
The history behind this great hymn, by Martin Luther, is interesting…
Martin Luther is one of the key figures in church history, a man mightily used by God to bring reformation to the church.
The year 1527 was the most difficult of his life.
After ten demanding years of leading the Reformation, a dizzy spell overcame him in the middle of a sermon on April 22 of that year, forcing him to stop preaching.
Luther feared for his life.
On July 6, while eating dinner with friends, he felt an acute buzzing in his ear and lay down, again convinced he was at the end of his life.
He partially regained his strength, but a debilitating discouragement set in as a result.
In addition, heart problems and severe intestinal complications escalated the pangs of death.
Of this ordeal, Luther wrote, “I spent more than a week in death and hell.
My entire body was in pain, and I still tremble.
Completely abandoned by Christ, I labored under the vacillations and storms of desperation and blasphemy against God.”
What was worse, the dreaded black plague had entered Germany and spread into Wittenberg.
Many people fled, fearing for their lives.
Yet Luther and his wife Katy remained, believing it was their duty to care for the sick and dying.
Although Katy was pregnant with their second child, Luther’s house was transformed into a hospital where he watched many friends die.
Then without warning Luther’s one-year-old son Hans became desperately ill. With death surrounding him on every side, Luther was driven to seek refuge in God as never before.
Psalm 46 became the strength of his soul.
As a result, Luther expanded its truths into the hymn for which he is most famous, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
Its majestic and thunderous proclamation of God who is our all-sufficient refuge in our weakest moments has become the enduring symbol of the Reformation.
Like Martin Luther, the author of Psalm 46 found solace and refuge in God during difficult times.
The background for this song of praise is unknown, but it was probably written after a military victory over a foreign power that attempted a siege against Jerusalem.
It may have been written after the destruction of the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir (2 Chr. 20:1-30).
Or perhaps it was recorded after the destruction of King Sennacherib and the Assyrian army during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kgs. 18-19).
According to the superscription, it was written by one of the “sons of Korah” and was “for the director of music.”
Psalm 46:1-11
It is generally thought that the historical background of the Psalm is the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem when it was besieged by the Assyrian wolf, Sennacherib (2 Kgs. 18:13—19:35; Isa. 36:1—37:36).
At this time the people of Judah were tremendously conscious of God’s presence with them in a unique way.
And so the Psalm celebrates the praises of Him who is Immanuel—God with us.
The word “Alamoth” in the title may refer to the pitch of the music, denoting that it was to be high for the treble and soprano voices, or it may have been implored to refer to certain shrill-sounding instruments (cp. 1 Chr. 15:20).
46:1–3 It starts off by telling us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
(He is also “abundantly available for help in tight places” – NASB marg.)
Blessed are we when we realize that our safety and protection lie not in riches or armies but in Jehovah alone!
Imagine the worst that can happen!
Suppose the earth itself should melt as if caught in the flow of a gigantic volcano.
Suppose an earthquake should toss the mountains into the midst of the sea.
Suppose a flood of water should roar and foam over the land, or that the mountains should stagger with wild convulsions of nature.
Or think of the mountains as symbols of empires or cities, and the waters as nations.
The very foundations of society are crumbling; kingdoms are toppling and disintegrating.
The nations of the world are churning with political, economic, and social confusion and trouble of unprecedented intensity is enveloping the world.
But God … !
The worst that can happen is no cause for fear. God Himself is still with us!
46:4 He Himself is the river whose streams shall make glad the city of God.
Actually the city of Jerusalem has no river. But everything that a river is to an ordinary city, God is to His holy habitation—and more, for He is the fountain of life and refreshment, the river of mercy and goodness!
There the majestic Lord will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will sail, nor majestic ships pass by (Isa. 33:21).
46:5 It is because God is enthroned in Jerusalem that she shall never be moved.
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
It has been a long dark night for God’s people, but soon the morning will dawn and Christ will take His rightful place, showing Himself strong on behalf of His own.
46:6 The nations of the earth may rage in fury; the kingdoms may totter.
When God speaks in His wrath, the earth will melt in subservience to Him.
46:7 These words look forward in a special way to the Great Tribulation when the earth will be racked with violent disturbances of nature, with political upheaval, with wars and pestilences, and with inconceivable distress.
Then the Lord will appear from heaven to crush all insubordination and rebellion and reign in righteousness and peace.
At that time the believing remnant of the nation of Israel will say,
“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
The assurance of this verse is inexpressibly sweet.
The LORD of hosts is with us, that is, the LORD of the angelic armies of heaven.
But He is also the God of Jacob.
Now Jacob means “cheat” or “supplanter.” Yet God speaks of Himself as the God of Jacob.
Put the two thoughts together and you learn that the God of the angelic hosts is also the God of the unworthy sinner.
The One who is infinitely high is also intimately nigh. He is with us in every step of our way, our unfailing refuge in all the storms of life.
46:8 By the time we get to verse 8 the tumult and cataclysms have ended.
Man’s day is over. Now the King is seated upon His throne in Jerusalem.
We are invited to go out and examine the field of His victory.
Everywhere we look we see the wreckage of His defeated foes.
Everywhere lies the evidence of the awful judgments which have descended on the world during the Tribulation and at His glorious appearing.
46:9 But now that the Prince of Peace is enthroned, wars have ceased throughout the world.
What councils and leagues and summits have been helpless to achieve, the Lord Jesus brings about by His iron rod.
Disarmament has passed from discussion to actuality.
Weaponry is scrapped, and the funds formerly spent on munitions are now diverted into agriculture and other productive channels.
46:10 The voice of God rings out to all the inhabitants of the earth in accents of assurance and supremacy.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Every fear is stilled, every anxiety quieted.
His people can relax. He is God. His cause is victorious.
He is supreme among the nations, supreme over all the earth.
It is from verse 10 that Katharina von Schlegel, the author of the hymn “Be Still, My Soul” drew inspiration:
“Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the winds and waves still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.”
46:11 No matter what may happen or how dark the hour may be, the believer can still say with confidence and fearlessness,
“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
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If the One who directs the armies of heaven is on our side, who can be successfully against us?
The God of the unworthy worm Jacob is a fortress in which we can all take refuge from the storms of this uncertain life!
Be still, the morning comes, The night will end; Trust thou in Christ thy Light, Thy faithful Friend. And know that He is God,
Whose perfect will Works all things for thy good: Look up—Be still. (Florence Wills)
Nothing occurs beyond the reach of God’s power!
Awareness of God’s power provides rest and encouragement to all Christians.
Are you weary? Look to the protection and strength of God.
The world can be overwhelming at times AND OUR PROBLEMS AND TRIBULATIONS CAN BE OVERBEARING, but remember that God has everything under control.
So RELAX and find your REST in Him.
SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
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Wednesday, March 15
God Calling
by Two Listeners
GUIDANCE IS GUIDANCE
Be still before Me. How often in a crisis man rushes hither and thither.
Rush is a sign of weakness. Quiet abiding is a sign of strength.
A few quiet actions, as you are led to do them, and all is accomplished wisely and rightly, more quickly and more effectually than could be done by those who rush about and act feverishly.
Guidance IS Guidance, the being led, the being shown the way. Believe this.
Softly across life’s tumult, comes a gentle Voice, “Peace, be still.”
The waves of difficulty will hear. They will fall back. There will be a great calm.
And then the Still Small Voice of Guidance.
Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
(Jude 1:24-25)
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