RELAX-Psalm 46

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

Beach2 Psalm 46:10 – Encouraging Bible VersesBe still: He says, “Be still [relax, stop, desist, let go], and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps 46:10).

A mighty fortress: “God is our refuge and strength,  an ever-present help in trouble.” “The Lord Almighty [The Lord of Heaven‘s Armies/of Hosts] is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps46:1, 7, 11).

[Prayer: Psalm 91:1-10. Father, forgive us for trying to control every aspect of our lives. Forgive us for failing to trust you, for playing God ourselves. Give us the grace and strength to “stand empty” before you, relying on you, casting our worries and fears on you, trusting you.]

Psalm 46 is a psalm of radical trust in the face of overwhelming threat, without clarifying the specific cause of the threat, as is often the case with the psalms, so that they can have broad applicability. Psalm 46 is a beloved passage that celebrates God’s power and his role as the defender of his people. It declares that no matter what’s happening, God is a refuge and strength, and that people can wait on him even in the midst of chaos.

Martin Luther‘s battle hymn–A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, the great Reformation Hymn–composed at a time of crisis, took it’s starting point from this psalm (Ps 46:1, 11), catching its indomitable spirt but striking out in new directions. [Psalm 46 is one of his favorite psalms.] It is recorded that in his darkest moments, he would say to his friends, “Come, let us sing the 46th psalm and let them do their worst.” Outline:

  1. God in the storm (1-3). God’s power over nature.
  2. God in His city (4-7). God’s power over the attackers of His city.
  3. God exalted in the earth (8-11). God’s power over the whole warring world.

What do you do in life‘s storms? How do you conquer chaos? Triumph over trouble?

  1. Retreat to your refuge (1-3): Radical trust in God. You must enter the fortress of God. “God is our refuge and strength” (Ps 46:1). God protects us in life’s storms.
  2. Rediscover your strength (4-7): God’s protective presence. You must dwell in the fortress of God. “The Lord Almighty is with us” (Ps 46:7, 11). You have a power and person within you. God gives us peace in life’s storms.
  3. Redirect your thoughts (8-11) and remember God’s word (10-11): Trusting God. You must look out from the fortress of God. “Come and see what the Lord has done” (Ps 46:8). God will silence the storms.

What does God’s refuge (Ps 46:1) do for you?

  1. God’s refuge is a shelter. “Whoever dwells in the shelterof the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps 91:1).
  2. God’s refuge is solid. “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refugeand my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:2).
  3. God’s refuge is safe. “Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from deadly pestilence.” “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” (Psalm 91:3, 9-10).
  4. God’s refuge is secure. “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5).
  5. God’s refuge is strong. “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (Ps 91:7).

** IF you believe in God is there any reason to fear anything?

** Is there any reason for a Christian to be unhappy?

Christian Happiness [1st sermon by Jonathan Edwards at age 18]:

  • Point 1: Our bad things will turn out for good. 
  • Point 2: Our good things can never be taken away from us. 
  • Point 3: The best things are yet to come.

Be still (Ps 46:10) can lead to the misconception that it’s a command to be silent or reverent in church. But the Hebrew phrase translated as “give in and know that I am God” is an exhortation from God to people of all nations. It encourages them to stop opposing him and recognize that he is the only one worthy of worship. It can also mean that trust and submission are key to “knowing that I am God.”

How does Psalm 46 points to Jesus?

  1. Jesus/God is our refuge and strength (Ps 46:1).
    1. Jesus is our mother hen (Mt 23:37; Lk 13:34).
    2. Jesus gives us power (Ac 1:8; 2 Tim 1:7).
  2. Jesus promised us a river (Ps 46:4). Jn 4:13-14.
    1. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (Jn 7:38).
  3. Jesus replaces the temple (Ps 46:4).
    1. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (Jn 2:19).
  4. Jesus is the One exalted among the nations (Ps 46:10b). Phil 2:5-8, 9-11.
  5. Jesus was “still” while in excruciating agony on the cross (Ps 46:10a). Heb 12:2.
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