Psalm 46 God Our Refuge
1. A REFUGE TO HIDE IN
During Hezekiah's reign 700 BC Sennacherib and his Assyrian hosts invaded Judah.
They had surrounded Jerusalem and were planning to take the city.
Hezekiah prayed and the Lord sent an angel who killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.
This psalm was written shortly after this event . “ God is our refuge and strength ….,”
(a) THE NEED FOR THIS REFUGE IS OBVIOUS: 2 Therefore will not we fear,
We fear
1. The Impossibilities of life: 1 a very present help in “ trouble,”
It means to be in a tight place. To be backed into a corner where escape is impossible.
2. The Innovations of life: 2. though the earth be removed,
We fear change. “ earth,” can also be translated “ land,” and the word for “ removed,” can be translated “ change or change hands,” so that this verse could be rendered, “ therefore will not we fear though the land change hands.”
Changes cause us to lose our sense of security. But we do not need to be afraid of change for even if everything on earth is altered our God remains the same.
Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
3. The Insecurities of life: 2 though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
(b) THE NATURE OF THIS REFUGE IS GLORIOUS:
1. It is PERSONAL: 1 God is our refuge and strength,
The word “ refuge,” is a military term, and it describes a place of shelter.
“ How oft in the conflict, When pressed by the foe,
Have I fled to my refuge, And breathed out my woe.”
2. It is PERMANENT: - Notice the four fold “ though,” in ( 46:2-3 )
Our refuge is secure, no matter what upheavals may come.
Neither National or Natural disasters can touch the refuge and strength we have in God.
3. It is PURPOSEFUL:
God is our refuge, He hides us. God is our strength He helps us.
The Lord hides us to help us! - He enables us to return and face the impossibilities, the innovations and the insecurities of life.
1Kings 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
2. A RIVER TO DRAW FROM
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
(a) A MARVELOUS RIVER: The word means “ a constantly flowing river.”
Throughout history rivers have played an important part in the location of major cities. Babylon in Iraq was built on the Euphrates, Nineveh was located by the Tigris.
Rome was located on the Tiber, London on the Thames and Belfast on the Lagan.
Jerusalem was one of the very few cities that had no river, until Hezekiah dug his famous tunnel that Jerusalem had a water source within the city walls.
(b) A MYSTERIOUS RESIDENT: “ God is in the midst of her,” (5)
We see him “ in the midst,” in the upper room after His resurrection, “ in the midst,” of the lamp-stands walking among the churches, “ in the midst,” of the twenty four elders in the glory. He says, “ where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.” ( Matt 18:20 )
The psalmist tell us, “ the Lord of hosts is with us.” (7) The word for “ with us,” is Immanu from which comes the great Messianic title Immanuel, God with us.
Jesus said, “ If any man thirst let him come to Me and drink, he that believeth on Me as the Scripture hath said out of his inner shall flow rivers of living water.”
3. A RULER TO LEAN ON
Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
(a) HIS POWER IS UNLIMITED: 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Sennacherib and his host had surrounded Jerusalem. The situation looked desperate. Then God sent down one angel to deal with the besieging army.
“ greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” ( 1 Jn 4:4 )
(b) HIS PURPOSE IS UNLOCKED: 10 Be still, and know that I am God:
“take your hands off and let Me be God.” cease striving, to stop working at it, relax.
Only the Lord can solve the insolvable.
(c) HIS PERSON IS UNEQUALLED: 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
i. God's testimony, “ I am God,”
ii. the psalmist's testimony, “ the Lord of hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
Jacob was a schemer but God was still with him.
The Lord of Hosts (armies) is with us.
The mighty Jehovah of all the ranks of the angels is our strength.
One angel in one night could smite all Sennacherib's host.
All the angels of God are mustered around His throne. They rush to do His bidding.
It does not say that these hosts are with us. It say that the Lord of Hosts is with us.
During the thirty year war of the 17th century a German pastor by the name of Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. Then taking his pen he wrote a hymn that has brought comfort to many through the years,
1. Give to the winds thy fears; hope and be undismayed.
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.
2. Through waves and clouds and storms, God gently clears the way;
wait thou God's time; so shall this night, soon end in joyous day.
3. Leave to God's sovereign sway, to choose and to command;
so shalt thou wondering, own that way, how wise, how strong this hand.
4. Let us in life, in death, thy steadfast truth declare,
and publish with our latest breath, thy love and guardian care.
