Psalm 46

A Mighty Fortress is our God!

Intro

√ A mighty fortress!

Some Bible students believe that this psalm was written to celebrate the Lord's awesome deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib - the king of Assyria.

Assyria had destroyed all of the kingdoms in the area from Babylon to Samaria.

No one was able to stand before their armies.

Sennacherib had sent his messengers to Jerusalem to mock Hezekiah's faith in the Lord to protect them.

Hezekiah took the letter sent to him from Sennacherib to the Temple and spread it before the Lord.

The Lord sent to Isaiah that he might ask the Lord for help.

The Lord's response…

2Ki. 19:32 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.

2Ki. 19:33 By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,’ Says the LORD.

2Ki. 19:34 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”

2Ki. 19:35 And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses--all dead.

2Ki. 19:36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.

2Ki. 19:37 Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

God did by the hand of one angle what all the armies of men had not been able to do…

…defend a city from Sennacherib!

So, we find the psalmist celebrating the awesome God of Israel.

Concerning God he declares that God is…

Our refuge in times of trouble

Is always with His servants to protect them

That He helps those who trust in Him

Ap. How big is your God?

Do you really believe that He is able to handle all of the troubles in your life? Or do you find yourself like so many of the saints looking to "Egypt" (the world) for help?

It's interesting that this psalm was the inspiration for Martin Luther's "A mighty fortress is our God."

AKA "The Battle Hymm of the Reformation".

Translated into almost every known language!

During difficult times when it seemed like the reformation would be snuffed out, Martin Luther would to his friends..

"Let's sing the 46^th psalm!"

As we study psalm 46 tonight may we find the same inspiration that has stirred the hearts of the saints throughout the ages to trust in the awesome saving power of God!

God is our refuge! (vs. 1-3)

Ps. 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Ps. 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Ps. 46:3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

√ God is our refuge!

In life, whenever circumstances change, or you feel that you are being threatened…

Physically

Emotionally

Spiritually

…the psalmist reminds us to focus our attention upon our Awesome God!

He is our Defense at all times and in all situations!

Note that God is called our…

"refuge" - vs. 1

…literally, our…

"shelter from danger"

The point, which, the psalmist makes is that there is nothing in all of Creation which can harm us when we place our trust in Almighty God!

For all of Creation bows to the will of their Creator!

God is the ultimate "big brother!"

√ Note the language

In vs. 2-3 the psalmist use hyperbolic language to describe the most fearsome scenarios, that is, he uses exaggerated examples to show us how Big our God is.

That is…

If the massive mountains upon which Jerusalem was build were tossed into the sea…

Or a tidal wave threatened to wash over the land…

Or, even if the whole planet was to be vaporized

…God is well able to protect His people from harm!

Ap. On the eve of September 11^th that's good news!

We live in a very uncertain time.

A time in which madmen in the name of their false god are perfectly willing to strap explosives to their body and kill innocent people.

A time in which WMD's can be transported almost anywhere in the world without any means of detecting them.

A time in which even with all of our military power we find ourselves unable to stop another attack like that of 9/11.

Its enough to make a person's hearts stop!

Regarding the Last Days, Jesus said…

Lu. 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

Lu. 21:26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

My point is that what the psalmist thought impossible - the very destruction of the planet - is now well within possibility!

Yet, the promise of God remains that He is our shelter from all harm - therefore we can find peace in the midst of a crazy world…

…because God is your refuge!

God is with us! (vs. 4-7)

Ps. 46:4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

Ps. 46:5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

Ps. 46:6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

Ps. 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

√ God is with us!

Not only is God our refuge from harm, He is also…

…always with us!

The point is that a refuge is only good to those who are in it!

Ex. Tornado shelter - remember Dorothy and Todo!?

The tornado shelter in your backyard isn't going to help you if you're stuck in traffic!

Ah, but with God we never have to worry about where we are when trouble comes!

God is a "portable" refuge! He is everywhere all at once and had made Himself available to anyone who would trust in Him - wherever they happen to be!

So the servant of God doesn't have to be afraid of anything, no matter where they are!

√ Jerusalem

Specifically the psalmist has in mind the promise of God to dwell in, and to protect the city of Jerusalem.

Note vs. 4…

"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God"

…the "city of God" refers to Jerusalem, the city upon which God chose to place His Name and for His glory to dwell. The "river" is a picture or symbol of God's presence within Jerusalem.

God had promised the children of Israel that He would never let Jerusalem fall so long as they served Him faithfully.

Ex. The psalmist had seen with his own eyes the promise of God come to fulfillment as He destroyed the armies of Assyria who had come against Jerusalem.

Yet, we know that Jerusalem did eventually fall to the Babylonians.

The reason of course was that the people of God turned from Him and sought the refuge of false gods.

We find that after many hundreds of years of warning Jerusalem to repent, the sad testimony that God moved out of the city. (Ez. 8-10)

Without God's presence and protection the high walls of Jerusalem offered no refuge and the people were destroyed.

The people of Jerusalem wrongly trusted in the high walls of the city vs. God's presence.

We must be careful that we never trust in Man's strength!

Ex. USA's military power - we are vulnerable to attack without God's hand of protection.

Ap. A mighty fortress is our God - Martin Luther's testimony that God is more powerful than any army.

I was a student and a teacher all my life, but now I was teaching my children. I encouraged them to study. We need children to stay in school. We need good doctors and lawyers, teachers and pastors. So many young boys want to quit school and be a knight. It’s easy to make a knight. All you have to do is hang a pair of pants over a horse and you have a knight.

In 1529 the Turks were invading Europe and had besieged Vienna. If Vienna fell, the Turks would overrun Europe and put Christians to the sword. How we prayed, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Then the news came. The Turks were defeated and were leaving Europe. A loud shout of praise and thanks rose from the people of God. There was music dancing in my heart and lyrics ringing in my ears. I wrote down the words and put them music.

A mighty fortress is our God, A sword and shield victorious;

He breaks the cruel oppressor's rod And wins salvation glorious.

The old satanic foe Has sworn to work us woe!

With craft and dreadful might He arms himself to fight.

On earth he has no equal.

Though hordes of devils fill the land All Threatening to devour us,

We tremble not, unmoved we stand; They cannot overpower us.

Let this world's tyrant rage; In battle we'll engage!

His might is doomed to fail; God's judgment will prevail!

One little word subdues him!

A mighty fortress is our God.

Friend, what army do you fear tonight? There is none which can defeat us for He is with those who trust in Him.

God will help us! (vs. 8-9)

Ps. 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.

Ps. 46:9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

√ God will help us!

The psalmist calls us to look at what God has done to those who have fought against Him and His people.

God alone…

Brings an end to war

Destroys the weapons of man

…whether it was the mighty nation or Egypt which God destroyed with 10 plagues…

…or the high walled city of Jericho which stood between Joshua and the Promised Land…

…or Sennecerib and the fearsome army of Ninevah…

God alone can help us when we're in trouble!

Ap. God wants to help you!

2Ch 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Too often we fail to apprehend the help of God because we do not ask Him, but instead we look to Man to save us!

Make God your first stop for help. Whether it healing that you need, or a miracle of provision…

…God would have us seek Him first! If He chooses to work through the natural - great! But, He will often do the supernatural and show that He alone can save us when we cry for help!

Ex. The funds for Kelly's braces

God wanted the glory and chose to do it in an unexpected way.

So, when you find that trouble surrounds you look to God for He desires to help you in your time of need!

God can handle it! (vs. 10-11)

Ps. 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Ps. 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

√ God can handle it!

In his closing thoughts that psalmist reminds us what it is that God requires of us in times of trouble…

"Be still, and know that I am God" - vs. 10

It is interesting that "be still" literally means…

"take your hands off & relax"!

Isn't that great!

The point is that God is well able to handle anything that comes against us. He doesn't need our help, He doesn't need our suggestions…

…our job is to take our hands off the steering wheel of our life and let God do His thing!

God knows what He is doing

God knows the perfect time to do it

When He's done He will get the glory and we will be blessed!

Ap. Let God take care of the troubles in your life

If we really believe all that we say we believe about God, then we need to take our hands off and let God work in our life.

Unfortunately many Christians live as practicing atheists!

While they proclaim to trust in the Lord, they live like He doesn't exist!

Rather, they look to the wisdom and strength of Man to gain victory over the works of Satan in their life!

So, God's instruction to us is to…

"Be still and know I am God"

…God can handle it.

Close

√ What to do when you're afraid

"Be still" - Ps. 46:10

"Stand still" - Ex. 14:13

"Sit still" - Ruth 3:18

So remember, when trouble surrounds you…

God is your refuge

God is with you

God will help you

God can handle the troubles in your life

…let Him!