The book of Psalms is such a powerful book. Many of the Psalms are comforting and encouraging. When I’ve hit rock bottom and feel like I have no strength to persevere or I can’t pray, I often turn to the Psalms. I meditate on the words, underline scriptures, and use them to pray. I love to start reading from the back because that’s where most of the praise Psalms are located. Reading the Psalms will give you strength to fight the good fight of faith.
We are living in very challenging and frightening times. Recently, many have become more fearful of the unknown, especially with all that’s happening in the political arena in America and in the wars across the world.
Psalm 46 is a favorite of many. It contains so many comforting words that, if we take it as it is, it can put our minds at ease. The central sentiment of this Psalm is that the Lord of Host is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV
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. 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.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Refuge means being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. When you think of a refugee camp, you think of a place of safety from severe harm or danger. Even in the Old Testament, they had various Cities of Refuge where those whose lives were threatened could go and be safe. So, when we think of God as our Refuge, we say He is our hiding place, our shield from danger and harm. Psalm 3:3 says But you, O Lord, are a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of my head.
Psalm 91: 1-2 says, “He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty I will say of the Lord. He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in him will I trust.” The AMP Bible says, “He is my refuge and my fortress on Him I lean and rely on, and in Him I confidently trust.”
God is always ready to help us, so we can always go to him when the storms of life are raging, causing fear to grip our hearts. Remember, 1st Peter 5:7 tells us “to cast all our cares upon him because he cares for you.” Indeed, He’s our refuge and strength, a very present help in troublesome times. Proverbs 18:10 assures us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it, and we are safe.
Psalm 46:2 Therefore, we will not fear. Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
In verses 2-3, the psalmist describes great calamities in nature, which are likened to the troublesome times we are living in now. News reports about various wars, the economic decline, and the state of America are driving fear into the hearts of many people worldwide.
Due to the high cost of living, many are on the brink of homelessness. It’s had even become difficult for some to buy food and the necessary things for life. These skyrocketing prices are also driving fear and anxiety into the lives of many. Even in the political sphere of the United States of America, one of the most significant countries in the world, people are becoming fearful of what today, tomorrow, and the future will be. Matt 6:25 -34 tells us, amongst many things, not to worry. It also tells us that God will take care of us. Believers, God can be trusted. Always remember who holds our today, our tomorrow, and our future. All are in His hands.
Listen, now is not the time to be fearful. You have to trust God in these times of uncertainty. The Bible made it clear to us what will be in the last days; consequently, we need not fear. That’s why the Psalmist emphasized this statement about God – He is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the seas. In other words, no matter what is happening, we have security in God therefore, we must not fear.
Psalm 46:3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
When water roars in the ocean, it can bring a tsunami because the plates have shifted at the bottom of the sea. Usually, it is as a result of an earthquake. Some situations in our lives are like tsunamis; they come to disrupt and destroy our lives.
Believers are not exempt from troubles, tests, or trials. Jesus admonishes in St. John 16:33 that we will have tribulations in this world, but that we should be of good cheer, for he has overcome the world. When all of hell is breaking loose, and the Devil is on the path trying to destroy your life and frustrate the grace of God upon your life, remember to be of good cheer, for God has already given you victory. Whatever tsunamis are trying to destroy you and shake your faith in God, remember Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”
God also says in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you go through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned or scorched.” God never promised a problem-free life, but he promised to be with us. Besides that, he has already given us victory. All we need to do is walk in it, and we do so by faith.
The Bible tells us in 1st John 5:4 that our faith helps us to walk in victory.
In this world of uncertainty, when situations can cause us to become unstable, we must choose daily to make God our refuge, shelter, and hiding place, thereby allowing Him to anchor our souls. We can do so by:
- Coming to him daily in prayer. Luke 18:1 encourages us to always pray and not faint.
- Reading the Bible daily as it builds our faith. Romans 10:17 tells us: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” We must believe what it says and obey its truths. James 1:22 says we must not only be hearers of the word but doers of it.
- Daily meditate upon God’s word –
- Encouraging one another –
- Fixing our eyes on Jesus – Hebrews 12:2. He is our example of faith and perseverance.
Psalm 46: 4-6
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.
I love the picture that the Psalmist paints with these verses and how we can apply it. Water represents life, and as we know, water is life. When we are able to go without food for lengthy periods of time, we cannot go without water for long, or else we will become parched and dehydrated. Parched speaks to extreme thirst. The Bible says in St John 4 that when the woman received the life-giving water, she never thirsted again. Revelation 22 also speaks of a river called the River of Life proceeding from God’s throne, running down to give life to everything surrounding it. No wonder the Psalmist mentions, “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God.”
The saying rivers of life in a biblical context represents God’s life-giving presence in a believer’s life. When we habitually stay in prayer and read God’s word daily, we host the life-giving presence of God that refreshes us and keeps us alive and filled with unspeakable joy and peace. Joy and peace will help us persevere and weather any storm, as the Joy of the Lord is our strength.
In verse 5, the Psalmist goes on to remind us that God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
God controls everything; nothing that is happening or will happen is out of his control. You don’t have to fear what you see or hear. There will always be a Goshen for the people of God. Psalm 16:8 says I have set the Lord always before me because he’s at my right hand; I shall not be moved. God is with us, and he will help us.
Let’s look at what the Psalmist now says in verses 6 and 7:
6) The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, and the earth melted. 7)The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Kings and kingdoms will rise and fall, nations will rise against nations, and wars will not cease until the Prince of Peace comes. So why fear? God is sovereign. He still rules and reigns in the affairs and kingdom of men. God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. So, don’t lose heart or live in fear because of all you see or hear in the news. Psalm 112:7 NIV says, “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
The believer in Christ, whose soul is deeply anchored in God, should not fear. God says do not fear; I am with you always. We should not fear because the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. That’s why the Psalmist echoes this sentiment three times: we should not fear because the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
He is Jehovah Shama, the Lord is always there, so we do not have to be afraid. The all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe is watching over us, protecting us, and fighting for us. Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against us shall prosper.” Your heart may be failing because of all that’s happening in the political space in America and globally. But the psalmist reminds us that the Lord of Host is with us, and the same God that was with Jacob through the good and the bad, the highs and the lows of his life, is the same God that will keep us safe under the shadow of his wings as He’s our refuge.
Psalms 46:10-11 God says:
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 host is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge
Being still is not just a posture; it’s an attitude. In other words, stop worrying amidst all the upheavals, uncertainties, and instability; fix your eyes on Jesus and trust His sovereignty. We have no control over what happens in this world. God is in control, and our responsibility is to pray and trust Him! The Bible says in 1st Timothy 2 that supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks should be made for all, especially for kings and leaders, so that we may live in peace.
All that is going on globally is a cause for concern, but be still and pray. God still rules and reigns in the affairs and Kingdom of men, and God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Isaiah 9:6 says the government is on Jesus’ Shoulders, not ours. Indeed, he will be exalted among nations and in all the earth through us, his children, for we must boldly proclaim him to the nations without fear.
Believers, be still, rest, and trust him. Don’t worry; he knows the beginning from the end and has you covered. Why should you be still? Because the Lord of hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge.
The psalmist took time to remind us three times that the Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge; we do not have to fear anything in these challenging times. Have faith in God and always trust him Hebrews 11:6 says without faith, it is impossible to please God.
In times of uncertainty, go to God’s word because following what we hear, see, and feel can shake our faith. But God’s word is the rock on which we must stand in order to weather all.
If you are feeling fearful of the future and find yourself unable to be at peace, inhale and exhale. Take time out to read and meditate on God’s word, and then ask him daily to help you be still. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings with a trusted friend or a Pastor and ask them to pray for you and with you. Most importantly, remember that the Lord of hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Shalom