Psalm 46 Study

Introduction

Psalm 46 (MHCWB:CUOV): This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and his power, and providence, and gracious presence with his church in the worst of times, and directs us to give him the glory of what he has done for us and what he will do.

Psalm 46 (TBC): The passage.—This is a hymn of triumphant trust in God. Jerusalem and Judah had been under the threat of calamity. God had intervened. Perhaps the occasion was the deliverance of Jerusalem from Moab and Ammon in the days of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:1–30), or Sennacherib’s abandonment of the siege of Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13–19:37).

The hymn consists of three stanzas, verses 1–3, 4–7, and 8–11. God was declared to be the present helper amidst hazards, the sure source of inward security, and the victor over men’s militant violence.

Psalm 46 (TBC): Special points.—The destructive physical powers described in verses 2–3 (volcano, earthquake, storm) probably were symbols. They represented feared military powers that threatened Judah.

The river flowing out of the heights of Jerusalem, where no river actually is found, symbolized spiritual resources. In the most terrifying circumstances, God is readily available (a very present help, v. 1).

Truth for today.—This psalm inspired Martin Luther to write the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Both psalm and hymn are perennial sources of comfort and strength.

Faith often finds increased reality in times of trouble. Adversity did not destroy the psalmist’s faith. It was the occasion for enriched experience with God, the stimulus for eloquent witness to what God had done.

Take comfort in God when the circumstances of life become dark and threatening.

Praising God for what he does for His church against it’s enemies

God will glorify His name through all circumstances.

VERSES 1-3

(v1) Once again, we witness God taking the initiative in becoming our refuge and strength.

We may find Him because He makes Himself findable.

This is something that continues to be true to this very day.

Questions:

Are you pursued? Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Are you oppressed by troubles?

There are always enemies to grapple with while we push forward to do the work we do.

By God’s grace, He puts strength into us!

Are you in distress?

A present help is a found help.

Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.”

Seeking God is not the same as the kids game you grew up with; hide and go seek.

Triumph over the greatest dangers.

There is no need to fear any earthly power or spiritual power when one lives with a holy reverence and fear of God.

Notice how threatening the danger is!!!

Psalm 46:1–5 (MHCWB:CUOV): yet will not we fear, knowing that all these troubles will end well for the church. See Ps. 93:4. If the earth be removed, those have reason to fear who have laid up their treasures on earth, and set their hearts upon it; but not those who have laid up for themselves treasures in heaven, and who expect to be most happy when the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burnt up.

Psalm 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

VERSES 4-7

We now leave the troubled sea and are introduced to a source of water that brings gladness.

This river is referenced to the waters of Siloam.

Flowed softly by Jerusalem.

Not so wide or deep to where it would be of good service.

Notice the symbolism:

Opt 1 — These waters are symbolic to God’s covenant of grace. God’s promises could be considered the streams.

Opt 2 — The Holy Spirit is the river and His comforts are the streams.

John 7:38-39 “38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Isa. 33:21 “21 But there the glorious Lord will be unto us A place of broad rivers and streams; Wherein shall go no galley with oars, Neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.”

(v5) Notice why God’s church is very well established; God is in her midst.

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

God has promised His special presence to her.

The church will survive the world. Nothing will ultimately ruin her spite the many attempts.

He shall help her under her troubles, that she shall not sink; nay, that the more she is afflicted the more she shall multiply Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 809.

“…that right early” = very quickly / when the morning appears.

Remember — a very present help in time of trouble.

He helps when the help is the most welcomed.

This of-course extends to the individual believer also.

If God be in our hearts, in the midst of us, by his word dwelling richly in us, we shall be established, we shall be helped; let us therefore trust and not be afraid; all is well, and will end well. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 809.

(vv6-7)

Remember, God is the KING of all nations!!!

He rules and over-rules the affairs of men for His own glory.

As we have seen through the ages, God breaks the power of nations who appose Him.

“the earth melted”

By God’s voice, He simply took any solid footing out from under them.

What naturally follows is the fear of heart.

Luke 21:25-26 “25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”

VERSES 8-11

Scriptures:

Psalm 66:5 “5 Come and see the works of God: He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.”

Psalm 111:2 “2 The works of the Lord are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.”

All evidences of providence must be accredited to God. In them we must recognize all His attributes.

Especially take notice to the DESOLATIONS of his power:

You can see these surrounding all who have opposed Israel and the church.

War is a tragedy which commonly destroys the stage it is acted on; David carried the war into the enemies’ country; and O what desolations did it make there! Cities were burnt, countries laid waste, and armies of men cut off and laid in heaps upon heaps. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 810.

Let all that oppose him see this with terror, and expect the same cup of trembling to be put into their hands; let all that fear him and trust in him see it with pleasure, and not be afraid of the most formidable powers armed against the church. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 810.

Isaiah 54:17 “17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

(v9) War and peace depend upon the Lord’s granting as much as any storm or calming of the sea does.

Psalm 107:25 “25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.”

Psalm 107:29 “29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.”

(total destruction of Gog and Magog) Ezekiel 39:9-10 “9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: 10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.”

The bringing of a long war to a good issue is a work of the Lord, which we ought to behold with wonder and thankfulness.Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 810.

(v10) This command is issued both to God’s enemies and God’s people.

It would benefit the enemies of God by motivating them to stand down and threaten Him no more.

It would benefit God’s people by encouraging them to be calm, not fear, to know they are not alone and one day they will be lifted above all sin, evil and the actions of men.

God is working all things out for His great name and our great deliverance.

No matter what becomes of our name, God’s name will forever be glorified.

(v11) It is the burden of the song, “The Lord of hosts is with us; he is on our side, he takes our part, is present with us and president over us; the God of Jacob is our refuge, to whom we may flee, and in whom we may confide and be sure of safety.” Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 810.

Never forget YOU the BELIEVER has the presence of a God of omnipotent power.

This sovereign Lord is with us, sides with us, acts with us, and has promised he will never leave us. Hosts may be against us, but we need not fear them if the Lord of hosts be with us. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 810.

“…The God of Jacob is our refuge”

The God of the covenant was the one they are under the protection of!!!

We can rejoice in like manner! We are given the covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

“…If God be for us, who can be against us?”