Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 3 (2)
Pray Psalm 46.1-3.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Selah
Sing Psalm 46.1-3.
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
God is our refuge and our strength; He is our help in times of need.
Thus though the earth beneath us should change, the sea engulf the mountain range.
Waters may roar with raging speed; yet God will rescue us at length.
Read Psalm 46.1-11; meditate on verses10, 11.
Preparation
1. How did the psalmists look upon the Lord?
2. How did God respond to their testimony?
Meditation
When Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11.28), I have no doubt that He must have had Psalm 46 in mind. This is one of the most beloved psalms in the psalter. It was the basis for Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress.” When Luther ever became fearful or downcast, he would go find his friend and colleague, Philip Melanchthon, and say, “Come, Philip, let us sing the 46th.”
And just reading this psalm, we can see why. In the days when this psalm was written, no pagan nation anywhere in the ancient world would have said anything like this about its god. A refuge? A stream of gladness? A place of rest? Not a chance. Only the people who knew their God to be the LORD God of love and salvation could make such a boast. Singing Psalm 46 in the days of the sons of Korah would, I’m sure, have had just as much impact as we experience singing “A Mighty Fortress” today.
And this God is not far off; He is with us (v. 7). He is the refuge to all who confess him as the sons of Korah did, and who look to Him for shelter, spiritual refreshment, help, and joy. His works—creation, providence, deliverance, sanctification—abide while the works of men and nations crumble all around (vv. 8, 9).
And He calls us to be still, know Him, and exalt Him throughout our Personal Mission Field.
Jesus is our Refuge. He gives us rest amid the hectic pace of our lives. And He will bring us home to our eternal rest in Him.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
We who know Jesus, who rest in His Sovereign majesty and grace, who do find refuge in Him, can say with the prophet Habakkuk:
“Though the fig tree may not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines;
though the labor of the olive may fail,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
and there be no herd in the stalls—
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab. 3.17, 18).
As Mary so beautifully said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He Who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
from generation to generation” (Lk. 1.46-50).
And we rejoice in this truth for ourselves, with Mary:
“God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us…” (Ps. 46.5-7).
“The LORD is righteous in her midst,
He will do no unrighteousness.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He never fails…” (Zeph. 3.5).
“The LORD has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out our enemy.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more” (Zeph. 3.15).
“Then you shall know that I AM in the midst of Israel:
I AM the LORD your God and there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame” (Joel 2.27).
“…there AM I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18.20).
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
the Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
one little Word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
the body they may kill: God’s Truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.
(Martin Luther, 1529)
Reflection
1. What does it mean to you that the Lord Jesus is your Refuge, your Shelter?
2. How would you counsel a new believer to “take shelter” in Jesus?
3. Whom will you refresh today with the living waters of God’s Spirit (Jn. 7.37-39)?
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 Psalm 46.6-11
Pray Psalm 46.4-11.
Praise the Lord for all the ways He has been a refuge and shelter for you.
Sing Psalm 46.4-11.
(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.
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.
Come see the works of God’s Right Hand! He breaks the nations of the earth,
shatters their foolish weapons and pride, sets all their sinful strength aside.
Them He will show His infinite worth as they before His judgment stand.
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
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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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.
