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Fortress: Psalm 46, 28 July 2024
Psalm 46: Fortress
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
July 28, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah!
The most common command in the Bible is…fear not. Why? Because we are tempted to be afraid. Life is hard enough dealing with health issues, financial challenges, and basic survival, but now with traditional and social media, we’re made aware of wars, climate change, politics, violence, and a whole host of other things to fear…and that doesn’t even begin to mention snakes, death, or what some consider to be the greatest fear of all…public speaking!
Today we’re continuing our series on the Psalms and we’re looking at Psalm 46. It describes God as our fortress, and I’m grateful for the promises and instructions contained in this ancient song.
There’s some introductory information before the song begins.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
Verse one says,
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
Hallelujah! This is a great verse to memorize. It tells us three things about our awesome God. First, He is our refuge. He is our strength. In addition, He’s our help, an ever-present help in trouble. We all find ourselves in trouble of one sort or another.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:2-3)
We know what the therefore is there for! Because God is our refuge, strength, and help, we will not fear. Fear not, family!
You’ve probably never seen mountains falling into the sea, but you may have been in an earthquake. Most of you have survived floods in Findlay. If you’ve ever been to Niagara Falls, you know who powerful water can be.
White-water rafting taught me how powerful and dangerous the current can be. Several years ago, I was with some friends at Ohiopyle State Park in western Pennsylvania. We went rafting down the Youghiogheny River and were warned about Dimple Rock, a dangerous point of the Lower Yough part of the river where at least nine people have died from the powerful vacuum underneath that can trap people that fall out of the raft. I had been on this river and navigated Dimple Rock on more than one occasion, but this trip was different. I remember approaching the spot, and then suddenly without warning I was underwater. I don’t remember falling out. I was suddenly in what felt like a giant washing machine, unable to see or breathe. Obviously, I survived, but those five seconds that seemed like five minutes reminded me of the power of roaring waters.
Because God is our refuge and strength and help, we will not fear, despite the earth, the waters, the upcoming election, the results of the Olympics, the doctor’s report, the news delivered by your family member,…
While the Bible repeatedly says, “Fear not” (some have counted 366 times, one for every day of the year including leap year!), there is one thing we are to fear: God. That might sound odd. Are we to be afraid of God? No. We are to be awed and revere Him.
Whatever you fear has mastery over your life, which is why we are told to fear God and only God. When God is your master, every other fear will lose its control over you. Best-selling author and pastor Erwin McManus says,
“When all your fear is directed at God, his perfect love casts out all the fear and now you can live a life that’s truly free.” – Erwin McManus
Who doesn’t want that?
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4) God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Psalm 46:5)
This is not a literal body of water, but a poetic image of God’s presence. Jerusalem was the Holy City which God set apart, yet unlike most cities, Jerusalem has no river. God’s blessings provided more value and help than any river. If they trust in the LORD, it will become almost like the Garden of Eden.
In those days, God’s presence was usually contained in the Jerusalem temple. How blessed we are that the curtain the kept that presence in the Holy of holies was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died…and since the Holy Spirit was unleashed upon believers in Acts 2, we can experience God’s presence and power wherever we go. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. (Psalm 46:6)
Here's another brilliant image. Imagine the earth melting at the sounds of God’s voice. It’s really not a stretch since the earth was created at the sound of God’s voice!
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7)
There are two distinct messages here. The first is incarnation…Emmanuel…God with us. He’s with us, family! You can’t see Him or touch Him, but just like the invisible wind, you can see His activity.
God is also our fortress. We don’t often see a fortress in modern architecture. The closest thing some have is a safe room in their house…or a basement for tornados. A fortress or refuge is a place of safety. God is that for us.
Our God is a mighty fortress! He is a shelter in the time of storm. He is our refuge and strength. He is our protector. He is our shepherd (Yahweh-Rohi). He is the strong one who sees (El-Roi). He is God Almighty (El-Shaddai-Rohi). He is the everlasting God (El-Olam). He is the most high God (El-Elyon). He is our provider (Yahweh-Jireh). He is the Lord over all (Adonai). He is the Lord who is present (Yahweh-Shammah). That’s just a few of the names of God!
What is your favorite name for God? Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. (Psalm 46:8)
That sounds rather dark, but the scene is the fields surrounding Jerusalem, filled with the destruction of the Assyrian army the LORD defeated.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:9)
God is God. He is the definition of justice…and yet He is also merciful, hallelujah! We don’t want what we deserve from God! As the psalmists describe God’s power, the tone changes in verse ten. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Be still! The phrase literally means, “Take your hands off! Relax!” Jacob got in trouble taking matters into his own hands rather than trusting the LORD. Have you ever done that? Be still. Keep calm. Trust God. It doesn’t mean be inactive, but don’t worry…pray…and obey! God is in control…and we’re not! I struggle with being still, letting go, and trusting God sometimes. Can you relate?
The verse also says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
For God so loved the…United States of America?
For God so loved the…English-speaking people?
For God so loved…the world! The nations!
One of the most beautiful visions in the Bible is from the book of Revelation. John wrote,
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9a)
God will be exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth.
The final verse declares,
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:11)
This is a perfect summary of the chapter.
The LORD. There is none like Him.
The LORD Almighty. He’s greater than any trouble, enemy, fear, army, addiction, or disease.
The LORD Almighty is with us. He is present. He is here. He’s not just out there. The Holy Spirit lives inside every follower of Jesus.
And the God of Jacob is our fortress. He’s known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From generation to generation, He remains faithful. What He did then, He can do now.
So what?
God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah! Let’s go to Him with our cares and concerns. Fear not! He is with us.
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
July 28, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah!
The most common command in the Bible is…fear not. Why? Because we are tempted to be afraid. Life is hard enough dealing with health issues, financial challenges, and basic survival, but now with traditional and social media, we’re made aware of wars, climate change, politics, violence, and a whole host of other things to fear…and that doesn’t even begin to mention snakes, death, or what some consider to be the greatest fear of all…public speaking!
Today we’re continuing our series on the Psalms and we’re looking at Psalm 46. It describes God as our fortress, and I’m grateful for the promises and instructions contained in this ancient song.
There’s some introductory information before the song begins.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
Verse one says,
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
Hallelujah! This is a great verse to memorize. It tells us three things about our awesome God. First, He is our refuge. He is our strength. In addition, He’s our help, an ever-present help in trouble. We all find ourselves in trouble of one sort or another.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:2-3)
We know what the therefore is there for! Because God is our refuge, strength, and help, we will not fear. Fear not, family!
You’ve probably never seen mountains falling into the sea, but you may have been in an earthquake. Most of you have survived floods in Findlay. If you’ve ever been to Niagara Falls, you know who powerful water can be.
White-water rafting taught me how powerful and dangerous the current can be. Several years ago, I was with some friends at Ohiopyle State Park in western Pennsylvania. We went rafting down the Youghiogheny River and were warned about Dimple Rock, a dangerous point of the Lower Yough part of the river where at least nine people have died from the powerful vacuum underneath that can trap people that fall out of the raft. I had been on this river and navigated Dimple Rock on more than one occasion, but this trip was different. I remember approaching the spot, and then suddenly without warning I was underwater. I don’t remember falling out. I was suddenly in what felt like a giant washing machine, unable to see or breathe. Obviously, I survived, but those five seconds that seemed like five minutes reminded me of the power of roaring waters.
Because God is our refuge and strength and help, we will not fear, despite the earth, the waters, the upcoming election, the results of the Olympics, the doctor’s report, the news delivered by your family member,…
While the Bible repeatedly says, “Fear not” (some have counted 366 times, one for every day of the year including leap year!), there is one thing we are to fear: God. That might sound odd. Are we to be afraid of God? No. We are to be awed and revere Him.
Whatever you fear has mastery over your life, which is why we are told to fear God and only God. When God is your master, every other fear will lose its control over you. Best-selling author and pastor Erwin McManus says,
“When all your fear is directed at God, his perfect love casts out all the fear and now you can live a life that’s truly free.” – Erwin McManus
Who doesn’t want that?
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4) God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Psalm 46:5)
This is not a literal body of water, but a poetic image of God’s presence. Jerusalem was the Holy City which God set apart, yet unlike most cities, Jerusalem has no river. God’s blessings provided more value and help than any river. If they trust in the LORD, it will become almost like the Garden of Eden.
In those days, God’s presence was usually contained in the Jerusalem temple. How blessed we are that the curtain the kept that presence in the Holy of holies was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died…and since the Holy Spirit was unleashed upon believers in Acts 2, we can experience God’s presence and power wherever we go. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. (Psalm 46:6)
Here's another brilliant image. Imagine the earth melting at the sounds of God’s voice. It’s really not a stretch since the earth was created at the sound of God’s voice!
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7)
There are two distinct messages here. The first is incarnation…Emmanuel…God with us. He’s with us, family! You can’t see Him or touch Him, but just like the invisible wind, you can see His activity.
God is also our fortress. We don’t often see a fortress in modern architecture. The closest thing some have is a safe room in their house…or a basement for tornados. A fortress or refuge is a place of safety. God is that for us.
Our God is a mighty fortress! He is a shelter in the time of storm. He is our refuge and strength. He is our protector. He is our shepherd (Yahweh-Rohi). He is the strong one who sees (El-Roi). He is God Almighty (El-Shaddai-Rohi). He is the everlasting God (El-Olam). He is the most high God (El-Elyon). He is our provider (Yahweh-Jireh). He is the Lord over all (Adonai). He is the Lord who is present (Yahweh-Shammah). That’s just a few of the names of God!
What is your favorite name for God? Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. (Psalm 46:8)
That sounds rather dark, but the scene is the fields surrounding Jerusalem, filled with the destruction of the Assyrian army the LORD defeated.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:9)
God is God. He is the definition of justice…and yet He is also merciful, hallelujah! We don’t want what we deserve from God! As the psalmists describe God’s power, the tone changes in verse ten. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Be still! The phrase literally means, “Take your hands off! Relax!” Jacob got in trouble taking matters into his own hands rather than trusting the LORD. Have you ever done that? Be still. Keep calm. Trust God. It doesn’t mean be inactive, but don’t worry…pray…and obey! God is in control…and we’re not! I struggle with being still, letting go, and trusting God sometimes. Can you relate?
The verse also says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
For God so loved the…United States of America?
For God so loved the…English-speaking people?
For God so loved…the world! The nations!
One of the most beautiful visions in the Bible is from the book of Revelation. John wrote,
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9a)
God will be exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth.
The final verse declares,
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:11)
This is a perfect summary of the chapter.
The LORD. There is none like Him.
The LORD Almighty. He’s greater than any trouble, enemy, fear, army, addiction, or disease.
The LORD Almighty is with us. He is present. He is here. He’s not just out there. The Holy Spirit lives inside every follower of Jesus.
And the God of Jacob is our fortress. He’s known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From generation to generation, He remains faithful. What He did then, He can do now.
So what?
God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah! Let’s go to Him with our cares and concerns. Fear not! He is with us.