Psalm 46
This morning we will take a look at what I believe is one of the most powerful and comforting passages in the Bible - Psalm 46.
It is important to realize two things about this psalm before we begin our study this morning.
1) This psalm can bring us great comfort and hope in
the wake of the recent disaster.
2) It is important to remember this psalm was written
thousands of years ago, so it is not only for our
current situation, but it provides hope for every
person, in every situation – at all times - If
they put their trust in God.
Psalm 46
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. Selah
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. Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD, 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[2] 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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
I. Background:
Psalm of David
1)God is our refuge and strength
"1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
A)God is a safe place for those who trust Him
David here describes God as a refuge and strength for those who trust in Him.
"Refuge" – Is a safe place from danger or storms.
* If we trust in Jesus we are in a safe place.
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When a tornado blows by we quickly take refuge in a safe place to escape the turbulent winds.
-everything you own may blow away…but if you are in a safe place you will be secure.
When a blizzard blows in – if you are in a warm secure place…you have no fear.
In the same way… When we put our trust in Jesus he becomes our shelter… our refuge…
-He can keep us safe from the storms and fears in life.
There is no safer place than a life secured and sheltered by the presence of God.
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Mayor G. (the mayor of NY, NY)
-Had his bomb shelter in the basement of the World trade tower.
-The shelter obviously became useless beneath the millions of tons of rubble.
The trade towers themselves were supposedly built to withstand a plane crash.
-The architect says that the problem was (in essence)…
“they did not factor in the unexpected intense heat of the burning fuel...or the well planned locations where the planes struck the towers.”
While we all greatly greave over the lost lives and destruction… it reminds us that even the safest places we create for ourselves can fail!
* There is a safe place for us, which will never be destroyed though…. “God is our refuge.”
-By putting our trust in Jesus we know that we will be safe from
· The storms
· The bombs
· The unexpected dangers of life.
B) Our Strength
The verse Also says God is our strength
-Refuge speaks of the place of safety God gives us
When David used the word Strength –
He is Speaking of the awesome power God gives us… not just to survive but to advance against our enemies.
It includes strength God gives us as the People of God Collectively and individually.
a) collectively:
Collectively God will give His people the power to advance against satan’s kingdom.
- Not just protection from Satan…. But
- Power to Overcome the devil!
Mat. 16:18b says,
“On this Rock I will build My church and the Gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
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When was the last time you were attacked by a gate?
-Gates do not attack any one!
·if the Gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church that means the Church is beating down the Gates of Hell!
Mat 16:18 – is an offensive verse not a defensive one!
Christ’s Church is built on a firm foundation which will not be shaken and God also gives His people—strength to advance against Hell!
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In Bible times many cities had massive walls built around them for protection.
-The gates of the city were the places where the Top officials would meet.
-At the Gates plans would be made.
-At the Gates decisions would be made.
When Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church He was saying that His church was about to launch an all out attack against satan and the top officials of his terrorist regime. – And the Gates of Hell will not prevail against The Church!
b) Individually
When we trust in God we receive strength to advance against the enemy Collectively but we also receive individual strength from God.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 1: 29
“To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
-If we were to read the entire context of this verse we would see that Paul was saying God gave him the strength to overcome and endure struggles and the strength to effectively win others to Christ.
Are you going through a struggle today?
-Trust in God
-He will give you strength to endure and overcome
Do you want to be a better witness
-Trust in God
- He will be your strength.
C)He is an Ever-present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength…. And he is also ever- present!
That means God is always there!
·He provides refuge and strength to us at all times!
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I believe with my whole heart that there were many people in those twin towers who called out to Jesus in the moments before it collapsed.
-Maybe a Sunday School verse came to mind from their childhood.
-Maybe a Christian co-worker led them in the sinners prayer.
I don’t know how God did it … but I believe that there were many in those last moments who realized earthly hope was gone so they looked Heavenward!
Praise the Lord that Jesus is ever present by the Holy Spirit!
Praise the Lord that God is willing to be a refuge and strength to all who trust him.
You may not see the end coming and have time to call out to God….
-Jesus is ready right now today to be your refuge and
strength.
Review
So far we have seen that
-God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble.
With this in mind lets consider the next portion of the passage…
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. Selah
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.
2) There is a city which will never fall
v. 2-5 is confronts our fear and give us re-assurance.
Because God is our refuge and strength we do not need to fear!
·Then the Psalmist reminds us once again
-Though the Earth may shake
-God and his city will not fall (5 God is within her, she will not fall)
·We are reminded once again in verse 5 (God will help her at break of day).
-(Who will God help… those who have made Him their refuge and strength – in the midst of her trouble God will be there)..
Lets look at these verses a little closer:
A)The earth may be moved but God and his city will not!
There are times when everything in our world gets turned upside down.
Verse two says, there are times the earth is moved.
-There are times that all our plans and notions are changed – by disater.
-Sometimes the waters of life roar and the mountains shake (v.3).
-Sometimes secure mountains even fall.
-Sometimes it seems as everything is against us and out to destroy us
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During the past 20 years, earthquakes have increased at a phenomenal rate. Geologists point to the San Andreas fault, & some people predict that one day a large chunk of western California will fall off into the Pacific Ocean.
Some researchers also say that the Pacific rim volcanoes are ripe for a major eruption.
-And what about the hurricanes that lash our coasts,
-the tornadoes that sweep across the mid-west,
-blizzards can paralyze our towns in the North.
-drought that shrivels up & cracks our farm land,
-floods wash away bridges & homes?
-Of course the terrorist acts shake our nation.
When our world is shaken…-Fear shakes us
The Psalmist says, "I will not be afraid.”
My Lord is still in command of the winds & the waves & the sea, & all of the elements of nature. Therefore I will not fear. God is my refuge & my strength."
B)In a world that is constantly shaking we must
build on a firm foundation.
If our life is built on Jesus and our eyes are on the eternal city of God… we can have confidence that we are on a firm foundation.
-all of the storms
-all of the disasters … Cannot destroy our
foundation.
In a Life and a world that is constantly being shaken –we may be shaken – but if we are built upon the rock of Christ -we can have confidence that we will not fall!
We are reminded that Believers have God’s protection in this life and we have His protection eternally. - Even when this life comes to an end… we have hope in Christ because… we will go to a city that will never be shaken!
David said, God is in his City and that is a foundation that will not fall!
-We have confidence that God will keep us secure and help us!
Charles Wesley wrote in a hymn:
How happy then are we,
Who build, O Lord, on thee!
What can our foundation shock?
Though the shattered earth remove,
Stands our city on a rock,
On the rock of heavenly love.”
The psalmist goes on to say…
3)God will one day bring an end to all wars and disasters
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 the works of the LORD, 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.
** No war waged against God can be won!
You can win a war against another person, family or nation …but you cannot win a war against God!
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The most foolish thing that anyone can do is wage a war against the true God of heaven!
-If you are an individual fighting against God –
you’ll loose!
-If you are a religion fighting against God you will
loose!
-If the whole earth fights against God – It will loose!
In my opinion the most foolish thing the Middle Eastern nations can do is call for a Holy War against Christians!
**-A war against America is one thing… but a war against Christianity is a loosing battle!
-If America continues to draw back to God as it has in these last two weeks – I guarantee that God will take up our case!
Friends, do not misunderstand what I am saying this morning…
-God is not against any people group.
-God is not against any person.
·But God is against sin! – if you chose to war against God and love sin you will loose!
The cross represents the one power in the world that has not and cannot be toppled by Terrorism, Forces of Nature ,Plans of men or plans of Devils.
It represents the power of God himself. Christians, more than all others, are reminded that the power of the cross should reaffirm our feeling of safety and security.
Our feeling of security is rooted in our faith that God is still on the throne and still controls the universe.
One day God will bring all wars and disasters to an end… until that day comes we can expect that there will be an increase in these horrible things. (Jesus told us these things would happen in Mat. 24)…..
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You have heard the saying…. “it takes fire to fight fire!”
-When God pours out his final fire of wrath on satan and his evil associates…The whole earth will melt away in the heat of his Anger!
*Those who have believed on the Lord and made Him their refuge and strength will be saved…. But evil men will be destroyed with their evil weapons of power!
V. 6 said, He lifts his voice, the earth melts. – v.s 6
The Bible says again in 2nd Peter 3:10 – 13 NKJV
“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
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Have you ever wondered how the entire earth can melt?
-This is bigger than a nuclear war!
READ INCERTED ARTICLE (QUEST FOR CHARACTER, CHUCH SWINDON 54-55)
The point of reading this is not to scare you or to say this is how God Will destroy the earth…..But I do want you to consider the question peter asked…
QU:
“Therefore since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
you to be?”
A: – People who have trusted God to be their refuge, strength and ever present help!
** David reminds us once again in verse7 “God is our fortress – or refuge”!
4)Be still and know that I am God
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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
David is telling us here…
-Yes there are disasters happening.
-Yes there are things outside of our control
happening
*But be still – Rest in the confidence of knowing nothing is a surprise to God!
- Rest in the confidence of knowing nothing is outside of His control
- Rest in the knowledge that you are in a safe place…and God will strengthen you for the battle!
****The word translated here “Be Still” can actually be translated “Let Go”
Another words
“Let go of your vein pursuits and know that I am God”
-Let go of your fear and know that I am God.
-Let go of your confidence in human protection an know that God is a refuge or a fortress for us!
-Let go of your confidence in your own strength and know that God is our
strength.
“Let Go / Be still and know that I am God!”
another words: “calm down / let go / be still… Know that God is in control. He will protect and defend those who are His… His name will be praised and exalted… because He is all powerful.”
The Psalm ends with a reminder once again that if we are a True believers….
-God is with us
-God is our fortress.
Closing:
1)If you have accepted the Lord as your savior.
a.Your refuge
b.Your strength
c.Your always present help in trouble.
2)The earth may be shaken, but the Lord and His eternal city will not fall.
a.If our lives are built on a firm foundation we may be shaken but will not fall.
3)A war against God is futile and cannot be won.
a.By individual
b.By anyone
c.God will someday bring all wars and disasters to an end
d.**we must be sure we are right with God before that hour!
4)Be still / let Go and know that He is God.
5)Once again remember God is our fortress.
Altar
Are you in the fortress of God?
