Everything we might look to for help and support is too disorderly to provide much real support. And so, we won't be afraid! Verse 7 echoes verse 5, “God is here” (D), as though it were being underscored. Thus, in verses 1 through 6 we get a sense of the violence and chaos in the earth, which is contrasted with the peace and stability of the holy city of God, due to His presence there. The words transport me once again to this scene. I had been touched by God. Psalm 46 is effectively written in three parts. It’s 1961 and it’s a sunny spring day. 7 D. God is here. ( Log Out / ( Log Out / That is in the fortress of God, His holy city where He dwells. If you are like me, it rocks your confidence and you feel that you have somehow failed. 8-9 C. God rules over political calamaties. And there is a lot of fear going around. Thus, He is our God who has brought us into relationship with Him. 5 D. God is here. Psalm 46:10, is a popular verse for comforting ourselves and others—many people tend to think this verse means to rest or relax in who God is. It is significant that this parallelism refers to God as both “the LORD of hosts” and as the “God of Jacob.” LORD of Hosts is Yahweh Sabaoth, and brings forward an image of God as the Almighty. Yet, our God is not just Yahweh Sabaoth. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. These sons of Korah were Levites, from the family of Kohath. The superscription of the psalm says, “To the choirmaster. By David’s time it seems they served in the musical aspect of the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19). In the same way, Yahweh atones for all our sins through the altar of the cross of Christ. Psalm 46:1-2. Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains. Why so meaningful? But in the time known as the Reformation in Europe, Psalm 46 held at least as important a place. Then, in verses 8 through 10 we see how God overcomes the violence and chaos in the earth, bringing the peace and stability that is found in His city to all the earth. He is terrifying. Thus, we see a contrast between the chaotic, violent sea and the peaceful, orderly streams in the city of God; we also see a contrast between the strivings of mankind and the sure action of Yahweh’s Word. Reflections on Psalm 46. That is the city of God where Yahweh dwells. Reflections on Psalm 46. Jesus is the temple in … He’s there to impart hope for the future. When Isaiah exclaimed “Woe is me, for I am lost!”, Yahweh atoned for Isaiah’s sins with a coal from the altar of sacrifice. And just like God’s challenge to Theresa, he commands us all to “be still”– a quiet reminder that our ultimate confidence and security is in the power and presence of God. Our pastor preached on Psalm 46 when this crisis was beginning and encouraged us to memorize it. As Christians, Psalm 46 helps us recall Jesus’ power over sin and death. 6b E. God speaks. Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea. I recently preached a short homily on Psalm 46. The psalm is bookended with these statements of God’s strength and nature as our refuge; i.e. Reflections on Psalm 46 for Reformation Sunday; 10/25/20; Pastor David Allman Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. For us, under the new covenant established in Christ’s blood, the place of security is not a location but a Person. We step lightly into the dark foyer waiting for our eyes to adjust. The things that we think we can hold on to for support crumble away (cf. Then, God will make the raging and violence in the earth stop, and He will be exalted among all the earth. Tag along to Capital University, a Lutheran college in Columbus, Ohio. The theological message of this psalm is centered around the refrain, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (verses 7 and 11). Psalm 46 has a number of parallelisms and images that focus the thoughts of the psalmist on Yahweh as a strong, secure refuge and the rest of the world as chaotic uncertainty. Last week, I received an email from my dear friend Theresa, who mentioned that she had been working on Psalm 46, verse 10, “Be still and know that I am God.” I told her how special Psalm 46 was to me and, at Theresa’s urging, I agreed to blog on this psalm. When the Reformation began, Martin Luther wrote that the one psalm that sustained him the most was Psalm 46. Psalm 46 divides into two stanzas each followed by a refrain (vv 7, 11), celebrating God as the true ‘fortress’ of protection for his people. That is, He is our God who has established a relationship with us as redeemed sinners. Tag along to Capital University, a Lutheran college in Columbus, Ohio. The following are my notes on the Psalm, divided in the historical context, literary context, theological insights, and contemporary application. The contemporary context flows from the theological context. The seas remove the mountains, while the city of God “will not be moved.” The earth has war and violence, but Yahweh ends all this with His voice. Thus, Yahweh is presented as “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He has the all power, able to effect change through His Word, while the nations rage and the kingdoms totter. I recently preached a short homily on Psalm 46. Feel the Holy Spirit enfolding you in his love. Psalm 46 imparts confidence to deal with threats, especially when we face conflict, disappointment, financial setbacks, illness. Only then can we truly rest in his presence. However, there is one place where we may find refuge, one place that truly is solid ground. In the mean time, “Yahweh Sabaoth is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.” He is both the almighty Lord God, but yet He is our God, the one who saves us and dwells with us. These thoughts are concluded in verse 7. And yet, God is there to walk with us through things which threaten to consume us. We have the river of life here and now in Baptism and will have it in full when Christ returns. Fifty years later, sitting a seminary class, I am reintroduced to Psalm 46. In addition, the roaring and foaming of the seas is contrasted with the image of the peaceful streams flowing through the city of God. We no longer face condemnation, but instead Yahweh is our God who has redeemed us from sin and death through Christ. In fact, the peace, refuge, and rest that is found in this city will one day encompass the whole earth when morning dawns. In addition, in the midst of the raging of the nations and the tottering of the kingdoms, Yahweh need only to utter His voice to melt the earth. He invites us to enter, only to do so “quietly” since the university choir is rehearsing. The dry land and mountains that we think are secure shelters break at the violent actions of the waves and slip into the sea. So, the psalm as a song makes sense in this context; it would have been sung in the temple in the presence of the Lord. Notice (B) “No fear” and “be still” are complementary, while (E) “nations rage” and “God speaks” contrast humanity’s actions with God’s actions. The superscription of the psalm says, “To the choirmaster. Choir members are standing on risers. But, there is a place that will not be moved. Grace and peace. Therefore, as our God, Yahweh is our refuge and strength. Robert Alden created a chiasm of Psalm 46 which pulls out some interesting features from its verses: 3-4 C. God rules over natural calamaties. Psalm 46 This is the first of five Songs of Zion which celebrate Jerusalem, the city of God, as the center of God’s redemptive activity on earth (Psalms 46; 48; 76; 87; 122). Thus, by the end of verse 10 we see God being exalted in all the earth, not just in His city. 1 Chronicles 6:22, 31ff). 1 Reply. Psalm 46 – Confident in God’s Protection and Power. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that our hope doesn’t depend on this world, especially when trials ambush us. He is the leader of a great mighty host, able to conquer and do all that He wills. The origins of the word ‘Zion’ are unclear though it may have been the name of a citadel in Palestine that David captured from the Jebusites and made the nucleus of his capitol city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5.7).