Our Help in Great Trouble

 Our Help in Great Trouble

Psalm 46

“We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because He is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends His church and His word against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and sin.”

~ Martin Luther

Main Idea: Though this world is full of trouble, we can turn to God for refuge, strength, and help.

I. The Power of God (46:1-3)

The first stanza of Psalm 46 vividly describes the world in trouble and tumult. The “trouble” the Psalmist is experiencing is like the earth giving way, the mountains being moved and trembling as they are thrown into the raging seas, and the waters of chaos roaring and foaming.

In the midst of this great trouble, the Psalmist begins by remembering: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (cf. Ps. 14:6; 59:16; Jer. 16:19). Though everything around the Psalmist seems to be shaking in chaos, God is unmoved and unchanged. Even if the “worst case scenario” happened, God himself is our refuge from the storms of life. “Therefore, we will not fear…” 

“Alps and Andes may tremble, but faith rests on a firmer basis, and is not to be moved by swelling seas. Evil may ferment, wrath may boil, and pride may foam, but the brave heart of holy confidence trembles not. Great men who are like mountains may quake for fear in times of great calamity, but the man whose trust is in God needs never be dismayed.”

~ Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David

II. The Presence of God (46:4-7)

In contrast to the chaos of verses 2-3, verse 4 now envisions a peaceful, quiet river flowing in the city of God (cf. Ps. 23:2b). Just as Jerusalem had an internal water tunnel into the heart of the city to access its life-giving nutrients and blessings, “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved” (Ps. 46:5).

This internal reservoir of God’s presence in the midst of the city points us to greater gospel realities:

  1. The incarnation of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:23; 28:20)

  2. The giving of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn. 7:37-39; 14:16-18)

  3. The “river of the water of life” in the eternal city of God (Rev. 21:6, 22:1; Heb. 11:10)

While the city of God is nourished, protected, and secured internally by the presence of God, it is seemingly threatened from the outside by the nations raging against her (cf. Ps. 2). While the nations and kingdoms may seem threatening and mighty, the Lord simply “utters his voice, and the earth melts.” They are no match for the “the Lord of hosts” and the “God of Jacob.”

“We expect the military metaphor to be associated with defense, “refuge.” We expect the personal metaphor to be connected with intimacy, “with us.” But the terms are deliberately rearranged so that we get intimacy with the warrior God and defense from the family friend. A powerful God (Lord of hosts) befriends (is with us); a personal God (God of Jacob) protects (is our refuge).”

~ Eugene Peterson, Where Your Treasure Is: Psalms that Summon You from Self to Community

III. The Peace of God (46:8-11)

The first commandment given in this Psalm is to “Come, behold the works of the Lord” (46:8). Specifically, we are to watch for the way the Lord will fulfill his promise of everlasting peace. The Lord will one day: 

  • Make wars cease (lit. ‘sabbath’) to the ends of the earth

  • Break the bow that will shoot sharp arrows

  • Shatter the spear that pierces foes

  • Burn chariots that chase in hot pursuit

The Psalmist is reminding us that God will not only protect us in the midst of our trouble, but he will also lead us forward in Jesus Christ to full and ultimate victory. He will be “exalted among the nations” and “exalted in the earth” (cf. Phil. 2:9-11).

The final invitation of this Psalm is: “Be still, and know that I am God.” This invitation has two audiences:

  1. The nations who rage: stand down, cease and desist, and surrender to the Lord of hosts.

  2. God’s people: “The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent.” (Ex. 14:13-14)

Mark 4:37–40: And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

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