Psalm 46

Intro

—Transition Year Theme

What do we do when we start to feel the weight of darkness, feel the weight of despair, the weight of change and seasons of transitions where we don’t know what is good and true or what is wrong…when we start to be afraid (whether physically, emotionally…)…

One of the most common commands in all of Scripture is “fear not” (probably bc this is one of the main things that directs human beings is fear)

God takes one of our primary challenges — fear — and used it to continually drive us to himself, where we find Him sufficient to meet every challenge and every fear we face

He reminds us that when darkness tries to prevail us, we do not have to be afraid bc the Lord is our fortress

Psalm - inspired Martin Luther to write the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

source of comfort and strength

TURN TO PSALM 46

Background

King Hezekiah & Prophet Isaiah & Assyrian army

Assyrians have been conquering the land and are now outside Jerusalem to conquer the city

2 Kings 19; Isaiah 37; 2 Chronicles 32

Psalmist reminds us is that even when the physical world trembles; we trust in God who remains a steadfast refuge

READ Psalm 46

Psalm 46 CSB

For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. 1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. 2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, 3 though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah 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. 6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice. 7 The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah 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. 10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” 11 The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

v.1 - “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble”

statement of fact

the reality of this promise points to the possibility of danger

The people of God are secure, even in times of turmoil

Lord shields us when we are in danger

“God is our refuge” because our protection is only as good as a refuge is strong

**Personal - “many of you know we have been waiting on our house in NC to sell; we as well have been looking for a house to buy here

**what do we primarily look for in a house? (yes do we like the layout, the paint and cabinets, the space….but fundamentally what do we look for: it is shelter for us to rest, strong and can withstand any weather, and that ultimately it is a place we can feel safe

Illust. - Find refuge from a hard rain storm in a cardboard box or a house with strong roof

There is a difference in finding refuge in a bounce house, a tree house or a beach house

Our protection is only as good as a refuge is strong

The fact that our refuge is God himself means that when we need shelter, safety, and strength, we find those things in the Lord!

“Present helper in our time of need”

difficulty of Lord as refuge is that you cannot physically see Him

Benefit of having Lord as refuge is that He is always right there, you don’t have to run far to find refuge in Him…He is always there amidst hazards

**a refuge is only good if we can get there in time, and since the Lord is “always found” we can run to Him and find refuge at any moment

source of inward security and is the victor

*A refuge is not a place to run from, but the safest place to remain

v.2 - “Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas”

“Therefore” - our response to this reality/statement of fact is that “we will not be afraid”

The reality of God’s strength combined with His nearness should cause us never to be afraid bc we can run to Him at any time…in fact He desires for us to run to Him always, to always find refuge in Him (regardless of the situation we face)

this should be our response; regardless of the state or situation we face

when it feels the world (is crashing in on us) / around us is crumbling and falling apart

when things aren’t going the way we want

when it feels we are trapped in our situations and don’t know how to get out

when the world literally is destroying around us (natural disasters, pandemics)

when we get a devastating diagnosis

though life feels like we are being tossed around by waves

Each of us at some points feel as if the entire world is falling apart…and we are afraid, and it often seems our fears continue to increase

God is over all and is in control of all — therefore dont be afraid

When we have this truth settled in our hearts, it gives us an unshakable courage. HIS PROTECTION MAKES US COURAGEOUS

a courage that withstand the crumbling of the mountains around us and the sea welling up on top of us

When our whole world seems to be falling in around us, we can run to the Lord and find courage in the safety of His shelter

HIS PROTECTION MAKES US COURAGEOUS (v.1-3)

The reality of this promise points to the possibility of danger (maybe after v. 3)

the reason we need a strong fortress & refuge we can run to at any moment is because our lives will often feel like verses 2-3

maybe here list those feelings and situations?

Note: this promise is not “oh the Lord will protect me” when we aren’t even seeking refuge in Him…like going outside in an open field during a lightning storm with a big ole metal rod and thinking I’ll be fine; this promise and benefit is when we abandon everything we try to do on our own control and completely depend and surrender, finding refuge and protection in the creator of all

even though everything feels like chaos around us, there is a refuge where we can run to find courage…and it is great enough to handle any fear we might have

This promise of protection from the Lord makes us courageous

v.3 - “though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil”

The collapse of the mountains and the uproar of the waters represent the uproar of nations and the collapse of kingdoms

opposite of being afraid

delight

delight in God

depend on God

this can only be done if you know God and who He is

know Him personally (relationally) and know who He is and trust/depend on Him (His Authority, Sovereignty, Providence & control)

v.4 - (continuing with delight and joy)

flowing river - opposite of a raging sea

image of grace found in worshipping the true God

“city of God” - Jerusalem, the place where God is exalted

(Contrast in feelings from being afraid in v.1-3) - the people of God are assured by the presence of God

in the midst of chaos and raging and all our fears; there is the presence of God that brings refreshment and joy to His people

River has been a symbol of God’s presence

Genesis 2 - rivers flowing into and out of garden of Eden remind us that abundant life flows from the presence of God

God’s presence is like a calm river in the midst of turmoil

the presence of the Lord brings gladness to our hearts in midst of danger. HIS PRESENCE MAKES US JOYFUL

**Psalm 16:11 - “in your presence is abundant joy”

Even in the most difficult or terrifying circumstances; His presence and joy is readily available

when it feels as if the world is falling apart around us, we must know that God is there (in control), and His presence gives us joy in the midst of chaos

HIS PRESENCE MAKES US JOYFUL (v.4-6)

v.6 - The nations that rage represent every evil power mobilized against God

Powers mobilized against God and His people, the church

persecution

materialism

independence and isolation

v.7 - “The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold”

v.8 - “Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth”

The Lord is in control of all — devastations and peace

His power to destroy and His power to bring peace

third stanza focuses on the position of the Lord as the Sovereign God

He is exalted and ruling and reigning over all things

So we might have our hearts filled with rest and confidence in God’s position, the psalmist invites us to “come, see the works of the Lord”

a confident invitation for us to see what God has done

v.9 - “He makes wars cease throughout the earth…”

Peace is only found in God

Peace in fighting

Peace in hardships

Peace in turmoil

Peace through restoration only found in the one true God

Therefore - exalt Him as He should and is the only one worthy to be exalted (v.10)

V.10 - only one command in this Psalm

“stop”, “be still”

not a call to silence, not a call to meditation, not a call to just be still…a call to stop!

Call for the nations to stop rebelling and fighting against the Lord

This seems to reverberate the history of psalmists of this and other psalms: Sons of Korah

Numbers 16 &17

Korah was a levite who led a rebellion (wanting a bigger role) against Moses & Aaron, and God judged Korah and the men following him for their rebellion and opened up the ground that swallowed them up and a fire that consumed the rest.

Despite their father’s rebellion, Korah’s descendents did not follow in his footsteps but learned from his sin and turned away from a path of rebellion, later tasked to be temple musicians and worship leaders leading to exalting worship of God

God by His mercy restored these sons of Korah (a wicked man and an apostate) to be the composers in God’s house

Because of God’s position as sovereign and the one who is in control…HIS POSITION MAKES US REST

HIS POSITION MAKES US REST (v.7-11)

Again, not to meditate, or be silent, or to just stop...because of who God is we are commanded to stop rebelling and running away from Him (its rebellion and not what He desires for us)!

Call for God’s people to stop worrying and fretting

It’s a call to stop doing things our own way or us try to figure things out ourselves and to know (in knowledge and relationally) that the Lord of Armies and all is our God…stop and exalt Him!

God is the Lord of Armies - He is a warrior and He rules over all the armies on earth and in heaven

no commander is stronger, no one is greater or more powerful; no one can come against Him

He is the ultimate stronghold…therefore He is our place of safety, He is our fortress, and we have assurance that even if the gates of Hell try to prevail against us…God is a fortress to protect us from all fears

If God is a refuge and strength

I’d be foolish to run away from Him or ignore Him when I experience pain

It’s easy for me to run to all sorts of people or things other than God when I’m hurting, but nothing else can provide the help that God can

**He should be the first One I turn to when trouble comes

(many times when I’m dealing with something difficult or even when have great news…I first want to share with someone else or share my troubles with immediately…instead of turning to God first and bringing to Him praises of great news or dependence in times of trouble/hardship)

Who do you cry out to?

Our faith and trust often increases in times of trouble when we look and trust everything to God

for the psalmist - adversity did not destroy the psalmist’s faith…but adversity was an opportunity for faith to be enriched by witnesses what God had done

v.10 - “know that I am God”

reverberating of what King Hezekiah prayed in 2 Kings 19:19

2 Kings 19:19 CSB

19 Now, Lord our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God—you alone.

“Know that I am God”

He looks at us in our feats and says “I am God”; knowing that these words are enough to give us rest

This quote is throughout OT

Psalm 46:10 - (Authority and supremacy over all; sovereignty and providence); cessation of conflict and recognition of God’s supremacy among nations and over the earth

Exodus 6:7 - (Rescuer and deliverer); God’s promise that Israel will recognize Him as their deliverer from Egyptian bondage

Ezekiel 6:7 - (Just judge); knowledge of God’s identity with divine judgment

Ezekiel 36:11 - (redeemer & restorer); restoration of the land serves as the occasion for recognizing divine identity

Joel 3:17 - (Holiness and sanctifier/cleanser);

Isaiah 45:5-6 - (only God & Creator); declares that from sunrise to sunset all creation will recognize that no other deity exists

Isaiah 43:10 - (Providence & ); positions God’s witnesses as those who know and believe, understanding His exclusive identity

1 Kings 18:37 - (Authority & divine work in human hearts); requests divine intervention so that Israel recognizes God’s authority and His work in human hearts

Deut 4:35 - (Exclusivity, One God)

Right ordering and priority -

Bc of the truth of God and who He is, what He brings, what He has done and is doing (all of who He is (“know that I am God” statements)) - we exalt and praise Him

know that He is always with those who worship Him (as when we worship Him, we are in line with His will and more sensitive to the leading of His Spirit within us)

Every page of Scripture is an invitation to come and behold the works of the Lord as He revealed His sovereign rule

Psalm 46 - looks forward to a final and universal destruction of all darkness that troubles our world; a hope of complete restoration back to God. And He is to be exalted among all the nations as creator of all and the one who brought hope to a broken world…and hope in the midst of our chaotic, broken, anxious lives

When we turn to the NT, we read something that Jesus said that breathes something similar to this: John 15:4-5

John 15:4–5 CSB

4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Where God’s protection makes us courageous: Christ victory over sin makes us courageous

Where God’s presence makes us joyful: Christ’s presence restored us to the Father

Where God’s position makes us rest: Christ’s position at the right hand of God gives us assurance of being righteous before God

When it appears that there is no way out — when you are backed into a corner and there is no escape — in those moments the Lord is our fortress; the Lord saves us from all out fears