God Our Refuge and Strength
A Close Look at Psalm 46
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - One of the most powerful verses in scripture yet seemingly the hardest for us to adhere to is Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” I believe part of this may be due to our misunderstanding of what it means to “Be still” as well as the fight or flight syndrome which is the response that happens to a person when the presence of something mentally or physically terrifying happens. Now it is said that the fight or flight response has 3 stages:
1. The alarm stage: - During this stage the central nervous system is ramped up preparing your body to either fight or flee.
2. The resistance stage: - This is the stage in which the body attempts to normalize and recover from initial elevated fight or flight response.
3. The exhaustion stage: - If the first two stages occur repeatedly overtime this can cause the body to feel exhausted and begin to break down.
**The thing about the fight or flight response is that it is based on your abilities. The physiological and psychological response to stressors prepares our body to react to danger by fighting or fleeing. However, Psalms 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God”. Our natural understanding of this is to stand still, to not move, and hold your ground. However, when we look at this whole chapter, we learn the full and deeper meaning of “Be still” and how regardless of the stressors we face, the storms we must go through, the dangers that are all around that we can truly understand what it means to Be still and know that He is God.
God Our Refuge and Strength – A Close Look at Psalms 46
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE: - Psalm 46:1-11 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah”.
I said Psalms 46:10 is one of the most powerful verses in scripture, but I believe the entire chapter is one of the most powerful chapters in scripture and is profoundly personal. It is a chapter that looks directly in the face of adversity, chaos, darkness, uncertainty, confusion, incompetence, ignorance, arrogance, racism, radicalism, disappointment, disorder, pandemonium, tumult, turmoil, anarchy, discord, disarray, overwhelmingness, oppression, emotional - mental strangulation and oligarchy and makes the proclamation that regardless of what it seems like, what we are faced with, who thinks they are in charge, executive orders that are made, displays of force used to incite fear and panic that Jehovah Sabaoth – the Lord of Host is in charge and most importantly He with us and the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Vs#1: - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The first thing we must understand about this verse is that this is a declaration against fear, stress, troubles, disappointments, anxieties, chaos, overwhelming circumstances, and anything contrary to the Will and Word of God over our lives. A declaration is a firm statement or assertion, an official announcement, notification, or proclamation that reflects both divine and human communication, emphasizing the importance of announcing God's truth and promises. Example: - This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Matthew 3:17. It declared who Jesus was and signified Love and approval. So, first thing we must understand about this verse is that this is a declaration against fear, stress, troubles, disappointments, anxieties, chaos, overwhelming circumstances, and anything contrary to the Will and Word of God over our lives.
God is our - Refuge: - A refuge is a place that is safe from the pursuit of danger, distress, or trouble, it is something providing shelter. This is saying God is our safe place our ultimate shelter from danger and trouble the perfect source of comfort, safety, peace, and security. Understand He is not a refuge that is built by human hands, He is not subject to decay or infiltration by the enemy. He is the deep-seated divine assurance and support I need in times of trouble, turmoil, and upheaval. He is my reliable sanctuary when my world is turned upside down. He is where I can go to be protected from physical and spiritual harm. When we say God is our refuge, we are saying God is a protector who offers sanctuary against overwhelming odds. At its core, refuge symbolizes a profound sense of belonging and acceptance, not merely a physical sanctuary but also an emotional and spiritual embrace, a place where people are accepted without judgment. God is our refuge offers a respite from both external conflicts and internal struggles, providing a space where one can find tranquility and renewal. God is our refuge empowers us to face life’s challenges with renewed vigor and confidence.
God is our – Strength: - It sounds good, but what does it mean? If you don’t know what this means, how can you apply it to your life. So often, out of tradition we will use something in scripture without fully understanding what it means and therefore we do it and ourselves an injustice and forfeit many blessings. The Hebrew word ?oz means might or strength. Might implies bodily strength, power, and energy. Strength is defined as the power to resist force, the power of resisting attack. The Hebrew word ma?ôz is also translated as strength in many verses. This word means a place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold. Not only is He the place of safety and security but He is the place I get strength to rise and fight again. This isn’t strength we get from rest and renewal but strength we get directly from Him when we feel weak, He empowers us, when we feel incapable, He equips us - it is not by power or by might but by His spirit that true strength comes from. This is what 2 Corinthians 12:9 means when it says, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. This strength is not just for surviving but thriving in the midst of adversity chaos, darkness, turmoil and everything contrary toward the Will and Word of God.
God is – a very present help in trouble: - This means that He is right here right now in the midst of the fear and uncertainty, confusion and chaos, disorder and distress. He is not like the calvary that we must wait to arrive to save us. He is not like 911 that we have to call and hope they get there on time, but He is actively engaged in our circumstances. Stop and think about that for a moment God who in the beginning said Let there be and it was so, is standing there in your circumstance ready to intervene on your and my behalf. Just like He did for the 3 Hebrew boys regardless of how bad our situation may seem God is there ready, and His grace is sufficient.
When we speak this verse in and over our lives, we establish the declaration that regardless of what I may face, regardless of the circumstances that lie ahead, regardless of the chaos and confusion that seem to be changing every five minutes, regardless of the psychological and emotional manipulation that is being played out I am going to make it because “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble”.
Vs#2 -3 “Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah”. WATCH THIS: - Therefore, connects us to the truths of verse #1 which declared over my life and over every situation that I face that God is my refuge and strength and a very present help in the time of trouble – THEREFORE - what follows is subject to the declaration of verse #1 will not we fear! We can have unshakeable faith during the storms of life when everything that seems to be established and firm is falling apart - though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof WATCH THIS:- These two verses speak of things that have been established the earth, mountains and rivers are things that seem to have stability and have been established for a long time, but here it talks about when they are removed, carried into the midst of the sea and shake with the swelling of the water – when what you thought was stable in your life falls apart. When government policies that had been standing for centuries are suddenly dismantled, when civil rights are revoked, when dehumanization is the norm, when people tell you that you don’t have the right to decide what is done with your own body. When the wind blows, and the breakers dash and everything you felt was stable in your life, everything that made you comfortable, everything that you were use to is suddenly removed, destroyed, illegal, turned upside down now do you have that unshakeable faith that shouts loud My God is Greater My God is stronger than what I am facing. I understand faith is not the absence of fear but the ability to trust God in the midst of fear when everything is falling apart there is that supernatural ability to trust the one that holds the world, you and me in the palm of His hand.
Vs# 4-5 “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early”. This represents Life unlike the waters of verses 2 & 3 this river is calm and brings gladness it is the presence of God flowing into His people through the Holy Ghost which renews restore and regenerates us John 7:38 says, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. John 4:14 says “the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God”. We are the city of God the holy place of the tabernacles and His spirit dwelling in us make us glad, give us peace that passeth all understanding. Because He dwells in us 1 John 4:13 “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” and Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”. Psalms 46:5 continued - and that right early this is God’s perfect timing – He is always right on time. One Bible version says it like this “at the turning of the morning” and we know joy comes in the morning time.
Vs# 6-7 “The heathen (Nations) raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. This shifts back to times of chaos, political unrest and the unstableness of society. The heathen/nations raged represent sinful ambitions, desires, and lust of humanity pride, arrogance, and the rebellion against the rule of God. The kingdoms were moved speaks to the unstableness of society and the collapse of the political system and the out-of-control government, illegal executive orders, the dismantling of Federal Aid Programs, Tariffs and take overs yet among all this turmoil, chaos, and utter confusion he uttered his voice - there is the voice of God while everything is in total upheaval God alone will bring us into a place of peace, He speaks to our inner soul that causes peace that passeth all understanding to come upon us – the earth melted – just think about it after He speaks all the confusion, all the chaos, all the strife has to melt away, anxiety, cancer, high blood pressure, bad relationship, emotional emasculation. No matter how complex things may become, regardless of how chaotic life seems to be when God speaks everything must stop and bow down realizing that God is in control and has all power in His hand. Then we come to a wonderful phrase The Lord of hosts this in Hebrew is Jehovah Sabaoth. Jehovah Sabaoth is the commander of the Heavenly Angelic Armies. Now let me run down this rabbit hole because you know I like to deal with the numbers. In 2 Kings 19:35 & Isaiah 37:36 tells how one angel is recorded of killing 185,000 men in one night. Revelation 5:11 says “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”, this is an incomprehensible number but it is well over 100 million so just think about that 100 million x 185,000 (if you were to put a number on that it would be 18 trillion 500 million) and the Lord of host – Jehovah Sabaoth the commander and creator of them all and of all thing is with us – Emmanuel God with us Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”, reaffirming a very present help in the time of trouble. We don’t have to wait He is right here in the midst of the fire with us just like He was with the 3 Hebrew boys. host stand ready and fights for me and for you and secures our peace and safety and He is with us, we don’t have to wait for Him to show up, we don’t have to call 911 and hope He will get there in time – just let that sink in for a minute. He is with us this re-ensures the declaration that He is a very present help in the time of trouble. It goes on and says the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. This is extra special because when born, he is given the name "Jacob" meaning, "trickster, supplanter, heel grabber." After he wrestles with the Angel of the Lord at Jabbok, he is renamed "Israel" meaning "strives with God." However, after this encounter, he is often still called Jacob most of the time and the reason is because whenever he was living in rebellion, he is called Jacob when he is obedient, he is called Israel. When it says the God of Jacob is our refuge. It is letting us know that even when we fall short and live contrary to what God has called us to live, when we often are disobedient to His Word and His Will, when we bring many hard aches and trials upon ourselves because of our own hardheadedness and stiff-neckedness, He is our refuge our place of safety and security of rest and strength. Selah means pause or stop and think about that – let that sink in for a minute.
When the world around has turned upside down, when what was once stable and secure has crumbled and become chaotic, when the ambitions of the so-called elite have overrun the common sense of humanity, and the moral ethical considerations take a back seat to power, profit, and personal gain. When racial injustice, gender inequality, dehumanization of ethnic groups, and the persecution of minorities reflect a deep moral failing in upholding the principle of equal dignity for all humans we are given an invitation in verses 8-9 to witness the authority of God our refuge over everything.
Vs#8-9 “Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire”. Come – is an open invitation that means to move towards or advance near to a place or person. The Hebrew verb "bo" is often used in the Old Testament to describe this action, indicating movement or transition from one location to another. When the Disciples were in the boat in the midst of the storm and Jesus was walking on the water Peter said Lord if it be you bid me to come Jesus said Come – it was an open invitation to all to come only Peter stepped out on faith at the time. Behold - is a word that calls attention to something that can be seen, heard, or mentally perceived. It is derived from the Hebrew verb chazah, which means to see or to gaze. It is often used to indicate something that is important, admirable, and worthy of attention. the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. This reminds us of all the times God has intervened and brought down the ambitions of men, ended conflict through divine intervention, and overturned chaos in the world. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. The bow, spear, and chariot are symbols of man’s desire to rely on their own ability and strength but God shows His ultimate authority over all human ingenuity, divisiveness, circumstances, corruption, hard aches, evilness, fears, anxieties, doubts, disappointments, discouragements, bad reports, messed up relationships, emotional distresses, financial hardships, civil revocations and portrays Him as the ultimate Peacemaker by not just bringing an end to wars and disturbances but utterly destroying them.
Vs#10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”. This is more than just stop moving or to stand in a certain place. This is a divine invitation to stop striving, stop fighting, to utterly surrender, cause yourself to be weak and be at rest in the assurance of God and His ultimate authority over all creation and every circumstance, to die out to self. The word still comes from the Hebrew word rapa, meaning to slacken, let down, or cease, to stop the frantic activity, to let go, and to put down your weapons. It carries the idea of dropping, to be weak, or faint. It brings forth the concept of people fighting until someone separates them and makes them drop their weapons. It is only after the fighting has stopped that the ones fighting can acknowledge their trust in God. It is to surrender and submit to God and His will. Understanding God is in control. Think of when Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were fighting the waves frantically trying to save themselves, but all they had to do was be still and look at the one who could calm the storm with just a few words. When we choose to be still in His presence, we allow Him to calm our fears and provide us with the strength we need to navigate through life’s challenges. It also means in order that you may know a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.
Know that I am God. Know - this is more than just book knowledge, intellectually astute, and familiarity, this is a personal relationship based on personal experience. Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”. Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord”. We know that He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), omnipotent (all-powerful), holy, sovereign, faithful, infinite, and good. Knowing He is God implies that we can trust Him and surrender to His plan because we understand who He is. I like the way Peter said in 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”. When you know that He is God you can cast all your cares, all doubts, all distractions, confusions, disappointments, wars, battles, heartaches upon Him because He careth for you and I know He is God.
Vs#11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah”. Now this verse encompasses this entire chapter and reaffirms the declaration made in verse 1. The Lord of hosts is with us – Remember Jehovah Sabaoth the commander of the Heavenly Angelic Armies. is with us – Emmanuel God with us Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”, reaffirming a very present help in the time of trouble. We don’t have to wait He is right here in the midst of the fire with us just like He was with the 3 Hebrew boys. The God of Jacob remember even when at times I have gone contrary to His will and Word, when I walked in rebellion, and followed after my own selfish desires He is still our refuge - our safe place our ultimate source of comfort, safety, peace, and security. He is not a refuge that is built by human hands, He is not subject to decay or infiltration by the enemy. He is the deep-seated divine assurance and support I need in times of trouble. Selah – just let that sink in for a minute.
SUMMARY: - Psalms 46 is a powerful declaration of the Sovereignty of God over all creation declaring that victory does not come through human might but by His divine power. As we went through this wonderful chapter, we seen how not only God intervenes in the natural conflicts of life such as wars and conflict but how He destroys personal and internal battles as well like fear, anxiety, depression, doubt, anger, hatred, prejudices, racism, pride, arrogance, and selfishness are destroyed and relaced with the peace of God.
You may be struggling battling between fear and faith, trust and anxiety, happiness and depression not sure if you are coming or going but imagine God our refuge and strength breaking the bow of anxiety and cutting spear of depression and burning the chariot of doubt in your life making the wars of your emotions to cease.
Declare it today God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble – therefore I will – be still and know that He is God and He will be exalted among every trial, emotions, doubt, issue, and problem in my life.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
