Psalm 46

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; 3though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. 4There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. 5God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn. 6The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted. 7Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8Come, see Yahweh’s works, what desolations he has made on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire. 10“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth.” 11Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and his power, and providence, and gracious presence with his church in the worst of times, and directs us to give him the glory of what he has done for us and what he will do: probably it was penned upon occasion of David's victories over the neighbouring nations (2 Sa. 8), and the rest which God gave him from all his enemies round about. We are here taught, I. To take comfort in God when things look very black and threatening (Psa 46:1-5). II. To mention, to his praise, the great things he had wrought for his church against its enemies (Psa 46:6-9). III. To assure ourselves that God who has glorified his own name will glorify it yet again, and to comfort ourselves with that (Psa 46:10, Psa 46:11). We may, in singing it, apply it either to our spiritual enemies, and be more than conquerors over them, or to the public enemies of Christ's kingdom in the world and their threatening insults, endeavouring to preserve a holy security and serenity of mind when they seem most formidable. It is said of Luther that, when he heard any discouraging news, he would say, Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm.

To the chief musician for the sons of Korah. A song upon Alamoth.

Cross-references: Ps 46:1 · Ps 46:6 · Ps 46:10 · Ps 46:11

Introduction