Psalm 46 Relax, I got you!

Here we are meeting virtually in a digital age. As we continue this journey, our goal is to work toward connecting more online as Danny has shared. When we arrive there, we will be sending out an email with instructions on how to connect for prayer and for grow group.

Thank you for your prayers, your emails, and your text messages of hope, healing, and encouragement for Pops.

He is doing well and is currently in Cardiac rehab.

Prayer

As I sought the Lord on what to teach, Psalm 46 would not leave my mind.

In fact, since the attack of coronavirus, it has been one my go to promises in the Word.

Psalm 46:1 NKJV

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

The title of this message, or this series is called, Relax, I got you!

We might not make it through these 11 verses today, but we will try.

The Lord in his Word declares this to us throughout the OT to the NT over and over and over again. Why???

Well, I am reminded of the great Hymn, “Come Thou Fount”

Jesus sought me when a stranger Wandering from the fold of God He to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood

Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily Im constrained to be Let that grace now, like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Heres my heart, oh, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above

Come Thou fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise

We are living in a time that rather than being prone to wonder, we should be prone to draw nearer so nearer to God.

James 4:8 NKJV

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Did you see that amazing promise? God promises to draw near to us, as we draw near to Him! Hallelujah Jesus

But we must ask ourselves the question, “What are we drawing near to during this time?”

Is it the media? The News?

Is it to our fix? Food? Alcohol, more movies? More of what?

What is it?

Enough said! Let’s get into our text and get a little background in preparation for the Lord to speak to us.

Read Psalm 46

Psalm 46 was written during a time of overwhelming turmoil in Jerusalem.

Many scholars believe the setting for this psalm, along with Psalms 47 and 48, is the Assyrian invasion of Judah during Hezekiah’s reign (2 K. 18–19; 2 Chr. 32; Is. 36–37).

Some think Hezekiah himself wrote these psalms.

However, Psalms 42 to 49, along with Psalms 85 and 87, mention the Sons of Korah in their headings; thus many scholars feel they actually wrote these psalms (see Psalms, Introduction for more discussion).

The Hebrew preposition following “musician” in the title can be translated as either for, by, or of.

Therefore, we cannot be sure if the sons of Korah wrote these psalms or if the psalms were merely assigned to them for use in worship.

Whatever the case church, we know that it was a time of fierce trouble and that God comforted, God protected, and God delivered His people from it.

Do you think God is capable to do that in the midst of this pestilence?

I am confident, WHY?

Why am I confident? That is simple: It is because of His Word!

Church, God’s Word is filled with thousands upon thousands of promises. Some of those promises God reiterates them over and over throughout His Word. Why?

You guessed it, repetition is our greatest teacher, plus He knows we have a problem forgetting what He said.

Here is one in the midst of this pandemic, In fact, today, I will be sharing a couple. Is that Ok?

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

That means what he did for King Hezekiah here in Psalm 46, and what He did for his people throughout the Word of God, He will do for us.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, church! He does not change.

Praise God he does not change!

Praise God he is not fickle, like many of us:/

Let’s get back to the text at hand, Psalm 46

Many of your sub headings say, “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.”

Always read your subheadings! They can tell us a lot about what we are getting ready to read. It can give insight and even direction to what follows.

Psalm 46 was such an important song that it was committed to the care of the chief musician, with the instruction alamoth.

This likely means it was to be performed by high-pitched voices or sopranos, more specifically, by young women However, it could also mean it was to be accompanied by high-pitched stringed instruments (1 Chr. 15:20).

Now to the background of this great Psalm

You can study about the background of this Psalm in: 2 Kings 18-19, in Isaiah 36-37 and here in

Read 2 Chronicles 32

2 Chronicles 32:7–8 NKJV

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Who are what is your Assyrian King?

What are you fearing?

Obviously, King Sennacherib is a symbol of darkness, the world, and is actually a type of the devil himself.

Sennacherib attempted to confuse and deceive the people through his words.

Does this sound familiar?

Do you ever feel like this happens to you when you are listening to the media? Do you feel like your anxiety, worry, and fear increases, while your faith decreases?

Church we must:

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23 NASB95

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

This is what King Hezekiah was doing for the people, this is what I am trying to do for you? To turn you eyes upon Jesus! Hezekiah was helping the people to look to God, not at their current circumstances,.

Psalm 121:1–2 NKJV

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

If God made the heavens and the earth, do you think he is capable of protecting you, providing for you, and giving you hope during this time?

Read Psalm 121

Church, we must starve our fears and feed our faith church!

God has asked us not to fear over and over in his Word.

Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Let’s look at what Jesus said in

Matthew 6:25–34 NKJV

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Like Jerusalem and King Hezekiah, we will all face circumstances in our lives we feel are more than we can handle.

There are many things in life that box us in and leave us feeling trapped, with no way out, so we think.

Things like: Relationships, finances, sickness, strain at work, bills, the coronavirus, and children can cause us to worry. Our own flesh can cause us to worry.

Worry causes ulcers, tooth decay (restricts flow of saliva) and even death. But in moments of worry, there is always one option available to us and that option is to turn to the Lord and to trust God .

The Reformer Martin Luther and those connected to him lived a bold life in the face of great danger, including in the face of death, because of their stand for truth. There were times, however, when Luther and his friends would start to get a little low and depressed.

One of Luther’s close associates, a true friend and theologian was Philip Melanchthon. Some- times when Philip would start to get worried, the great Reformer Martin Luther would say to him, “Come Philip, let us sing the forty-sixth Psalm” and they would sing it. In fact, Martin Luther’s famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is based on this very Psalm.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

What is a bulwark?

It is a wall of earth or some other material built for defense

Any protection against external danger, injury, or annoyance

Any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt

Who is your bulwark? Who is your refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble?

Prayer

Benediction

Romans 8:37–39 NKJV

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing shall separate us form the love of God!

Announcements

Barbara Goodenough set out a corporate email yesterday that was encouraging. Rather than paraphrase I would like to read it:

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

Jim and I hope that you are all doing well. How we miss worshiping with you on Sunday mornings. We pray that each of you is staying safe.

We were delighted a week or so ago to receive a phone call from Bill and Marlene. They were just calling to say hello and to check up on us. It was wonderful to hear from them. As a result, Jim and I decided to "pay it forward" by each calling someone in our congregation. It was nice to reconnect. Are you missing someone from church? Call and say hello. It will be a blessing to you both.

In response to questions we've received from some of you, Jim and I continue to regularly pick up the church mail from the post office. Thanks to those of you who have sent in your church offerings. As always, we are depositing those offerings to Baker Boyer Bank. If others of you would like to mail in your offerings, the mailing address is: P.O. Box 673, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 Please do not send anything to the street address. The post office no longer delivers to that address. We must use the P.O. Box. If you like, you may also make your donation via the church website: www.firstcommchurch.org.

Until we see you all again, please know that we think of you and pray for you.

2. Danny and I will be working on using some additional technology during this time that will enable us to meet using the internet. When we get this up and running we will let you know.

3. If anyone needs anything, please reach out to me or one of the elders. If you need groceries or whatever need you have, we would be delighted to help.