Psalms 46:1

PSALM 46

GOD THE REFUGE OF HIS PEOPLE

The title here is that which is assigned in the American Standard Version superscription, where it is also stated that the Psalm is for the Chief Musician, a Psalm of the Sons of Korah, a Song set to Alamoth, that latter word probably referring to the particular tune to be used for this psalm.

For once, we find scholars of widely divergent views in full agreement as to the occasion when this psalm was probably composed. The radical critic Addis, the conservative Leupold, and the current Dummelow all agree that the occasion was shortly after the destruction of Sennacherib's army before the walls of Jerusalem in 701 B.C. Here is what these scholars wrote:

"Psalms 46-48 form a group of three which we may assign with little doubt to the reign of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib's army was suddenly destroyed (2 Kings 19:35). They all three strike the same note of gratitude, confidence and praise, which is found in Isaiah's references to the same event (Isaiah 29-31; Isaiah 33; Isaiah 37).[1]

"This Psalm looks back to the deliverance from Sennacherib. Compare Psalms 46:5, "God shall help her at the dawning of the morning," with Isaiah 37:36, "Early in the morning they (i.e., Sennacherib's army) were all dead men"![2]

"Leupold reviewed a number of other suggestions regarding the great deliverance of Israel which is celebrated in this psalm, and then stated that: `Nothing meets the needs of the case quite so well as does the great deliverance that took place in the days of Hezekiah (701 B.C.) when Sennacherib's forces were disastrously destroyed after having directly threatened the city of Jerusalem, and when the omnipotence of the God of Israel was underscored as it was on but few other occasions.'"[3]

This psalm is famous for the very first line of it, which was made the theme of Martin Luther's great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is our God." People of all religious convictions still sing this mighty hymn all over the world. Halley called it the "Song of the Reformation."[4] And Spurgeon tells this story:

"There were times when Martin Luther was threatened with discouragement; but he would say, "Come, Philip, let us sing the 46th Psalm"; and they would sing it in Luther's own version, translated by Thomas Carlyle:

`A sure stronghold our God is He,

A timely shield and weapon;

Our help He'll be, and set us free

From every can happen.

And were the world with devils filled,

All eager to devour us,

Our souls to fear shall little yield,

They cannot overpower us.'"[5]

P. H. Hodge translated the Luther Hymn for Great Songs of the Church, as follows:

"A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;

Our helper he amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.

And though this world with demons filled, Should threaten to undo us

We will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.'"[6]

"This psalm is both historical and prophetic. It refers to things that happened in Israel; and it is a prophecy concerning the New Testament Church."[7]

Kidner gave the organization of this psalm as follows: (1) The Most High's ascendancy over nature (Psalms 46:1-3); (2) His ascendancy over the attackers of His city (Psalms 46:4-7); and (3) His ascendancy over the whole warring world (Psalms 46:8-11).[8]

GOD'S ASCENDANCY OVER NATURE

Psalms 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength.

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore will we not fear,

Though the earth do change,

And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof.

(Selah)"

Psalms 46:2-3 here are considered to be figurative, standing for all kinds of political commotion and turbulent conflict among nations. Rawlinson identified these terrible political upheavals as, "Probably those caused by the Assyrian career of conquest."[9]

However, the language here is very similar to that which is used prophetically of the Day of Judgment and the end of human probation, in a number of Biblical references. Those cosmic disturbances include earthquakes, the removal of islands and mountains out of their places, the failing of the sun's light, etc. From this, some have interpreted this heavenly refuge in God as a safe haven, even at that time. "When the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the heavens and the earth shall pass away in that final great conflagration,"[10] at which time God will, "Wipe this Adam off the face of the earth" (Zephaniah 1:2-3).

To be sure, this is a valid understanding of these verses. Even in the cataclysmic scenes that shall mark the end of God's Dispensation of Grace, "God is the refuge and the strength of those who love him."

The primary meaning of these verses (Psalms 46:2-3) "Is figurative, standing for stress and trouble."[11]