Psalm 46
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
(ESV)
Our Refuge in the Raging Storms
I have always loved a good thunderstorm. I remember when I was little and a storm would roll through. My mom, brother, and I would grab our books and blankets and sit on our enclosed porch. We made blanket forts, listened to the rain, and watched as the sky lit up. I remember the feeling of warmth and safety. It didn't matter if the thunder was loud or the wind was howling—our little porch was a shelter from the storm.
Everything changed, though, if the storms came and my parents weren't there. My brother and I weren't nearly as brave when we faced the storm with a babysitter. It turned out it wasn't just the porch that was the safe haven—it was my parents' presence that made us feel secure.
As the years have gone by, there are far more storms from which I seek shelter. Psalm 46 speaks of the earth giving way and the mountains falling into the sea—images of chaos and fear that feel all too familiar in our world today. From financial insecurity to violence, from political division to the fraying of our common life, there are many ways we feel the waters rising and the ground trembling beneath us. We crave stability and safety, and we look for it in entertainment, politicians, technology, or even in our relationships. These things may bring temporary comfort, but ultimately, we need something more. We need the very presence of God.
Psalm 46 reminds us that our true refuge and strength in any storm is God Himself. The shelter He provides cannot be shaken, and it is always close at hand. This Advent, we remember that the refuge we seek is not a place but a Person. The God who calmed the seas entered our chaos as a baby in a manger. He is Immanuel, God with us. As the storms rage around you this week, picture yourself at rest with God in the shelter He provides and know that you are safe because "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Malissa Mackey