Psalm 46 Be Still / An invitation to peace in the midst of trouble

Every week it’s a new chaos. North Korea. Trump impeachment. Accusations and counter accusations. Illegal immigrants. Attack by Iran on our troops. Election swings back and forth over different candidates.

Now the coronavirus. If we look to the media we will be constantly in a state of drama. As it seeks to keep people watching their latest broadcasts. I am afraid the news is more about ratings and clicks than it is about facts and perspective. The wilder the speculation the more people watch and click. The wilder the speculation becomes.

And so the culture reacts quickly with anxiety and chaos ensues. And that is understandable. They are trusting in the wrong things. It has no solid hopeIt has no place of security. It has no Savior.

But we Christians are different. We need to be wise. We need to be informed. We need to make wise decisions. But there is never a reason for us to panic. We have a close relationship with the one in charge. And He cares for us. When anxiety arises we need to stop, be still and remember He is God.

Jump back 3,000 years. A time when chaos was not artificial or driven by media. It was a time when threats were real – every day. Here is a people who a reason to fear. Fear of physical harm. Fear of starving to death. Fear of brutal captivity.

In the midst of that, God provides a song given to provide them with perspective. It helped them reorient so that they could have peace and security no matter what. It reminds them of who their security really comes from. It points them back to their God. It encourages them to be still. To know their God. To rest in their God. Regardless of what was going on around them.

(ESV) Psalms 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 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 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. 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 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. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

I. Peace: In a chaos of circumstances

A. A seeming end of the world

Psalms 46 2 … 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

1. Decreation

2. Moving, slipping, tottering, sliding, and roaring

3. Disappearing order / Chaos

B. Foundations shaken

Psalms 46 2 … though the earth gives way,

1. Solid earth no more

2. Upheaval

3. Quake

C. Secure places engulfed in chaos

Psalms 46. 2 … though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

1. Heights – the place of the gods / things seen that are dependable

2. Mountains engulfed by the sea - chaos

3. Foundation mountains under the earth quaking -

D. Ferocious attacks

Psalms 46 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

1. Like a wild animal / Roaring and foaming

2. Violent / Growing intensity – water and earth

E. People out of control

(ESV) Psalms 46 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; …

1. Same word as for waters roaring above

2. Uproar – confused – fearful – mob

3. Reaction of fearful confusion

In the midst of this He will invite v. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

II. Peace: The Lord is untroubled

I. He speaks and the trouble is gone

(ESV) Psalms 46 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

1. God’s thunderous outcry is greater (battle cry)

2. All the uproar melts away – dissipates

B. Heaven, the true reality, is at rest

1. Like a refreshing river

(ESV) Psalms 46 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; …

a. Contrast of babbling brook or cold meandering river

b. Coolness of a brook filled meadow

c. Life / Freshness / Quietness

d. Vitality / Joy in a dry land

2. All may shake – but not the place God is

1. Ultimately to be true for Jerusalem

2. Most High – Elyon – most high – ruler of the universe

3. Place God dwells

4. Not upended like Mountains above v.2 / nations below v.6

C. God helps in the midst of the great darkness

(ESV) Psalms 46 5 … God will help her when morning dawns.

5. – time when hope suddenly springs forth

6. Egyptians destroyed then / Assyrians destroyed then

D. God is with us too

(ESV) Psalms 46 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

1. The commander of armies

2. Personal presence with us

3. God Jacob – the one who wrestled with Jacob

a. Brought the trickster to a place of dependence

b. Broke his self confidence

c. Crippled but dependent upon God

4. Selah – take a break – breathe - consider

No wonder He will invite v. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

III. Peace: An invitation to find peace by faith

A. Consider how God acts

(ESV) Psalms 46 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

1. Invitation to all

2. Look at the characteristic works of the Lord

3. Desolations – awesome / terror/wonder

4. Defeats all opposition

B. Consider who God is

(ESV) Psalms 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

1. He is our Shelter (refuge)

2. He is our strength

3. He is present to help

a. Very near / very assessable - emphasis

4. No need to fear

a. Confidence in Him

C. Consider that God will be exalted

(ESV) Psalms 46 10 “… I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

1. Begin and end with ‘earth’

2. Emphasis that God will be exalted here on earth

D. Respond to the invitation to personal peace

(ESV) Psalms 46 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

1. Let go of striving

2. Rest in Him

3. Faith in who He is

All of these words were to a people in intense trouble. And who will continue to endure intense trouble. Finding peace has little to do with trouble. Finding peace comes from trusting the God that is larger than the trouble. And will ultimately put all the trouble away.

So right now, He invites you by faith to “Be still, and know that I am God.