Sustaining Strength

Our last few weeks have been devoted to the place we look for comfort.

This past Sunday, we used the passage we will read tonight as a supporting passage.

I wanted to take this opportunity to utilize this passage a little further and see how we might fundamentally apply it to everyday living.

Psalm 46:1–11 ESV

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

How does Ps. 46:1 focus our hearts in the midst of struggle and cause us to become aware of the hand of/from God?

Psalm 46:1 ESV

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

Refuge - a person we run too

Strength - a person we are held by

Present - a person who is there

Academically acknowledging these ideas reveals the possibility.

What takes these ideas from academic to pragmatic?

No Fear

Psalm 46:2 ESV

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

The lack of fear takes the idea of strength from begin based upon situation and moves it to being based on faith.

Psalm 46:3 ESV

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

In essence, the Psalmist points to the situational ideas and the struggle brought by temporal struggle.

Earth -gives way

Mountains-thrown into the sea

Waters - roar/foam

Mountains - shake

All of these are temporal, but they grab our attention.

What becomes our response to the situational? How do people react?

Depression

Anxiety

Ticks

Frustration

Anger

Rebellion

Rejection

Do any of these honor God?

Are some of these a personal choice?

So where is the sustaining strength?

Psalm 46:4–7 ESV

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

So we may find strength and ability from Him.

The Momentary is Just that: Momentary.

Psalm 46:8–11 ESV

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