Episode Transcript
Psalm 46 (NIV)
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
CONSIDER THIS
Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. He holds the Methodist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School and served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary for fifteen years. She is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.
This is a bold psalm for turbulent times. The psalmist pictures a world where everything is “in trouble” (v. 1) and crashing in around us: “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” (vv. 2–3). It is a picture of calamity and the perfect storm of fear and anxiety. These dramatic images in the psalm are then contrasted with the “river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall” (vv. 4–5). It is not hard to see why this psalm became the basis for Martin Luther’s famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
Psalm 46 reminds us that even when our world is engulfed in war and turmoil, even when our economy falters, even when angry men fly planes into buildings, or corruption seems to prevail at every turn, the Most High God remains solid and true, holy and righteous, and unshaken in the midst of the world’s turmoil. Nations may be in an “uproar” and governments falling (v. 6), but God is in control. “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire” (v. 9). The final outcome of God’s work in the world may be peace, but it only comes about through the forceful intrusion of his judgments, overturning wickedness, and bringing about justice.
It is at this point in the psalm that we often hear verse 10 cherry-picked from its context: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In its original context, it is not meant to invoke the quiet, reflective stillness, which it is often used to convey. Rather, this verse is extending the same bold voice of the earlier verses. This is not a whispered “Be still,” but the same commanding “Be still!” that Jesus boldly shouted over the stormy waters in Mark 4:39. He used the same language when he cast a demon out. It is not so much a word of calm consolation or gentle persuasion, but the bold, forcible disarming of a world in turmoil and erupting in conflict and disorder. God’s rule comes crashing in and sets things right. What a great assurance is ours that however unstable and rebellious the world gets, God is going to intervene and set things right. Praise be to the Lord!
For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent
THE HYMN
Sing Psalm 46 with the Seedbed Psalter today. We suggest the tune ST. ANNE ("O God, Our Help in Ages Past"). You can hear the tune played online by Julie here. If you listen to the podcast audio version, we will sing the psalm in this same tune. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below.
1 God is our refuge and our strength,
In Him our hope is found;
An ever-present help in need,
When trouble is around.
2 Therefore, we will not fear, though earth
should tremble and give way;
Though mountains fall into the sea,
He’s still our help and stay;
3 Though waters roar and foam with pow’r,
And tempests make us shake;
Though surging waters even cause
the mountain peaks to quake.Selah
4 There is a river that makes glad
the city of our God;
The holy place where the Most High
does dwell and reign abroad.
5 God is within her; she stands firm
and will not fall away;
And God will surely give her help
when comes the break of day.
6 All nations are in uproar as
their kingdoms rise and fall;
He lifts His voice, and all earth melts
before His mighty call.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us,
He is our refuge sure.
The God of Jacob is our trust,
Our fortress evermore.Selah
8 Come, see the works the LORD has done,
The desolations here.
9 He makes wars cease to ends of earth,
And breaks the bow and spear.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God,
Exalted I will be!
Among all nations, all the earth,
Exalted I will be!”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us,
He is our refuge sure;
The God of Jacob is our trust,
Our fortress evermore.
