Our Refuge

The setting for Psalm 46 (2 Kings 18 & 19)

References in this Psalm are consistent with the seige of Jerusalem under King Hezekiah by Sennacherib, King of Assyria recorded in 2 Kings 18 & 19.

Assyria conquered the Godless northern 10 tribes of Israel. They took the Israelites captive to Assyria and resettled the land with people from other nations they had conquered

The Assyrians then turned to conquer the fortified cities of Judah and easily defeated all but Jerusalem.

They laid seige to Jerusalem. This is a battle tactic where an army surrounds the city sealing off any access in or out of the city in an attempt to literally starve them out.

A seige is uncertain - Will the enemy attack?

A seige has no time limit - It doesn’t end

A seige is demoralizing

King Hezekiah had previously sought the protection of Egypt, but Egypt did not come to his aid.

Hezekiah then pays Assyria a large sum of money to appease them. To do this, he stripped the temple of all the valuables.

After all this, Sennacherib, King of Assyria sent his commander to demoralize Hezekiah and his people - 2 Kings 18:19–22 “The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: “ ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”? “ 

2 Kings 18:28–32 “Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death! “Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’”

This Psalm contains two major stanzas, each ending with an identical statement of confidence in God’s protection. (vs. 7 & 11)

In times of trouble we can seek refuge in God - Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46:1 NIV

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

This is the subject of the Psalm

Our comforting is based on both God’s strength and His presence

God gives us strength - Isaiah 40:28-31

Isaiah 40:28–31 NIV

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

God is always with us - Psalm 73:28

Psalm 73:28 NIV

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Because God is with us and strengthens us, we should not live in fear - Psalm 46:2-3

Psalm 46:2–3 NIV

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Isaiah confirms that God’s power and presence defeats fear - Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The Psalmist describes the calm confidence of the city where God dwells - Psalm 46:4

Psalm 46:4 NIV

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

It is God’s help from within that provides protection - Psalm 46:5

Psalm 46:5 NIV

God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

God’s presence is help within

Break of day would have been the most vulnerable time

The mere voice of God melts His enemies - Psalm 46:6

Psalm 46:6 NIV

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Psalmist summarizes the first stanza - Psalm 46:7

Psalm 46:7 NIV

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and See What the Lord has Done - Psalm 46:8-11

How did God save Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem?

Hezekiah prayed to God and sought out the prophet Isaiah about what to do.

Through Isaiah, God assured Hezekiah that he didn’t need to do anything because God would be his refuge. 2Kings 19:34

2 Kings 19:34 NIV

I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’ ”

The Bible continues… 2 Kings 19:35-36

2 Kings 19:35–36 NIV

That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

Let’s look at how Psalm 46 describes God’s protection

God has the power to end wars and defeat His enemies - Psalm 46:8-9

Psalm 46:8–9 NIV

Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

Come and see - We are observers of the mighty power of God

He brought desolation on the Assyrian army - 185,000 deaths

He shattered their ability to make war

God desires that all will exalt Him as almighty God - Psalm 45:10

Psalm 46:10 NIV

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

There are times that we must be still

Do we really know that God is God?

How differently would we live our lives if we had a true view of God?

In everything that happens, God will be exalted

God used the evil Assyrians to punish the northern tribes and take them into captivity, but when God said stop, that was the end

Hezekiah depended on alliances and appeasement to protect him, but was ultimately saved by an act of God

The stanza closes with the prior statement of confident security - Psalm 46:11

Psalm 46:11 NIV

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.