Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4: There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6: The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8: Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9: He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10: Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Introduction

As to the historical background to this Psalm, we are not absolutely sure. Commentators have differing ideas. Some believe that this was written in the days of King Hezekiah following the great victory over Sennacherib and the Assyrian army. Others believe it fits the times in the life of David. Though we are not absolutely sure of its historical background; I am grateful that we have Psalm 46 in our Bible, because this is not just a psalm that fits the life of Hezekiah or David. This Psalm fits my life and your life as well.

As you read this psalm you will discover that this a psalm speaks about great trouble and calamity. The psalmist speaks of the earth being removed; the mountains being carried into the midst of the sea. He speaks of the waters of the sea roaring and raging. He speaks of the heathen nations rage and kingdoms shake and fall. He speaks of wars, of the bows and the spears that brings death and destruction. Doesn’t this psalm remind us of the world we live in today. Just this recent weeks we have been painful reminded of the truth we read in Job 5:7, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”  And also, of the words of our Lord in John 16:33, “... in the world ye shall have tribulation ...”

Though this psalm speaks about calamity and trouble, it also speaks about the security of God’s people. There are calamities and trouble, yes, but in the face of every difficulty and in the face of every danger, there is security. As I have said, I am grateful that we have Psalm 46 in our Bible. Because this psalm reminds us that as believers in Jesus Christ we have great and solid reasons not to fear, not to fret, and not to faint. This is a psalm for today. God wants us to face life with confidence. Actually, not just for today but for the rest of our lives. How can we live in confidence and without fear? What should be the basis of our confidence and sense of security? Let’s look at the precious and important truths in the 46th Psalm.

I - Who God is

Psalm 46:1 God is …

Let’s stop right there. I love how this psalm begins. It does not begin with man, nor with calamites or trouble, nor with the enemies. No! It begins with God. Here is the basis of our confidence and security—God is! This is where we ought to begin. If we are to face and live with confidence in in our life, we must begin with God. The psalmist focuses on God Himself and that’s what we ought to focus on.

The basis of our confidence is who God is and He is revealed to us in the titles or the names given to God throughout the psalm, such as God or Elohim, the Most High, LORD, LORD of hosts, and God of Jacob.

1. God (Elohim)

The psalmist starts with the name Elohim (God). Elohim means that He is the Strong One. Whenever you see the word “God” in the Old Testament remind yourself that’s the Strong One. It is referring to His strength. There are two ideas associated with Elohim in order to communicate God’s power and strength to us. First, Elohim is the Creator. “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) Elohim created all things. There is no God like Him.

Secondly, Elohim is the Rock. Again and again you see Elohim associated with this term “Rock”.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31: For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

Remember God is our Elohim, not only the Creator but also our Rock. Nothing moves Him. The world and everything on it are unstable but God is fixed and immovable. You can find shelter in Him who is our Rock. He is able to protect you and me. You can hide in Him. 

Isaiah 43:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

2. The Most High (Elyon)

The second name the psalmist uses is the name “Elyon” in English the “Most High.” This name emphasizes God’s uniqueness and His supremacy above all others. It reminds us He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the Owner of all. He is not merely mighty, but Almighty. He is the Sovereign Possessor and Controller of all things.

Psalm 47:2 For the LORD most high is terrible [awesome]; he is a great King over all the earth. 3: He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

Psalm 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

3. LORD (Yahweh or Jehovah)

In our Bibles, any time you come across the word LORD in all uppercase, it is the English version of the Jehovah found in the Old Testament. This name points to the unchanging character and His great ability to keep His promises.

Micah 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Isaiah 43:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14: Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

4. LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth)

Elohim is the LORD of hosts. He is LORD over all HOSTS, whether they be angels or men or stars. He is in complete command and total control of all hosts. There are no armies whether they be in heaven or on earth that are beyond His knowledge and control. Oh, how this truth should give us who have Him as our refuge great comfort and solid reassurance.

5. God of Jacob (Elohim of Jacob)

This name, “The God of Jacob,” is a very important and a very reassuring name. Why is this so important? Who was Jacob? Jacob was a sinner. His very name means “supplanter” or “deceiver.” He was a self-sufficient, self-centered person. And yet, God pursued Jacob and Jacob encountered God at the place called Bethel, the house of God. When Jacob was absolutely desperate, he turned to God, and God changed his life. Despite of Jacob’s past God chose to identify Himself as the God of Jacob. So, when you hear the name the God of Jacob, may it remind you that your failings and weaknesses does not deter our God. What a God of grace and a God of patience our Elohim is!

Child of God this is the basis of our confidence, it is who God is. Instead of walking in fear we should be walking in faith in the God of glory! Because He is Elohim, El Elyon, Jehovah, Jehovah Sabaoth and the Elohim of Jacob.

II - Who God is to us

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The great theme that runs through this psalm is that God is our refuge. This psalm is divided into three stanzas. Stanza one, verses 1-3; stanza two, verses 4-7; and stanza three, verses 8-11. All three stanzas focus on the truth that God is our refuge. The beginning, the middle, and the end speak about this truth. That’s how this psalm starts and that’s how the second and third stanza end. Psalm 46:7, 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.     

What is a refuge? A refuge is a place of safety and security. It is a place that provides shelter or protection from enemies or a storm or some other evil forces. The stronger the refuge, the more confidence you can have in it. And the glorious news is that’s who our God is. God is our refuge. The Strong One, the Sovereign Possessor and Controller of all things, the Unchanging One Who has great ability to keep His promises, the One who  has complete command and total control of all hosts; the gracious and patient One is our refuge and strength and very present help in time of trouble. It is this God to Whom we run for protection and help in times of calamity and in times of distress and in times of virus and in times of economic crisis. When circumstances are out of our control, we can run to God and find refuge and rest in Him. Though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, we will not fear for God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

This world is filled with fearful and worried people that are seeking a refuge. They seek rest for their hearts and souls. But the sad thing is that many of these restless people would run to anything and to anybody but God. They would run to Cathedrals, psychologists, doctors, universities, movie houses, concert halls, bars, disco houses, friends, vacation, stars, moon, space travel, education, conferences, retreats, camps, food, cloth, shopping malls, furniture, houses, cars. Many of these things are not inherently sinful but there is no rest in any one of these. Many have tried many of these so-called answers to their anxiety and fear but none of these is the answer. There is no other place of protection and rest and quietness for the heart but Elohim the Most High. Oh, run to God for your refuge.

III - Where God is

Psalm 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Where is God? God is in the midst of His people. God is not distant or disengaged. He dwells among His people. He is actively involved in the life of His people.

Where is God? God is with us. Psalm 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. The psalmist celebrates this truth as good news that he writes it twice! He repeats this glorious truth that God is with us in Psalm 46:11, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

Think of it! Elohim the Strong One is with us. The Most High is with us. The LORD, the LORD of hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is with us! The whole message of Christ is Emmanuel—God with us. God is actually with us. He is not merely for us but with us. He is with us in our calamity. He is with is in our sorrow. He is with us in our pain. He is with us in our anxiety and fear. He is with us in our loss. He is with us in our financial setback. He with us in my loneliness and weakness. He with us despite our failings and our faults. He remains to us the God of Jacob, a God of grace and patience. And finally, He will be with us in our death. Isn’t this one of the truths we find celebrated in Psalm 23? “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the basis of our confidence and security. We can face the new year without fear because of Who God is, because of Who God is to us, and because of where God is. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God is in the midst of His people. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

In light of this truth, we can confidently say, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Closing Thoughts

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

What a beautiful declaration! Now, I must underscore that this is the language of believers. This is not a psalm that applies to every person. This psalm is a great comfort and consolation to the people of God, but it belongs to them alone. The tremendous comfort and security that this psalm bring is only for those who by the grace of God can confidently declare “God is my God!”

If you want God to be your refuge and strength and very present help in time of trouble, first you must know Him as your God. Is He your God? Is the God of the Bible your God? Is your God the creator of Heaven and earth? Is the Most High God your God? Is the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob your God? Do you know this God? Do you have a personal relationship with this great and glorious God? If not, I hope you are asking, “how can I enter into relationship with the God of the Bible?” I am glad we are not left in the dark as far as this question is concern. The Bible gives us the answer. Please turn to, John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

So, those who do not have a personal relationship God through His Son Jesus Christ, this psalm is a call for you to believe. It is a call for you to run to the Refuge of souls; a call to run to the Rock of salvation, which is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. You probably heard these somber words, “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” How can you and I escape from spiritual and eternal death? There is a Refuge, even Jesus Christ; and you run and can hide in Him and be saved.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Call upon His name and put your faith and hope on nothing less than the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. As the song goes, “I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name” 

To those of us who by the grace are saved, this psalm is a call to us to be still and know God is God.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Once again it is not about us. It’s about knowing who God is, who God is to us, and where God is. As God’s people we have the foundation and ability that is needed to go through life and not to fear, for “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” What assurance! What a powerful encouragement for unstable and uncertain times! Whatever we face in this uncertain and unstable life, remember this important truth—God is!

AMEN!