Psalm 46 - God is Our Refuge and Strength
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,... KJV
"Fear not!" That phrase is used over sixty times in the scriptures, and most of the time the verse starts out with "fear not" as a command, and is usually followed by reasons that you were going to fear in the first place. You know, "Fear not, for I am with you, when the xxx army comes...". One pastor said, "When you hear God say 'fear not' put your ear to the ground to listen for the hoofbeats of the coming horsemen!" But this psalm switches this all around. The psalmist starts out with the good things that God does for us, then says "therefore we will not fear". And then he goes on to list the various disasters that we need not fear, because God is good, and we fear not. I have been through several hurricanes and a couple of earth quakes, and let me tell you, it is good to know that God is our refuge and strength before the storm comes!
Selah
I suspect that most people breeze through reading the Psalms and either don't know or don't care about the selahs. But to a horn player it's an important term. Literally, it is the Hebrew term for musical interlude, but to a musician it's a heads up. The cantor is going to be quiet for a bit and the choir is going to stop singing, and it time for a little solo. The band, that is always. hidden in the back or off to one side gets a chance to praise the Lord with the horns and stringed instruments, not to mention the drums and cymbals. In our church, that means we can "get down"! Not quite the way we did it in the country Methodist church when I was a boy, but it's a wonderful way for the band to praise the Lord!
Rivers of joy! The next section is an ode to joy and a worshipful exclamation of the goodness and greatness of God. We used to sing this in the Pittsburgh church as "City, O City, O City of God" and it was a beautiful and joyful song of praise. (I couldn't find a version on YouTube, so you'll just have to imagine it, if you remember that song.). It's good to have such a song to sing when nations are in an uproar and kingdoms are being overthrown, but we remember that "the Lord who commands armies is on our side!"
Come! Witness the exploits of the Lord.
First we were not fearful, then we were full of joy, now we can sit back and watch as the Lord brings devastation to the earth, but the reason is to bring an end to war and to shatter the dangerous armaments. "Stop striving and know that I am God!" That's a really good advice in times like these when we see devastation and wars all around, but we don't see the exploits of God on the ten o'clock news! For those, we have to look with spiritual eyes, trusting in His almighty power and rejoicing in His goodness to us, and resting in the assurance that His plan will be the one that succeeds in the end!
Seals
Though I couldn't find "City of God" on YouTube, I did find an interesting version of Psalm 46 by the Applegate Psalms Project. Enjoy:
http://youtu.be/8SEfsG7Pw3s
Psalm 46
For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; a song.
1 God is our strong refuge;
he is truly our helper in times of trouble.
2 For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes,
and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,
3 when its waves crash and foam,
and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah)
4 The riverʼs channels bring joy to the city of God,
the special, holy dwelling place of the sovereign One.
5 God lives within it, it cannot be moved.
God rescues it at the break of dawn.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown.
God gives a shout, the earth dissolves.
7 The Lord who commands armies is on our side!
The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)
8 Come! Witness the exploits of the Lord,
who brings devastation to the earth!
9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth;
he shatters the bow and breaks the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God!
I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”
11 The Lord who commands armies is on our side!
The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)
The NET Bible
