Psalm 46

Ah, the power and majesty of God! This was the inspiration for Martin Luther's classic hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is our God" and it inspired Luther through the dark days of the Reformation. It is the musical telling of Satan not being able to overthrow the Church. God and His power would not allow it. God alone is our refuge. He is the stronghold which protects us and He is the source of inner strength as well. God prevents harm from us, and when He allows it, He is the One to see us through it.

While the first stanza stresses God as our refuge, at verse 4 we see the picture of Jerusalem under attack, yet the supply of fresh water (the river whose streams make glad the city of God) flows in toward the Temple (the holy place). Even in time of calamity, God is providing what is needed.

Boice agrees with most that this psalm was written about Sennacherib's assault on Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. Yet the situation really matters not, especially in the third stanza where we see that God will have His way on the earth, despite the wars of man. He will not negotiate peace, He will proclaim it as a conquerer.

The call to "be still, and know that I am God" is really not a call for us to contemplate who God is and wait for Him to act. Instead it calls us to accept what God has already proclaimed. Be still. Shut up. He is God. I am not.

The chorus of verses 7 and 11 emphasize that God is the Lord Almighty. It is He who is the power. We also see that God is the God of Jacob -- the deceiver who took his whole life to finally trust in God fully. He is our God as well.