Psalm 46--God Is Our Fortress

Psalm 46
English Standard Version

God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He 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!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

---

This is also a psalm that most of us will be familiar with, as we come to this psalm for comfort when we are in distress.  Each of the three stanzas is ended with the instruction "Selah," which we assume means "to pause and reflect."  This was also meant to be sung by the Sons of Korah during corporate worship services.  "God is our Refuge and Strength...." "We will not fear..." "Though the earth give way, though the mountains be thrown into the heart of the sea."  This sounds like some apocalyptic language, and yet the people are saying that even if they live through the LORD's judgement, they will not have to be afraid, because they are safe and secure in the LORD's salvation.

Why do I think this psalm is addressing the wrath of God that is coming in the end times?  Because the next stanza talks about the City of God who belongs to those who God saves from the coming judgment.  The River of Life is described here, and God dwells among His people in the midst of that City.  The other nations rage and try to rebel against the Messiah--the King of Kings and Lord of Lords--but they will fail, and their kingdoms will be destroyed, and kingdoms of this world will be judged.  The God who spoke this world into existence will one day speak this old creation out of existence--we have imagery here of the earth melting that is also given in the New Testament that the coming judgment will be a judgment of fire that is so hot that the elements themselves will melt.  Yet, God's people need not fear, for He is their Fortress--the LORD of Hosts and the God of Jacob is His Name.

We are sure that this will happen because the LORD has given us a preview of this coming judgment when He destroyed the peoples of the world in the Flood, then how He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, and even as He destroyed those who inhabited the Land that He had promised to His people Israel--He fought for them and secured the victory.  They only needed to take possession of that which He had won for them.  We can be sure that once again, the LORD will fight for Himself and His people and will be victorious over all His enemies.  It will be the war to end all wars, because once all of God's enemies are destroyed, there will be no more sin and no more death, and no more war.  There will be no more need for bows or spears or chariots (or other weapons of war).  God will be glorified because "Every knee will bow and every tongue confess, in heaven and earth and under the earth, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."  We see a glimpse of that here that even the nations that were judged will bring glory to the LORD.  So it will be said by God's people, "The LORD of Hosts is with us!  The God of Jacob is our Fortress."