Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
       an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
       and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
       and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
       the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
       God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
       he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
       the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
       to the ends of the earth.
       He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
       he burns the shields 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 Almighty is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our fortress.


Main point: Growing peace
The presence of God in this hymn of praise is not transient, short-term or temporary. God is always with us and with all people (v 1), and despite all the calamities we fear, he remains constant.

Life and hope
The river of God's presence flows through the city bringing life and hope in the same way as many great cities have rivers as their focus (vs 4,5). This reference to Jerusalem reminds us of God's lasting presence in our lives - God was with us, is with us, and will be with us.

Blessing, safety and calm
The God of Jacob, who blessed him with so much and kept him safe despite so many threats, is the God in whom we can trust (vs 7,14). So we see calm and an end to conflict brought about by God's power, as we will go on to see in the story of Jacob.

Rest in God
How sad do you feel about the world's attitude to God? Do you feel that disaster looms?

In the busyness and noise of modern life we can easily think that all our mission and work for the Lord is futile, and we'll never make a difference. But God will prevail, he will be exalted, and we will find peace if we simply rest in him (v 10).