Text: Psalm 46
The musical notation for the psalm says A Song upon Alamoth which is the plural form of alma or virgin. So the instruction is for a choir of chaste virgin girl’s choir to about God being a refuge.
David writes this psalm while hiding in a cave from Saul. He thinks about the cave as a refuge like God as a refuge. And just like bunkering down until the storm passes over, David hears the Lord say, Be still, and know that I am God.
There are three stanzas to this song. They are broken up by the word Selah in verses 3, 7, and 11. Each stanza describes another aspect of God as a refuge.
Refuge is where the storm has no power (vss 1-3)
- Fears meet their match in the Lord. David mentions several potentially worrisome events that will not be able to encroach of those who have made God their refuge.
- Earth removed – Isaiah 24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
- God is a very present help
- “A” but not ‘Your” help unless you grab hold of his promise through faith.
- Visiting with a lady about her losing her husband and losing her faith. Impossible to explain going to church doesn’t offer hope of help unless you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and set your affections on things above.
Refuge is where stability is found (vss 4-7)
- Provision is made here. It is a fixed place of provision.
- Notice in verse 5 where God is there is stability, but the heathen raged against God in verse 6 and were swept away in the storm
- Matthew 7:21-27 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Refuge is where you sit still and wait (vss 8-11)
- Behold…
- Be still…
- Hebrews 10:32-39 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated (not only meaning enlightened, but you became a light that was illuminated), ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
- Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
- Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
