Lord didn’t have a battle plan, didn’t do anything crazy, the were still, in the presence of the Lord, and He took care of them
This was all so that His name may be made great and that all the nations may know He is the Lord
Praise the Lord and share His victories - what battles has God defeated in your life recently?
Pray that we would celebrate God’s victories
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
One final praising of the Lord being with us
He is the Lord of hosts, the commander of the angels
The God who was with Jacob, with Moses, with Abraham, with Paul, with Peter, and he is the God that is with you
He can handle our pain and problems
He is the Lord of hosts
Pray thanking Him for His power and willingness to take on our problems
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