A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Series

Scripture

Today is the First Sunday of Advent in 2021. The word “advent” means “coming” in Latin. In Christian theology, it refers to the Coming of Christ. Christ’s First Advent took place almost 2,000 years ago. And he will come again for his Second Advent in the not-too-distant future.

This year, I am planning a series of sermons for Advent that I am calling, “Christ’s Advent in the Psalms.” Since Christ is the hero of the entire Bible story, we know that every portion of God’s word somehow points to him. Moreover, the Psalms are the ancient songbook of God’s people and they have something to teach us during Advent.

First, the Psalms instruct us to remember. They help us to remember that God is at work to save his people. In all the joyful or difficult circumstances of life, God’s people remember that God has a plan to save them. God’s timing is hardly ever our timing. But God is in sovereign control working all things for our good and his glory.

And second, the Psalms instruct us to wait. God’s ancient people waited centuries for the First Advent of Christ. But he came in God’s perfect time. We who are living on this side of Christ’s First Advent know that he is coming again. And so we wait with patience and anticipation for the Second Advent of Christ. At that time, he will wrap up history and present the kingdom to his Father. And we will experience the fulfillment of all God’s promises to his people.

On this First Sunday of Advent, I want to examine Psalm 46. This psalm expresses confidence in God in the midst of all the dangers that confront us all the time.

Please follow along as I read Psalm 46:1-11:

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved

into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad

the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “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 of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1-11)

Introduction

It is helpful to know something about the titles of some of the psalms. In modern Bibles such as the English Standard Version, editors have a brief heading for each psalm. In the ESV it is written in italics, and reads as follows: God Is Our Fortress. That heading is not inspired. It is a modern editor’s insertion to help readers get a quick description of the psalm.

Many of the psalms have a title in addition to the modern editor’s heading. In my copy of the ESV, the title is written in all capital letters. So, for example, in Psalm 46 we have: “TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF THE SONS OF KORAH. ACCORDING TO ALAMOTH. A SONG.” This title is inspired. It was written by the author of the psalm, and is part of the inspired word of God.

So, with that in mind, let me make a few comments about the inspired title. Psalm 46 was addressed “TO THE CHOIRMASTER.” That is something like a “dedication” that one sees at the front of a book or perhaps a musical score. The work is dedicated, for instance, “To my wife.” Here, Psalm 46 is dedicated “TO THE CHOIRMASTER.”

Next, Psalm 46 says that the psalm is “OF THE SONS OF KORAH.” This is a reference to the authors of the psalm. The Sons of Korah were descendants of Korah, who was himself a descendant of Levi. So, the Sons of Korah were responsible for ministry in the tabernacle and they were an important company of singers (cf. 1 Chronicles 6:33; 2 Chronicles 20:19).

Then the title of Psalm 46 says, “ACCORDING TO ALAMOTH.” The word “Alamoth” is related to the word for “maidens.” So, it may mean that this was a female choir, or a band of maidens playing tambourines (cf. Psalm 68:25), or a musical term written for soprano singers.