Psalms 46
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 46:1-11
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9He 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!”
11The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 46:1-11
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
“Be still,” God says through the psalmist. “Be still and know that I am God.”
Be still. Be silent. Listen. Wait. Stop striving. Stop fighting. Stop depending on yourself and your ideas, projects, and resources, and what you think you know. There is an eternal perspective, and God can do more than we could imagine.
Stand still and watch what God will do!
The Sea of Galilee obeyed when He said, “Peace, be still”!
Jehoshaphat’s army paid attention when God said, “You will not need to fight this battle: Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.”
And when the choir that led out the troops began to sing and praise, “the Lord set an ambush” among the enemy, and they destroyed each other.
God told Joshua, When the priests come to the Jordan River, they are to wade into the water and “stand still” there in the edge—and the river will pile up in a heap so that all the people can cross over on dry ground.
Maybe “Trust” is another way to understand “Be still.”
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
Don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the One who will keep you on track” (Proverbs 3:5, 6 MSG).
Virginia Davidson, Artist—designing and building stained glass windows
Spokane Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, Washington, USA (as of this writing)
