At 4:30 a.m on April 12,
1861, a 10-inch mortar belching flame and smoke sent a round shell arching
across the water exploding over Fort Sumter illuminating the brick fortification
in the darkness and signaling the beginning of the bombardment and of the bloody
war between the states. Multitudes around you are dropping dead daily from an epidemic. Paul shared this confidence with the sons of Korah
because he had learned "whatever state I am in to be content: I know how to be
abased, and I know how to abound. Psalms 46:5. Since God will sustain the psalmist, he has no reason to fear. His time is the best time, and he will be exalted in due time. What the Psalmist is saying is this: if God can grant us peace during a worldwide apocalypse, He can surely grant us peace when we face personal illness, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, an academic setback, the rejection of culture, a family emergency, or anything else in our daily lives. Bibliography InformationSpurgeon, Charle Haddon. A fire sweeps through your home and takes your precious memories and heirlooms. Isa. 40:17). Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalms 46:7-9. Our God is a Mighty Fortress, Who never
fails to protect and provide as long as we stay within its mighty walls. So, the psalmist is declaring that in his estimation, he considers God to be his strong refuge. Some writers believed that King Hezekiah wrote this psalm after Yahweh"s deliverance from Sennacherib. While Luther’s situation represents the fact that the truths of Psalm 46 transcend all times and situations, the historical basis of the psalm is understood to be the Lord’s victory over the Assyrian army that had encircled Jerusalem during the time of King Hezekiah. Having recounted the supremacy of God over nature and nations, the Psalm ends with a challenge to the hearer: “Come, behold the works of the Lord.” At this point we’re called to think about all that God is capable of: protection amidst worldwide chaos and power over all enemy combatants. Psalm 46 . [8] https://www.ligonier.org/blog/luther-and-psalms-his-solace-and-strength/. What can man do to me? [5] https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/psalms/46.htm. It contains three key ideas. We covet the
extreme confidence expressed in the 46th psalm, "we will not fear." The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. Ethical Psalms: These psalms teach moral principles. This kind of argument is known as an a fortiori, or “greater-to-lesser” argument, in which a stronger case is cited in order to imply that lesser cases are included. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. This psalm presents God in a very personal way to Israel. 21:3). As one old writer saith, “Though God should, to use his words concerning Jerusalem, wipe the earth as a man wipes a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down, yea, though he should break it into a thousand shivers, yet need not his people fear; for, if he does not protect them under heaven, he will take them up to be with him in heaven.” If heaven and earth could be mingled together, and chaos could return, yet still, as long as God is God, there is no use for the believer to fear. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. A Song. Dynasties that seem as fixed and firm as mountains may soon be swept away into the sea of oblivion. 43:7, 9; Hos. Selah. 8:28). The bombardment lasted for 34 hours and although over
3000 shells were fired on the fort, not a single man lost his life. The psalmists encourage us to behold the works of God who has made desolations in the earth. Therefore the God who preserved Jacob would also protect the Israelites. At no point does God shrug His shoulders and say, “Ah well, I tried.” Men predestined for wrath and men predestined for mercy will both be used to demonstrate the glory of God, albeit in different ways (cf. The desolations of God here likely refer to the end of whatever usurps God’s authority. 10:15). This river calls to mind the river which ran through the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10). He is a Person to whom His people can flee for refuge when enemies attack. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,The holy dwelling places of the Most High.God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;God will help her when morning dawns.The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;He raised His voice, the earth melted.The Lord of hosts is with us;The God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah. 9:29). Come, behold the works of the Lord,Who has wrought desolations in the earth.He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;He burns the chariots with fire.“Cease striving and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”The Lord of hosts is with us;The God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah. Joel 3:9-14, Psa. 26:12; Deut. Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The Greek term “you” is in the plural form here. In Jacob's dream he saw a ladder
reaching from earth to heaven and the angels of God ascending and descending on
it. Likewise, it only makes sense that Martin Luther found such solace in the magnificent words of this psalm. In reality, we are all born as enemies of God, deserving of His wrath. Therefore, we know that Paul is addressing the church, not individuals. In this fast-paced society, this admonition needs to be heard. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 11; 2 Chr. My entire body was in pain, and I still tremble. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 4:11-13). The ruse worked and Anderson and some 65 men occupied the vacant fort in the
twilight of a December evening. Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. Yet, Jerusalem, as a city on a hill, does not have a river nor stream running through it. It only makes sense, then, that the beginning lines of Luther’s hymn reads, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.”. In fact, your home has become a hospital for the sick, and a place in which you watch your own friends die. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Cancer strikes a loved one. No matter what ails you in life, you can rest assured that the Lord will safely bring you either through it, or out of it. He controls the unseen armies of heaven. Because God is in the midst of the city, she shall not be moved. Psalm 46 reminds us that when we feel unsafe, scared, or unprotected, we can run to Jesus and rest in the presence of His perfect protection. 25:30; Joel 2:11; 3:16; Amos 1:2, ver.