Word of Encouragement — Psalm 46
Anthony Connington Intern
Focus: We can have a holy confidence when we trust God and run to Him for safety, strength, and protection.
God is our Helper (ezer)
God is our Sustainer
God is our Protector (Adonai Tzevaot)
History of Psalm 46
The great reformer Martin Luther wrote his popular hymn ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God") using Psalm 46 as a starting point. For many this hymn was known as the song of the reformation.
Later, Johann Sebastian Bach composed a chorale cantata based off of Luther’s hymn.
Mozart also composed a short motet to the text of the first verse of Psalm 46.
Charles Spurgeon famously called Psalm 46 a "song of holy confidence".
Who were the Sons of Korah?
Moses had a cousin named Korah. This is the man who led a rebellion and revolt against Moses in numbers 16. This didn’t turn out too good for him and his friends.
“The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.” Numbers 16:32-33
However, Korah’s sons were spared, and they went about serving the LORD as song writers, singers, and filled the many roles required to care for the tabernacle and the temple.
According to the genealogy records in the bible it is important to point out that the prophet Samuel descended from Korah and his sons.
This family is infamously known for that single act of rebellion against God which stained their name. But at the same time, the sons of Korah are quite the redemption story in that God showed mercy and allowed Korah’s family line to continue to serve Him.
So, as we venture into this psalm, just know that the very writers of this amazing song have experienced what they are writing about firsthand.
Psalm 46
God Our Refuge
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
God is our Helper ( עֵ֫זֶר / ezer) vs. 1-3
It is God alone who is our place of safety, and it is Him alone who gives us strength to endure our trials and tribulations.
The Hebrew word for Helper here is (ezer). This is not the simple type of help, like giving someone a hand after they fall and picking them up again. This type of Helper can do far more than that. It is during the direst of situations where a miracle needs to happen, where no other hope can be found, where there are no more options left on the table. This type of help describes God who has the power to come through at the last moment.
Scripture attributes this name to God and in most cases this word is referring to the type of help that is beyond human intervention, it is a type of help that only God can provide.
It is also important to note that in this verse, the Hebrew gives it an emphatic sense. In other words, God is not just a Helper found in times of trouble, but He can ALWAYS be found in times of trouble.
God is trustworthy and reliable, and we can be confident that when we call out in distress, we will always find Him.
This means that God promises to be present when you call out to Him. He promises to be the source of Help that you will need in that moment or season. God is creative and his solutions are often beyond what we expect. His ways are higher than our ways and his understanding is beyond our understanding. God promises to always be our help, but how He shows up is entirely up to God.
One of the greatest prayers you can pray is “LORD please Help me”. God takes great delight when we call out to Him for Help. He is ready, able, and willing to respond to you every time.
Therefore, we have nothing to fear. No matter what type of trouble comes against us, we can still have confident trust in God to come through for us.
No matter the trouble you may be facing today, just know that God is the Help that you need. You can trust Him with everything, and He will give you peace to endure any and all trials you may face.
Even if you feel like right now that your life is toppling over and it feels like the ground under you has begun to sink, and you feel hopeless and desperate. Let me tell you something, that situation is God’s specialty. Run to Him with it, what every trouble you are facing, just surrender it over to God.
Whenever we give control over our situations to God, we will experience confidence and peace even if the mountains quake and fall into the seas around us.
God is our Sustainer vs. 4-7
We need to understand that for the Israelites, Jerusalem was the most important place in the world. This is where the temple was at that time which is the place where God’s presence dwelled. When Scripture talks about Jerusalem, it is synonymous with the idea of God’s presence. This city is the central place of worship and religious practice for the Jewish people. This is the city where the Israelites went to worship and spend time with God.
Notice that the streams gladden or delight the city of God. Unlike the torrent of raging waters which we find in verse 3, this river is gentle and soft. This river is peaceful and flows from the holy dwelling place of the Most High. This river gives life.
For Further Study: read Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22 about the river
The Pool of Siloam
Water flows through the site where archaeologists believe they have uncovered the remains of the Siloam Pool in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem on Thursday. The pool was used by Jews for ritual immersions from about 50 B.C. to A.D. 70, when the Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple. Kevin Frayer / AP 2004
Isa. 8:6-7—the waters of Siloam went softly by Jerusalem
Isa. 22:10-11—waters made serviceable to the defense of Jerusalem
During King Hezekiah’s reign, Assyria besieged Jerusalem and attempted to capture the city. In preparation for the long siege ahead, King Hezekiah wisely built up and made the springs of water at the pool of Siloam serviceable to the people in the city. Since the pool of Siloam was located just outside of the city walls, the king barricaded the normal access to the water source and instead built an underground tunnel that secretly gave access to the water from behind the safety of the city walls. This prevented the enemy from having access to the water and ensured the survival of Jerusalem no matter how long the siege would last. When the massive Assyrian army showed up at the gates of Jerusalem, king Hezekiah cried out to God and asked for Him to save him and his people. The Bible then records that in response to his prayer that God sent an angel to annihilate the armies of Assyria. In a single night the angel the LORD killed 185,000 men. A single angel wiped out an entire army. Wow!!! That is just astonishing.
So, the point here is that when the king of Assyria attacked Jerusalem, the Israelites had access to a water source that sustained them throughout the entire siege until God showed up.
When you are cut off from normal access to the provision and sustainment you are accustomed to using, do not be afraid. Know that God is channeling a tunnel from underground and secretly setting the stage for your provision in ways you had not seen or expected.
Do not give up hope because amidst the turmoil and the raging battles and troubles of this world, God promises to be your nourishment and sustain you through it all. He can fill you with His peace and give you great joy no matter what is happening around you.
God is our Protector vs. 8-11
Vs. 9—bows are used at a distance by the enemy to kill you
Represents combat from afar
Those things that come at you from a distance, those troubles that appear out of nowhere and are often outside of your control but affect you to the core. Those trials that you are unable to struggle against but just hope end. Yes, our God is victorious over those and protects. God promises to break the bow.
Spears used in close combat trying to pierce the life out of you
Represents close quarters combat/up close and personal
Those things that you are wrestling with for dear life, the tug of war in the heart is gut wrenching. Those troubles that pierce your heart and cause you to become greatly discouraged and it’s those troubles where you want to stop fighting. You realize you cannot do it anymore, it is those troubles, trials, pains, that God will see you through. He will protect you.
Wagons and chariots—the reinforcements of the enemy are burned up completely
Represents combat yet to arrive, battles won, victories set before they even begin
Those things that are yet to come, the ammo and supplies of the enemy is on its way to cause you more and more trouble. More arrows and more spears to come, The LORD burns them away. In His mercy, goodness, and grace, God protects us from so many troubles we don’t even know about, and it is only on occasion we hear about God’s marvelous protection after the fact. Has God spared you of some trouble you could have been deep into?
This is what God says to all of that, to our very enemy, to the world system set against his rule and reign and to the flesh and sinful nature that constantly wages war upon our soul, this is what God Almighty says to it all…BE STILL (STOP FIGHTING/LET GO) and know that I am God.
He literally steps in on our behalf and declares Himself to be fighting for His people, none can stand against the Almighty, our great protector. He is the LORD of Armies.
Adonai Tzevaot יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת
The LORD of Armies/Hosts
This is a powerful name for God. The LORD is the ultimate God of war. He always wins. He is mighty in battle; He is the ultimate warrior who fights for His people. We can be secure knowing that God Almighty will protect us, sustain us, and help us whenever we call upon His name.
Do you remember the Pool of Siloam that I showed you a picture of earlier? This is the same place that Jesus sent a blind man to wash and be healed. Right now, Jesus is asking you a question. Do you want to be healed? Do you need help? Are you in need of nourishment and in need of someone to sustain you? Do you want to know The LORD of Armies and have Him come to your rescue? Then go to God, run to Him and you will find Him. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher