Psalm 46/Commentary

Our Refuge 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength”: God is a refuge or place of safety because among other reasons, He is consistent, unchanging and will always be there. The word strength here reminds me that I do not have to solely depend upon my own wisdom, cleverness or ability. God gives me wisdom as I study His word (James 1:5; Psalm 119:100-104), and He gives me strength to handle what I never knew I could:  “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

46:1 “A very present help in trouble”: Which means that God is more than “enough” for any given situation, and that God is always there for the believer.

God is not suddenly useful long after the crisis, rather, He is always at hand:  “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

(Hebrews 13:6).  “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).  This equally means that God’s wisdom is always available in any situation, as well has His forgiveness.  “That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

46:2 “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, through the mountains quake at its swelling pride” The earth and the mountains, for mankind seem to represent the most stable and enduring of all earthly things. Here is the ultimate catastrophe or the ultimate undoing, where the majestic mountains slide, not merely to the edge of the ocean, but disappear into the very heart of the sea, i.e., are completely

submerged. Yet the writer says, if even such ever happened, the believer is on solid ground because of his or her relationship with God.  The idea is not that God plus…..is my refuge. And it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that God plus my health, or God plus a good job, or God plus a paid off home, is my refuge. No. God is my refuge. Period.  In reality, the earth will perish, even the writers of the Psalms knew this (Psalm 102:25-27).

This is an impressive faith. Imagine seeing an upheaval where the mountains do slide into the ocean and all dry land disappears. Yet this writer said, “if that happens, I am okay, because I have God”. Of course the opposite is equally true.

If I have good health, plenty of money, but do not have God, then in reality I have absolutely no security. As a Christian, do I derive a greater sense of peace and security from earthly things than from my relationship with God? If the economic system in the world suddenly collapsed tomorrow and all my money disappeared, would I still believe that I have an amazing and secure refuge?

46:4 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved” There is the ocean that can be scary and then there is the multitude of unbelievers in the world who act like an ocean, i.e., in constant turmoil, restless and menacing. Yet in contrast to such forces that can be destructive, there is another kind of river. There is a river of life, a river carrying forgiveness, truth, a relationship with God and transforming power to those who desire to drink (John 4:13-14; 7:37-38). This is the kind of river that can flow to a parched land and bring a renewal of life. In the Old Testament the city of God was Zion, and in the New, the church and the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-23).

God is in the midst of this city and as a result, she will not be moved (Hebrews 12:28; Matthew 16:18-19).

46:5 “God will help her when morning dawns”: Literally, “at break of day” and this phrase reminds us of one of the greatest moments of deliverance in

the Old Testament, when “at daybreak” the Red Sea engulfed the Egyptian army and Israel was delivered (Exodus 14:27).

46:6 “The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold” The nations are often pictured as being like a restless sea, in an uproar (Psalm 2:1). Yet observe what follows. The nations made an uproar and kingdoms tottered. Kidner observes that such should remind us of the inherent instability of evil. “Where the fitting sequel of to ‘’rage’ (uproar) is to be insecure (‘totter’) (Psalms 1-72, Derek Kidner, p. 176). The rest of the verse reminds me that I fear all the wrong things. Like many other people, I am too preoccupied with the potential for some natural disaster, like an earthquake or tidal wave and completely ignore the fact that at any given moment God will arrive, simply speak and the universe will dissolve (2 Peter 3:9-11). The same powerful word that God used to create (Psalm 33:6-9), will be used to bring the entire Creation to an end.

46:8 “Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has wrought desolations in the earth” Someone has noted that the Bible is basically a record of the words and works of God. The writer seems to be suggesting to us that we should not question the reality of the coming day when God does bring the universe to an end, for just consider what He has already done in the past. Much like 2 Peter chapter 3.

If God has already flooded the entire planet in a judgment upon sin, then we should not question or mock the idea that He will destroy it with fire. The writer also seems to be suggesting that “beholding the works of God” (i.e. His past judgments in this context), is a healthy thing to do:  Because if God can flood the entire planet or dissolve it instantly, then there is no place of safety outside of Him.  There is no bunker or prepper pantry that will insulate you from His judgment.

 His judgments in the past equally put all natural disasters in their proper perspective. A hurricane or tornado is one thing, a world-wide flood, the parting of the Red Sea, the entire Nile turning to blood, the immediate death of every first born, or the Sun standing still and God killing the enemies of Israel with large hailstones is something on another level.

46:9 “He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire” This is the ultimate disarming, and it is done forcefully. One day all rebellion and unbelief will be confronted. God will show up. All will stand before Him in judgment (Matthew 25:31ff).

46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God”: Kidner observes that “cease striving” or “be still” is not a word of comfort to believers, but rather a rebuke to the unbelieving world. That is “quiet!” As if God is saying, “Stop all your restless and meaningless activity. Cease your fights and conflicts over things that do not matter. Turn off all the electronics. Stop your superficial musings.

Lift up your eyes and realize I am God and you will answer to Me”.

46:10 “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”: Observe that the end in view is not about man, his hopes, exultation or dreams.

It is all about God’s glory. “I will be” is a statement of what will happen. As much as some are trying to prevent this from happening, all such attempts are fruitless. The more people move away from God, the more they prove and demonstrate by their foolish and short-sighted choices, their need for God. 46:11 “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold”: Here is the longing and resolve of the faithful. He is with us. Though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, I am not rattled, for I never had my trust in such earthly things. The more I read this Psalm the more I am convinced that if I am going to make it out of this life with my head on straight, this is the kind of faith you and I are going to need.

Mark Dunagan/mdunagan@frontier.com