Ps. 46
Although it is unclear what exact event caused the Psalmist to write Psalm 46, it teaches us how to respond to overwhelming circumstances by fixing our eyes on God rather than the chaos around us.
Difficult circumstances can so easily draw our attention away from who God is, and might even make us feel as if God has deserted or forgotten about us. Despondency can settle over our hearts as we are confronted with our inability to face difficulty on our own.This Psalm lays out for us a great example for responding to difficult times. Most of us, by God’s grace, have never experienced the tyranny of wars, but the Psalmist most likely is writing this Psalm during just such a time.
Amidst this life threatening situation, the Psalmist starts with a positive statement of who God is. God is not only our refuge in whom we can find security, but also our strength. God is also described as a “very present help in trouble”. Unlike the help from man, that is insufficient and of no use(Ps. 60:11), God’s omnipotent arm is not too short to save His people from adversity(Isa. 59:1). This describes God in a very personal way. He is not far off from His people. He knows how frail we are and thus He is our help. Notice also the wording the Psalmist uses here. He isn’t saying that God helps His people, in the sense that He adds to their efforts. But that He is their strength and their help. All our strength and help come from Him. This thought alone is enough for the Psalmist to respond in v2. “Therefore we will not fear…”, and rightfully so. May God grant us grace to respond to difficult times like the Psalmist does.
The Psalmist says, even if the earth should change, the mountains slip into the sea, the waters roar and foam or if the earth should quake, still we will not fear. Mountains are known for their stability and immovableness and so the imagery of the word “slip” in v2. is that of the mountains just “slip and sliding” into the sea. The Psalmist’s point is, even if the stability of the mountains gives way and they slide into the sea, we can still rely on God for He remains unshaken. Thus there is no reason to fear.
The Psalmist’s focus then turns to God’s presence among His people. God has not forgotten us, He sees our needs. When war was made on a city, they would block the water supply of the city, which would weaken the inhabitants and eventually force them to open the city gates but the river here might refer to the pool of Siloam that was supplied from the spring of Gihon under the city of Jerusalem. This would mean that their water supply could not be cut off. Ultimately their safety and security was not found in their water source or walls, but in God’s faithful protection and provision. Since God is in the midst of them, they will not be “moved”(or it could also be translated “slip”). The mountains in v.2 may slip and slide, but the city of God stands firm. In v.6 the word for “tottered” could also be translated “slip”. In contrast to Jerusalem standing firm are the kingdoms and nations who “slip”. The Lord of Hosts has spoken, and just as in the beginning when He spoke everything into existence, the whole of creation obeys His sovereign command. God is our stronghold and the one who keeps us from slipping.
The Psalmist recalls in v.8 and v.9, what the Lord has done in the past and how God has proven His faithfulness over time. God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and has faithfully sustained them, He has delivered them from many difficult and life threatening situations.
As believers we should be quick to remember how the Lord has faithfully been looking after us and caring for us. I think it would be true of all of us to say we probably don’t even have to think back further than a few hours to be reminded of God’s provision. Being reminded of God’s past faithfulness reminds us of our own insufficiency and God’s sufficiency and guards us from trying to do things in our own strength.
When Asa, king of Judah, was under attack from Baasha, king of Israel, he forgot how the Lord had delivered His father Abijah (2 Chron. 13) and himself (2 Chron. 9-15) out of adversary in the past. Forgetting the Lord’s past provision he took the gold and silver out of the temple and used His political influence to make a treaty with the king of Aram rather than relying on God.
May we never forget that God remains faithful. We do not have to rely on ourselves, for God has proven Himself to be our present help in trouble. Because God is omnipresent and omnipotent, He knows our every need and is more than able to help.
The command “Cease striving and know that I am God”. is probably aimed at the people of God, to find comfort in God’s sovereignty. But it is also a command to all nations as a redemptive call and a warning of His ultimate judgement on those who rely on their own strength. In the end God will be exalted.
The Psalm is bookended with the same thought: God is our stronghold. Let us then hold on to this precious truth and find security in God, our safety and strength.