Psalms 46:1-2 - Homiletics

The unchangeableness of God.

"God as our Refuge," etc. Mountains are the grandest of God's earthly works; natural images of majesty, strength, durableness. Rearing their peaks above the clouds, they gather the airy treasures of snow and rain; and pour from never-failing fountains the streams that water the valleys and feed the plains. Natural fortresses, where liberty has often found an impregnable asylum. Yet they are perishable. Waters wear their rocky sides. Earthquakes and landslips topple their crags into the valleys. Volcanic fires sometimes, as in our own day, tear them from their ancient foundations, and hurl their ruins into the sea. Such an overthrow of what seems strongest and most stable in outward nature, is in the text the image of the possible failure of all earthly support, defence, comfort, hope. But he who built the mountains and gave ocean its bounds, fails not, changes not. "God is our Refuge and Strength: therefore will we not fear." These are the two contrasted thoughts of our text.

I. THE INSECURITY OF EVERY EARTHLY REFUGE ; the instability of all human strength. This may be realized:

1 . In public calamity ; national disasters. Depression of trade may carry discomfort, even ruin, into hundreds of thousands of homes. Our commercial system is so complicated and nicely balanced that one gigantic failure may give a shock to the whole fabric. The tremendous possibilities of war have to be reckoned; clear though the sky may be, the war-clouds may at any time gather and burst; perhaps with destructive fury surpassing all example. Even if our own shores still escape, war expenditure may drain our resources, and the destruction of our commerce entail scarcity—even famine. Some new form of pestilence may defy healing skill. The pride of the nations may be broken, their wealth wasted, their science proved unavailing.

2 . In personal and family trouble. It has happened sometimes—travellers well know the spots—that when sky and sea were calm, and no earthquake shook the land, a whole hillside has slid down without warning, carrying down and wrecking peaceful homesteads, even overwhelming whole villages. Even so, when public prosperity is untroubled; the private foundations of your health, fortune, happiness, hope, may fail, and with brief or no warning, and all your earthly welfare be laid in ruins ( Psalms 30:6 , Psalms 30:7 ).

3 . In prevailing unsettlement of thought and belief. When old forms go out of fashion; traditional beliefs are discredited; trusted leaders fail; men seem to hold nothing firm or settled. Worst of all, when this agitated atmosphere infects our inward life; doubt surges in, and threatens to overwhelm faith and conviction; the ground seems to quake under our feet, and darkness to beset and bewilder our soul.

II. THE NEVER - FAILING REFUGE . God's children, in these and all other calamities, find a " very present Help" in him.

1 . His power to save is all-sufficient. All hearts and events are in his hand ( 2 Chronicles 14:11 ; 2 Chronicles 16:9 ).

2 . His wisdom is infinite. All that can happen is known—has always been known to him. He can never be at a loss to answer prayer.

3 . His promises meet every emergency ( Hebrews 13:5 , Hebrews 13:6 ).

4 . His faithfulness is the immovable foundation on which we may build absolute trust ( Hebrews 6:18 , Hebrews 6:19 ). All the experience of the past, all the hope of the future, sheds its light on the dark present, because he changes not. If there be any truth, God must be true. And if anything be certain, it is that Jesus Christ , "the true and faithful" Witness, speaks God's truth to us ( John 14:6 , John 14:10 , John 14:27 ; John 19:37 ; Hebrews 13:8 ).