Psalm 46 - A Favourite Psalm?

Preached by Rev, Wesley Ellis on 14th June 2009 in Cregagh Congregational Church, Belfast.(Apologies to the preacher if these words are not exactly what you said - they are what I heard through God's voice.)



Psalm 46 (New International Version)
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. [a]

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields [b] 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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Footnotes:
Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 46:9 Or chariots



Why do we have a favourite Psalm? Perhaps it is because the message of the Psalm speaks to us in some way and impacts our lives.


Verse One of this Psalm puts the rest of the passage into context, and verse 10 ends the Psalm beautifully. So we go from

God is... to God speaking - be still and know that He is God. So we start with God is - the pre-existent, omnipotent God - as the focal point and go to verse 10 where the key is to know this God. The modern world is content with ignoring verse 1 and verse 10 by extension, but the Psalmist knew God day to day .Do we have the same faith in all circumstances of our lives? Sometimes it is only when we are at are lowest that we trust Him. All the other things we have hoped for have failed us and we are left with what is real - God - real, alive and here with us.

He is our refuge and strength - it is not that we possess Him and then bring our shopping list to Him BUT we can call Him our God because of our relationship. We can call Him, Abba. This is not God at our beck and call, but He is a personal God in relationship with us. And thus it is hard to take this in, that He is my refuge and strength. How can we fully grasp this truth?

God is our refuge - where do we want to be physically, mentally, spiritually - what do we yearn for and what motivates us? It could be comfort, security through our money, our family, our job, in drink, in drugs. Where is our refuge? In the worst times when all falls apart it can only be in God. A refuge can also be translated "harbour" - a place where we can tie up safely out of the storm. The harbour is not where the ship is to remain - it is only in a storm - so running to find refuge in God is when we have lack of strength or boldness. It is when we cannot cope, and then when the strain subsides God gives us the boldness to continue.

So these ate two aspects to a refuge in tough times and strength to continue onwards. God brings both. He is an ever present help in trouble. We will not fear even when the worst happens. The Psalmist uses the analogy of the earth giving way and the mountains falling.

Verse 4 mentions a river - bringing life into the city of God - a flowing river. God is within her, she will not fall. And so our souls will not fall if we trust in Him - nothing will pluck us from His hand.

Verse 5 - at a time when we are most at risk, God will help. At the break of day we should be conscious of His presence.

Verse 6 - God stands beyond the world, His voice is commanding and powerful.

Verse 7 - He has been with us, look back in our lives and see His hand. And so He will be with us in the future.

Verse 8 - God is in control.

Verse 10 - Be still and know that I am God - when the worst happens - "Be still and know" - take the time to be still and know that He is God.

Verse 11 - Almighty - How strong are we? He is Almighty and He is with us.