THURSDAY
It is likely in reflecting on the events like the one we have been looking at this week that the Psalmist writes Psalm 46.
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Verses 1-3 are focused on God as our refuge and strength. God is our place of safety. He is our source of strength. Even amidst some of the most powerful forces in creation (mountains and seas, earthquakes and floods), God is a safe place. He controls the mountains and the seas. So in him we shall not fear even though the circumstances around us are terrifying.
In verse 4 the raging waters are transformed into a river that brings flourishing and joy to the city of God. Many of the same words that represent chaos in verses 1-3 are used in 4-7, but expressed as peaceful symbols of the presence of God. God sovereignly rules over creation and can tame even its most destructive parts to be good for his people.
God dwells within his city. He is not far off, but he longs to dwell with his people. In this era of redemption history, he dwelt in the temple above the ark of the covenant. This is where his presence resided, even though his presence filled the whole earth. Later he dwells with his people in Jesus when he walks the earth (Jn. 1:14). Now he dwells with his people in the Holy Spirit, who dwells within all believers.
God is so powerful that the earth melts at his voice. He brings desolations to the earth. The term for desolations is a broad term meaning “an event that causes horror or astonishment.” So God does amazing things that leave us in awe of who he is. He can make wars cease, as we saw in the case of Assyria’s invasion of Judah.
The Lord declares that he will be exalted among the nations. To be exalted is to be lifted high above. God is to be lifted high above all the nations. Every nation, even one so powerful as Assyria in the 7th century BC, was far below the exalted Lord of all the earth. Even the United States is far below the exalted Lord of all the earth. In an age of rampant nationalism we would do well to keep this in mind.
In this psalm God is named:
- God Most High - Elyon The idea of this name is that God is above all things as maker, possessor and ruler. He is subject to no one and no thing.
- Yahweh We’ve talked at length about this name in our last campaign. This is God’s personal, proper name. Remember, “God” is not his name; it is his nature. Yahweh is the personal name that he gives to Moses to call him. This is the name that distinguishes him from all the other gods of the ancient world. This word in Hebrew means “He is.” This implies his eternal, essential existence. He is. He has forever been, and he forever will be. He has life in himself. Humanity’s life is contingent upon him as he breaths life into humans in the garden. His life is contingent on no one and no thing.
- The Lord-Almighty - Yahweh Sabaoth This name is more often translated “Lord of hosts.” Presumably, he commands hosts of angels. The root word of “hosts” means to “wage war.” It implies that God has armies at his command and he wages war on behalf of his people for his purposes.
- The God of Jacob Finally, God is the God of Jacob (i.e., Israel). He is a covenant-making God who binds himself to his people in covenant relationship with them. This would remind the people that he has chosen them. He is their God and they are his people. He has made a covenant with them and he is faithful to uphold his terms of the covenant. Protection from enemies was a part of his side of the covenant. However, the people of Israel failed to hold up their side of the bargain—obedience to the law and exclusive devotion to Yahweh. So God removed his protection from them and even brought foreign nations to punish them and take them into captivity.
It is only when we know God as God that we can be still in the face of insurmountable obstacles. God is high above creation and any other being. God is; he was; and he forever will be. He commands armies and is strong in battle. He is a covenant-making God who enters into relationship with his people. And this is only a part of who God is 😊. He is far more than the most eloquent words can express.
Reflection
Spend some time in worship. Maybe put on some favorite worship songs or spend some time reflecting on these names and worship God for who he is revealed to be in Psalm 46.