God Our Fortress

Introduction

In this day of evil, where do we run? Is there any place safe left on this earth, let alone our nation. Road rage, looting, riots, and all around lawlessness, makes us all long for a place where we can go to be at peace and security. Is there such a place?

I know what your thinking, yes, of course, there is God right? We talk about God being sovereign and therefore in total control and yet for some reason that doesn’t seem to help us feel any more secure, since we somehow have trouble not focusing on our circumstances which we see, hear, feel, taste, and touch, but God…God is invisible, and our senses can not perceive Him.

So what is the answer? How do we take what we know about God, and apply that in a practical, senses ridden reality of the here and know so that we feel safe and secure? This I believe is the context of Psalm 46, as the sons of Korah, who penned this Psalm under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declare to us the reality that God is our fortress.

Text: Psalm 46

Main Idea: Since God is our fortress, we must run to Him in order to be safe and secure.

Background

The psalm is a hymn celebrating Zion as the special city, to which God has pledged himself and through which he will bless the world. Other psalms like this include Psalms 48; 76; 87; 122. The psalm has two stanzas, marked by the refrain, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (46:7, 11).

Martin Luther was moved by this psalm to write the famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

I. Fundamental Truth: God is Our Fortress (1-7)

Verse 1, is the foundational on which the rest of the Psalm is constructed

God (Elohim): the God of creation, all powerful, fully in control (Gen 1)

Refuge: something or someone turned to for assistance or security - focus on the place of help

Strength: be strong physically or mentally - focus on the provision of help

Very Present: exceeding or abundant nearness; well proved - focus on the proximity of help

In summary: The eternal creative God provides us with an unshakeable place to run at the right time we need it in all circumstances.

A. God is our fortress on Earth (2-3)

Therefore: as a result of this foundational statement, our response should be -> we will not fear though...

Earth gives way…mountains be moved into the heart of the sea…waters roar…mountains tremble: when all the securities and safe places of this earth fall apart

But how do we know that God Himself is not affected by what is going on here on earth? It’s because our our God is transcendent and is outside of time and space, and from His perspective...

B. God is our fortress in Heaven (4-7)

God’s transcendence gives Him a perspective we don’t have. Let’s look at what God sees...

River whose streams make glad the city of God (4):

In this days, fortified cities were built near or on a water supply so that if the city were ever under seige, they could hold out for a good length of time.

This is the picture here that the city of God is well supplied for

This river here is referred elsewhere in scripture as the river of the water of Life...

Revelation 22:1–3 ESV

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

the holy habitation of the Most High...God is in the midst of her: (4-5)

The presence of God brought much hope to the Jew. In the wilderness, it was the tabernacle in the center of the camp. During the monarchy, it was the temple in Jerusalem.

This view of heaven assures us that God is central in all the affairs of heaven and earth

she shall not be moved;…when the morning dawns (5):

morning was when battles began, so the reality that God will help at battle time is to bring endless hope and joy, especially since from His perspective He sees...

The nations rage…he utters his voice, the earth melts (6):

The power of God’s Word, as displayed in Genesis 1, where God (Elohim) said (8x), and it was so.

The refrain (7): Our reminder or focus...

The LORD of hosts: notice the switch from Elohim to Yahweh - from the all powerful God of creation, to the self-existing; the I Am; the covenant keeping God, who is the sovereign over the hosts of heaven!

is with us: a promise resulting from the very nature of Yahweh.

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God of Jacob: refers to the covenant of Yahweh in relation to His people, promised to the patriarch’s Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

is our fortress: shows the constancy of Yahweh’s covenant

But why all of this? Is it only about us and our welfare and protection, or is there a greater purpose? There certainly is an...

II. Ultimate Purpose: God Will Be Glorified (8-11)

When we talk about God being glorified, we talk about all that makes God God, being made preeminent, becoming the main thing, realizing that nothing is greater, and that nothing else matters in comparison. God is the ultimate focus!

We remember what Paul said in Romans 11:36 “36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Let’s see how the Psalmist describes this as he begins by declaring...

A. God’s earthy works bring Him glory (8-9)

Come, behold the works of the LORD (8):

Note that again the Psalmist use the word Yahweh, which I believe describes God’s works as a result of God’s covenant with his people

(8) brought - the perfective aspect of the verb. That is, it views the action of the verb from an outer perspective, the perspective of seeing or thinking of the action of the verb as a whole and complete, without respect to the time of the action. In other words, God sees this action as complete, and we his covenant people must seek to view it in the same way, desolations on the earth - there will be a time when God will bring all things to an end when He:

makes wars cease (9)

breaks the bow (9)

burns the chariots (9)

So what do we do in the meantime? How are we to live; to focus? The Psalmist wants us to realize that survival depends on our view point; a view point that sees that...

B. God’s heavenly works bring him glory (10-11)

Ok, I’m ready, tell me what to do...

Be still: to end your striving either physically or mentally

know (know intimately, experientially, through time spent in life experiences) that I am God: we are called to stop and acknowledge God, who he is, what he’s done, remembering how he has brought us to where we are, and as a result will not leave us now but will bring us home.

This is the same idea in which Moses told the Israelites when their backs were up against the Red Sea:

Exodus 14:13 ESV

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

This same idea is repeated again in Psalm 37 with regard to fretting:

Psalm 37:7 ESV

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

I will be exalted among the nations…in the earth: God’s glory is a reality! There is no question that God will be exalted, in both the people of the earth, and all his creation. God has no rivals, he is not worried, frustrated, or wondering if his plan is going to work, and neither should we be as the Psalmist reminds us once again in his refrain:

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress…Selah

So What?

Do we see and hear God above the noise of the world, or has the world become in our mind more powerful then God?

What is displayed in the media is that evil men have triumphed and the God of the bible is weak and unable to do anything about these present circumstances.

Do we find ourselves looking for shelter and safety in everything else but God?

There are a thousand and one how to videos available by experts to help you cope with life, but not a one will provide lasting peace and security.

Do you have a relationship with the God of the universe through Jesus Christ His Son?

The scripture implores us to repent or turn from of our sins and to place our trust in the truth that Christ Jesus died for our sins, and was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Repent and believe this day and you will be saved.