“Stand By Me”

Pray:

Give Honor: Q Text: Psalms 46:1-5

Psalm 46:1–5 (KJV 1900)

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. /zThereforee will not we fear, thoughi the earth be removed, l’And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the]’-[ sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swellinge thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she6 shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

“Stand By Me”

In 1961,

American singer-songwriter Ben E. King penned a song that would become an enduring anthem of comfort and solidarity and a song that would ultimately resonate with us today: "Stand by Me."

With its simple yet powerful lyrics,

King captured a deep, universal longing—the desire for someone to stand by us in times of trouble.

The song begins with these memorable lines:

"When the night has come

and the land is dark, And the moon is the only light we’ll see, No, I won’t be afraid,

oh, I won’t be afraid, Just as long as you stand,

stand by me."

These words express a deep-seated need for presence and support in moments of darkness and fear.

The imagery of nightfall and darkness symbolizes those times in life when uncertainty and trouble surround us.

Yet, in the midst of this darkness, the assurance of someone standing by us and being a steady source of strength drives away fear.

We’ve all experienced moments like these when we needed someone to stand by us,

to reassure us,

to help us realign our focus,

to be a shoulder to cry on,

to lend an ear to listen,

and give a slight reminder that we are not alone in our struggles.

But while Ben E. King’s "Stand by Me" speaks to the human need for companionship,

it also opens the door for us to consider an even greater truth, which is the privledge of God almighty standing with us.

In the song “Stand by me”, we hear a cry for someone to stand by us, especially when times get tough.

But It is in this text

we see the psalmist, guided by the Holy Spirit,

pointing us to the ultimate source of strength and comfort

God is so amazing, that he does not just stand by us in the good times,

But he loves us enough not to leave in the bad times.

Because he is a God, who does not mind standing by us.

and This text is tailored to teach us that “there are some privileges that come with God standing by us.”

Proximity to authority- Adam Warren

and the question that I want to ask is,

What are the privledges of God standing by us?

1. The Privilege of Divine Assistance (v. 1)

Psalm 46:1 (KJV 1900)

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

Psalm 46 opens in a powerful way: Listen to the words….

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

The psalmist isn’t just giving us words; he’s speaking from a place of deep experience. This psalm wasn’t written in a moment of peace and solace,

but in a time of great struggle, when Israel was surrounded by enemies and uncertainty.

And yet, in the midst of all the chaos,

the psalmist boldly proclaims that because God is standing by him, he has nothing to fear.

What’s remarkable about this psalm is not just what it says, but how it begins.

The writer doesn’t start with complaints about his situation.

He doesn’t begin by expressing doubt or despair.

No, he starts with confidence—confidence in the power of God.

Right from the Beginning, the psalmist declares, "God is our refuge and strength."

He’s not focused on the problem; he’s focused on the Solution.

He’s not focused on the pains in his life, he’s focused on the savior of His life.

He says God is my Refuge and my strength.

A refuge is a place of safety,

a shelter in times of storm,

a fortress where we can find protection from the dangers around us.

In ancient times, cities had fortified walls, and within those walls were places where people could run to in times of war or attack.

The psalmist is saying that God is that refuge for us.

When life’s storms rage, when enemies surround us, God is our safe place.

He’s the One we can run to and be secure.

But the psalmist doesn’t stop there. He says that God is also our strength

—He’s the One who empowers us,

He’s the one who gives us the ability to stand when we feel weak.

And then, the psalmist adds that God is a very present help in trouble.

meaning that God is not distant or far off.

He’s right there with us,

in the middle of our struggles, r

ready to assist us the moment we need Him.

He’s not just a help; He’s a very present help—immediate, accessible, always available.

(Pastor David Jeremiah once said, that this text speaks of God making himself available when life puts you in between a rock and a hard ship.

The privilege of God’s divine assistance is that He’s there to help us before we even know we need help.

His assistance guides us when we’re lost,

His assistance covers us when we’re exposed,

His assistance keeps us when we’re vulnerable,

His assistance protects us from dangers seen and unseen.

It’s God’s divine assistance that moves us from being borrowers to lenders,

It’s God’s divine assistance that moves us from being defeated to victorious.

and let me go ahead and say that there is not one person in this room or on this earth who does not need God’s divine assistance.

Our churches today need God’s divine assistance.

Our schoolhouses need God’s divine assistance

Our marriages need God’s divine assistance

Our communities need God’s divine assistance

our workplaces need God’s divine assistance

our very lives need God’s divine assistance every single day.

God’s divine assistance is not just helpful; it is essential.

It is the lifeline that ensures we do not face life’s challenges alone but with the support of the Almighty, who is always ready to help and guide us.

Embracing this divine assistance means recognizing our dependence on Him and inviting His presence into every aspect of our lives.

. Because when God is standing by us, we have access to divine assistance that will never fail.

2. The Privilege of Divine Assurance (v. 2-3)

Psalm 46:2–3 (KJV 1900)

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Lets look at v. 2-3.

This says “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

The psalmist starts off by saying,

"Therefore will not we fear."

That "therefore" is a strong declaration of trust and confidence that’s anchored in the previous truth that God in fact is our refuge, our strength, and our very present help.

and Because of who God is, we can stand tall and firm, unshaken by the storms of life.

The imagery in these verses are vivid to that which we could be experiencing in our everyday life. .

It’s like the psalmist is painting a picture of the world falling apart at the seams.

‘ He says”"Though the earth be removed" – Picture the very ground beneath your feet being ripped away.

The earth, a symbol of our stability and security, suddenly vanishing.

He says ”Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" – Mountains, those grand, immovable giants that stand as symbols of strength and permanence, are now tossed into the sea. It’s like seeing what you thought was unshakeable being turned upside down and submerged.

"Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled" – Think of waters in turmoil, roaring and crashing with such ferocity that it represents utter chaos. The peaceful seas are now a tempest, symbolizing the highest level of distress and disorder.

"Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof" – The mountains themselves are quaking, swelling with the pressures of the chaos around them. The once-stable peaks are now shifting and trembling.

But here's the kicker: despite these extreme and terrifying scenarios, the psalmist refuses to be afraid.

Oh, family, the presence of the Lord brings about a divine assurance that is like no other.

When we embrace and trust in God’s unwavering presence, it fills us with a confidence that stands firm even when everything else is falling apart.

The psalmist’s bold declaration of fearlessness teaches us that no matter how severe the trials we face……God’s assurance is our anchor.

This divine assurance isn’t about the absence of trouble;

it’s about the presence of a mighty God who stands with us in every storm.

Divine assurance is Stability in Uncertainty: When the world feels like it's spinning out of control, God’s presence is our solid rock. Even when everything around us seems to be collapsing,

Divine assurance is Peace Amidst Chaos: Just as the psalmist remained confident in the face of catastrophic imagery, we can alspo experience a deep peace in our hearts. I

t’s a peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that God’s assurance covers us.

Divine assurance is Courage in Adversity: God’s assurance empowers us to face our trials with courage.

Divine assurance is Hope in Despair: When we’re overwhelmed by life’s troubles, God’s assurance brings us hope.

We trust that He is working all things together for our good, even when we can’t see the outcome.

Every day, we encounter challenges that can shake us to our core, but with God’s divine assurance, we can stand firm.

because the presence of God gives us the strength, peace, and courage we need to navigate through.

This divine assurance isn’t just a comforting thought

it’s a life-changing power that transforms how we handle the uncertainties and storms of life.l

When you have divine assurance you can say

When you have divine assurance you can say : “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

When you have divine assurance you can say : “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

When you have divine assurance you can say “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When you have divine assurance you can say : “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

When you have divine assurance you can say : “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”

When you have divine assurance you can say : “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

because we have The Privilege of Divine assurance.

We have divine Assistance

We have Divine assurance

3. The Privilege of Divine Abundance (V.4-5)

Psalm 46:4–5 (KJV 1900)

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psalm 46:4–5 speaks to us about the abundance that God provides, even in the midst of our toughest times.

The psalmist introduces us to a river that represents God’s abundant blessings.

In the Bible, rivers are symbols of life and nourishment.

This isn’t just any river—it stands for the overflowing blessings and spiritual renewal that God pours into our lives.

On a historical level, the river may also refer to the Gihon Spring, a natural water source that supplied Jerusalem with water.

During those times, the water out of the Gihon Spring was channeled into the city through Hezekiah’s Tunnel to ensure the city had a steady water supply.

This physical provision of water in times of crisis would have been seen as a tangible sign of God's protection and provision.

When the psalmist says, "The streams whereof shall make glad the city of God," he’s referring to how the “city of God” is where God’s presence is felt most strongly.

The streams of this river bring joy and refreshment to this place.

No matter how troubled our lives might be, God's blessings bring a deep and abiding joy that transforms our situation.

There is a RIVER

Even when life feels overwhelming

whether it's bills piling up,

personal struggles,

or any kind of hardship

—there is a river of God's abundance flowing into our lives.

When we face difficulties, we can hold on to the promise that God provides a continuous stream of blessings and support.

When we stay connected to God, we experience a divine stability that keeps us from being overwhelmed by our problems.

His presence provides a solid foundation that keeps us secure and unshakable.

God’s abundance also offers spiritual nourishment, much like how a river provides physical sustenance

. We can draw strength and renewal from His constant presence through prayer and faith. The river brings joy to the city of God, and similarly, God’s abundance fills our lives with joy and energy.

This transforms our perspective and empowers us to face each day with renewed strength.

In every part of our lives—whether in our personal struggles, our relationships, or our work—God’s divine abundance is a constant source of strength, joy, and renewal.

and is there anyone in here who is Glad that God is standing by them?

When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No, I won't be afraid Oh, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon Should tumble and fall Or the mountain should crumble to the sea I won't cry, I won't cry No, I won't shed a tear Just as long as you stand Stand by me