Psalm 46: 1 – 11
Our Commander
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations 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, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the 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 of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
As I was composing this sermon my thoughts considered a memorial service I have to do today. It is for a World War II and Korean War navy veteran.
My family and relatives were all Navy people. My mom in fact was also in the Navy. Then they had them in a special branch called the ‘Waves’.
They are a lot of history we have missed which was hiding in plain sight. Many of our parents and relatives had first hand witness of what we try to study in our history books. However, there is also a big problem because most who have served do not offer up their experience to easily.
My dad never commented anything until I went into active duty. Having dropped me off for ‘boot camp’ at Fort Dix he shared with me some of his military experience through emotional replay. Apparently one incident played a lot in his thoughts. He was a corpsman or as we are familiar a medic. While on the island of Okinawa he told me, he served alongside this strange guy who was a diehard Christian. This guy refused to carry a weapon yet he said he would still serve in trying to save lives of others, so the Navy made him a corpsman. This guy wound up saving over 70 marines and for this heroism he received the ‘Medal of Honor’.
Push forward some thirty years I was watching this war movie about the US war in the Pacific and the movie sounded familiar. The light bulb clicked for me and I realized that this movie was about the guy my dad had told me about decades before. This man’s name was Desmund Doss. The movie was called Hacksaw Ridge.
In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16 we read, “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”
Sailors today give their own version of this scripture. They say, ‘Red sky at night, sailors delight; Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.’
Today our study highlights the mighty power of our Holy God over His Creation that being the oceans. For those who experienced the thrill of adventure sailing the ocean blue they can mediate on their past sea voyages.
By the way the fellow whose service I am doing gave his life to his Commander – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So today he is celebrating VW day (Victory over the world).
Our Master and King said to us as the apostle John recorded in chapter 16 verse 33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
To all of this I say, ‘Amen’.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
Here we have another Psalm dedicated to the choirmaster, and another which was either written by, or composed on behalf of ‘the sons of Korah’ who were musicians and singers in the Temple. They were a branch of the subtribe of the Korahites. ‘Alamoth’ means ‘damsels’ and 1 Chronicles 15.20 speaks of ‘psalteries set to Alamoth’. Thus, Alamoth may well refer to Psalms set especially for women’s voices.
This Psalm stresses that God is with His people and is their refuge. The consequence is that while they trust in Him Jerusalem is the undamaged city of God, with the result that opposing kingdoms will melt before them at the sound of His voice. (What they overlooked later was that this was only the case when king and people were loyal to God. It was not automatic).
The invitation is then given to consider how He has wrought peace on the earth and has been exalted among the nations. Its theme is ‘YHWH is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge’ (verses 7, 11).
Most commentators see it as having in mind God’s deliverance of Jerusalem under Hezekiah when the armies of Assyria which were besieging Libnah and Jerusalem were decimated by the angel of YHWH (Isaiah 37.36, “Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.”), something which, combined with news from Assyria about troubles at home (Isaiah 37.7, “Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”), caused Sennacherib to return there, leaving Jerusalem relatively unscathed.
Please note the contrast between the raging waters of the enemy, and of spiritual troubles battering at us (2-3), and the peaceful waters that come from the throne of God which bring only gladness to God’s people (4). We see a similar picture in Isaiah 8.6-8, “5 The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: 6 “Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’s son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the river, strong and mighty—The king of Assyria and all his glory; He will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks. 8 He will pass through Judah, He will overflow and pass over, He will reach up to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel.
Because the people have rejected the peaceful waters ‘of Shiloah that flow gently’, they will have to face the raging waters of the armies of Assyria. Because they have turned away from the true Immanuel (7.14), they will find themselves at the tender mercies of Ahaz, the self-proclaimed Immanuel (8.8).
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The Psalmist commences with an expression of confidence in God as our place of safety, our certain refuge. Once we are in God we are therefore truly safe. Indeed He is the source of our very strength, (or alternately is our stronghold). The words may well have had in mind how stoutly the walls of Jerusalem had kept out the Assyrians. But they were also aware that if God had not stepped in eventually those mighty walls would have fallen, whereas they can know that the walls of God will never be breached, even in the face of the battering of the mightiest of seas. To Israel particularly the seas were an enemy of inestimable proportions because they had little to do with the sea and only saw its awesomeness from the land. Despite their coastline they had few secure ports.
‘A very present help in trouble’ can be interpreted as ‘a help in troubles has He let Himself be found exceedingly’, expressing the wonderful deliverance that they had experienced, and their consciousness that God had abundantly stepped in and supplied it. But its presence in a Psalm indicates that His massive help is available for all continually, while they are faithful to the covenant. It was not just a one and done.
2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.
As a result, we will not be filled with fear, and will not be shaken, whatever happens. The earth itself may be subject to change, the fierce waters may batter against the great cliffs causing them to fall into the sea, the waters may roar and be troubled as the storm rages, the mountains may tremble at their impact. But none of this will move us, for we will know that God is our refuge.
In mind in the picture may well have been the impact of invading forces, and the fierce onslaughts of enemy warriors, as they battered the people, and the walls with battering rams, but it is equally as true when we must face spiritual enemies. Then, when the world seems in turmoil, we can be sure that God will be our refuge and stronghold. He will be ‘our strength’.
We note that each section ends with the word ‘selah’, which probably denotes a musical pause. From our point of view, it is saying dramatically, ‘think of that!’
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
We can compare with this Isaiah 33.21, where it says, ‘there (in Zion) YHWH in majesty will be for us, a place of broad rivers and streams’. Permanent rivers and streams where what men in Palestine dreamed of so that they might not be so dependent on the rain. We can compare the fruitfulness of Eden with its great river (Genesis 2.10). This is therefore a picture of full provision. And the promise is that to us God will be such a River, through His Spirit, a river that will satisfy our hearts and will also flow out from us to others (John 7.37-38, “37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.). And it will flow to all of God’s people, to ‘the city of God’.
Note the description of the city of God. It is ‘the holy place of the dwelling places of the Most High’. For Israel that was because it was there that the Temple was among them, with its inner and outer sanctum, and its storage and utility rooms, the place where God met with them and dwelt among them. For us it is because we are ourselves are together the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3.16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”), so that God’s River flows in, and through, and from us continually (John 7.38, ““He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”).
The title of God as ‘The Most High’ is regularly used in relation to the nations. It is a reminder that God is over all. Genesis 14.22, “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
And because God in the midst of her is over all, nothing can move or shake her. For while she trusts in Him God will always help her, and that without delay (right early). In the same way because God is in the midst of us we too, if we trust in Him, will not be moved. We too can be sure that we will know His prompt and powerful help.
The words ‘And that right early’ is saying that His assistance will come once the night is over and morning appears, without our being made to wait until later in the day.
6 The nations 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
This confidence that we have in God is in spite of the activities and efforts of the world in its enmity against God. The nations might rage and roar against God’s people, the kingdoms might move against them, but they can be confident that when God utters His voice the earth and all that is within it melts. And where will they be then? We can compare with this Isaiah’s beautiful words, ‘in quietness and in confidence will be your strength’ (Isaiah 30.15).
And this is because YHWH of hosts, YHWH the God of battle and lord of the heavenly hosts, is with us. It is because the God of Jacob (Israel) is our stronghold. Knowing that God is with us and is our stronghold is enough to bring peace in the most devastating of situation.
In the original instance Israel had seen the raging and roaring nations melt away as the Assyrians withdrew hastily from Judah once God had uttered His voice. But the promise is to all believers whatever troubles they have to face. Note how the same words ‘roar’ and ‘moved’ are used as in verse 2. It reminds us that those whose trust is in God need fear neither natural phenomena, nor the activities of men. For God is in control over all.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
All God’s people are now called on to look on and consider the works of YHWH. Let them look on and consider His final judgments, as initially exemplified in the destruction of the Assyrian army. Mankind may continue to fight and war, but God will in the end visit them with His desolations, thereby ending all their sinful activities. He will outlaw war worldwide, He will destroy man’s weaponry, He will burn up their supplies. Then He will introduce His kingdom of everlasting peace. Isaiah 2.3-4 describes how He will do it. , “Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
All are therefore to be stilled in awe, as they recognise by what He has done, that He truly is God, and what it will mean for the future. For in the future God will be exalted among the nations. He will be exalted in the earth. All power will be seen to be His, even on earth. To Him every knee will bow. His triumph is sure.
This gradual attainment of His triumph began at the cross when he defeated all the powers of evil (Colossians 2.15), then as His people went out to establish the Kingly Rule of God, and it will be finalized in that day when Satan and all his hosts and followers, including warring mankind, are totally vanquished (Revelation 19), and God Is all in all.
411 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
No wonder then that he can remind God’s people that:
. ‘YHWH of the hosts of heaven and earth is with us.’
. ‘The God who protected weak and lowly Jacob is our refuge.’
With God present with us as our powerful God and Protector we need fear nothing.
. ‘Of hosts’ has in mind God’s people (Exodus 12.41, “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.”)
. the heavenly hosts (the angels - Psalm 148.2, “Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!”)
. the host of heaven, (the sun moon and stars - Psalm 33.6, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”)
. the hosts of men (their armies), and the hosts of creation (everything that is made - Genesis 2.1, “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.”)
He Is God over all.
‘The God of Jacob’ underlines the fact that He was the God of His people who saw themselves as ‘descended from Jacob’. They looked to the God of their forefathers to whom the promises were made.
(Of course, not all of the people of Israel were literally descended from Jacob. They included among their number descendants of those who had been in Jacob’s ‘household’ who would probably have numbered a few thousand (Abraham had 318 fighting men in his household and they would have grown in numbers since then); descendants of the mixed multitude who had left Egypt with them (Exodus 12.38, “A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.) and were united with them at Sinai and then by circumcision on entering the land; descendants of others who had joined with them in the wilderness (Kenites); and descendants of any who chose to become Yahwists and united themselves with Israel (Exodus 12.48, “And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.”)
