Our Refuge and Strength (4)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 46.6, 7
The 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.

Sing Psalm 46.6, 7
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
Kingdoms arise and rage and roar, threat’ning the earth with sore distress;
nations may fall, earth melt away, His Word is yet our hope and stay.
God is among us, ever to bless; He is our stronghold evermore.

Read Psalm 46.6, 7

Preparation
1. What power does God bring to bear against the raging of the nations?

2. How does verse 6 lead us in thinking about what it means to take refuge in the Lord (v. 7)?

Meditation
The sons of Korah seem to have had Psalm 2 in mind at this point. There the raging nations are put to silence and shame as God speaks and points to His Word as their Ruler. By His Word, God can melt the world right out from under the feet of the raging nations, so that they have no place to stand in their fury against Him (v. 6). He upholds the very ground on which they rise to shake their fists and resolve to throw off His rule.

No wonder that, in the face of such puniness, God laughs (Ps. 2.4).

God is the “LORD of hosts” (v. 7) – all hosts, that is, all armies and all their weaponry of all the nations of the world. We’ll see this again in Psalm 47. Here it is merely declared as a reminder to us, who face the raging of the nations and their desire to be done with God. The sons of Korah remind us that He is “the God of Jacob”. The mention of this patriarch is significant. God appeared to Jacob in a dream and showed him a ladder bridging heaven and earth (Gen. 28.10-22). Jesus appropriated that image as referring to Himself (Jn. 1.51), and then promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28.20).

So let the nations rage. They are no match for God’s Word. Solomon reminds us that there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel – or raging of nations – that can stand against the LORD (Prov. 21.30). Which is why we shelter in Him, Who bridges heaven and earth and abides with us forever.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“…He uttered His voice, the earth melted” (Ps. 46. 6).
We see here and in Psalm 2 that His rage is powerful and there is no match for it.

But it also brings to mind how kindness can “melt your heart”. God’s kindness in particular, because it is so undeserved, and bearing so much grace and mercy.

Elijah experienced this tender love of the LORD as he was hiding and fearful. God said to him in the midst of his trials, “‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORDwas not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kgs. 19.11, 12). God is the Creator of the wind, earthquake, and fire; but His love, tenderness, and “melt your heart” kindness was in the “still small voice”. The forces of nature were no match for His Word.

And against all the forces of darkness that prevail in this life, Jesus said to us, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14.1, 6).

“…He uttered His voice” and my heart melted
There is absolutely no match for His Word!

Reflection
1. How does God’s matchless Word encourage you in working your Personal Mission Field today?

2. Do you believe the Gospel can “melt the hearts” of unbelievers you know? How did it melt your heart?

3. What does it mean to say that God is the Lord of all hosts and all nations? How should knowing this encourage us?

Let all believers triumph in this, that the Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, has been, is, and will be with us; and will be our Refuge. Mark this, take the comfort, and say, If God be for us, who can be against us? With this, through life and in death, let us answer every fear. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on the Psalm 46.6-11

Closing Prayer: Psalm 45.4, 5, 10-12
Thank and praise the Lord for His Presence, and for the refuge and safety He provides in this uncertain world.

Sing Psalm 46.4, 5, 10, 11
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
God’s everlasting, joyous grace gladdens the city where He dwells.
Safely in Him, we will not be moved; when morning dawns, His love will be proved.
Fears and distresses Jesus dispels for His beloved, chosen race.

Rest in the Lord and be at peace, all who are mired in sore travail:
Lift up our God, praise Jesus our Lord; proclaim to all the earth His Word!
God is our stronghold, never to fail: thus may our hope and joy increase!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Praying the Psalms
In this series, we are examining twelve psalms, learning their content, drawing on their wisdom, and praying and singing them to the Lord. For a fuller explanation of how to pray the psalms, order a copy of our book, God’s Prayer Program. It’s free by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.