When the world is on fire with chaos, who ya gonna call? The sovereign One, who created the heavens and earth. Psalm 46 is a perfect place to find our God fighting for His people.
Psalm 46 is a response to the lament of Psalms 42-44. The psalmist affirms God as Israel’s refuge, strength, and fortress. They may have forgotten that truth since they lived in Babylon's captivity.
What I especially love about this Psalm is how the Psalmist uses the picture of catastrophic natural events (verses 2-5) to remind Israel that God is the Ruler of all nations. He alone will fight the battles that other nations bring to them. (verses 6-10)
It has broken my heart to see the complete and utter devastation in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. We know people there and have enjoyed spending time with them over the last few years. To see homes, cars, and other buildings floating down a river leaves me in tears. Seeing completely wiped-out roads shows me that the force of nature is awe-inspiring in both good and bad ways.
Places where we have shopped and eaten are gone entirely or, at best, badly damaged. There was no way in or out, and the internet was spotty. In hours, that beautiful town was like a third-world country.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Psalm 46:1-2
Even when we face catastrophic natural events that challenge us, God is there. I know sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. I am sure there are people even right now wondering where God is, just like I am sure Israel, while in exile, wondered where He was.
But God’s Word is full of promises, and He is a promise keeper. We have to remember that this world is not our home. He is saving a place for us with Him in eternity, a new Eden.
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High Dwells. God is within her, she will not fail; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall, he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us.” Psalm 46:4-7a
Yes, the nations raged against Israel; in fact, we still see this today. But the God of Jacob was the ruler over all the nations then, and He is now. No king, president, dictator, or emperor can take salvation from His people. He warns them that He alone will exalt Himself among the nations and on earth.
Today, our country is polarized by politics. There are 110 named conflicts in the world, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia and the war in Israel. That’s a lot of conflict! It feels like the world is on fire.
“Stop fighting, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us.” Psalm 46:10-11a (CSB)
We don’t have to worry about politics, wars, or even natural disasters. Like Israel, we can rely on God as our strength, our fortress, and our comfort. We also have the advantage of knowing that the final sacrifice has been given, and one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess the name of Jesus. (Philippians 2:10-11)
God brings rest to His people by resolving all of the unrest. Let God fight for you; He alone is Yahweh!
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