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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)
- The LORD is a help in trouble. But He’s not just a help, He’s a PRESENT help. He’s not just a PRESENT help, He’s a VERY PRESENT HELP! Because of that, he’s removed the spirit of fear (verse 2).
- 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.
- All the scary events and loud crashing that accompany a storm are just noise when you’ve taken refuge in the Rock that is higher than you. The only power of the storm is the noise it makes and the intimidation through sound. But actual power is lost when it comes in contact with the Refuge.
- 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 joy 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.
- Swept up in the culture that made a profession of faith, but never had any.
Refuge is where you wait (vss 8-11)
- Behold… Here’s how you get into the refuge.
- Be still… Sometimes it’s not about taking steps, but taking refuge. Sometimes it’s about trusting God with your time, friendships, money, relationships, and that’s how you take refuge.
