The Only Refuge
October 2, 2024
Pastor Gordon Cook
Psalm 46, To the choir master of the sons of Korah, according to Alamoth. A song.
It has been called the Martin Luther psalm. As you know, Martin Luther was converted by studying the book of Romans, but he also made good use of the psalms. His favorite psalm was Psalm 46, and when he found himself in dark, dangerous times during the Reformation, when he was terribly discouraged and overwhelmed by the situation that he was facing, he would turn to his friend Philip Melanchthon and he would say, “Let us sing Psalm 46”, and that's what they would do, they would sing Psalm 46.
In Psalm 46 you have two great unstable environments or frightening situations, both of them are profiled. The first is verses 1-3, the unstable or unsafe environment of nature, a huge storm of some kind. Verse 2 says, “The earth gives way, and mountains are moving into the heart of the sea.” Verse 3, again, “Waters roar and foam.” It takes a lot of power and energy for waters to roll and form, sounds like a hurricane, tornado or tsunami. I'm sure you're familiar with what has taken place in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Hurricane Helene has what, 180 people dead, they're still counting. It has been called the second greatest hurricane storm in America in 50 years. Massive destruction everywhere. In Romans 8 Paul tells us that this present creation groans, it will never stop groaning, not until Jesus comes back again. Here's the analogy I've often used, it's like a war veteran; this present creation is like a war veteran that has one leg, maybe half an arm, he's got a blind eye, maybe a deaf ear. That's creation, present creation, it's groaning, it's impaired. It's not like the old or the brand new creation that God made that was more like an Olympian champion running; not anymore.
But notice something else that explains this instability and the pain and suffering of this present age. The second major force, or power that makes this world so frightening, unpredictable, and unstable, verse 6, “The nation's rage, the kingdom's totter,” and Jesus said, “There will be wars and rumors of wars.” Someone has said this country has fought 13 wars, Britain 78 major wars, Russia 62 wars, Germany 23. It never stops, it never stops. There are wars taking place right now in parts of the world, Ukraine, Israel. Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles yesterday into Western and Central Israel, and they believe that Israel is going to retaliate. Some think we're on the verge of another global war. But nothing that we can say about this life is ultimately safe, nothing. This is not a safe world, it never will be. It's subject to war, earthquakes, disease, disaster, you go down the list. And the most powerful countries, the strongest of military forces cannot guarantee safety. There's only one safe place, the psalmist tells us. He gives a beautiful picture, a graphic of God in verse 1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Here's the great stability, God.
And here's the great way to deal with our fears, “The Lord is my strength, my help.” He is stable, he's as secure as secure can be. David had a lot of difficulties, a lot of fearful situations, and he wasn't afraid to admit he was afraid. Even the Apostle Paul admits he had fears from without, fears from within. Psalm 56, “When I am afraid I will trust in you.” Here's the great comfort, he's a present help, verse 1 of Psalm 46, and that's emphasized again in Psalm 46:11, “The Lord of Hosts is with us.” He's not a faraway god, he is not the god of the Deists, he is near, and you can call on him anytime, anyplace. I'm sure you have felt some fears, maybe even today, last week, last month, and they can shake our souls and trouble our minds. We have to look again and again by faith to the all-powerful sovereign, loving, merciful God and trust His promises. This world will always be a scary, frightening place, and there's only one ultimate safe place, God and God alone. That's where we must run, that's where we must hide. To use another beautiful figure, “Under the shadow of his wings,” Psalm 91. So let's go to prayer believing who God is, exercising faith in His absolute sovereignty, power, mercy and grace.
Pastor Gordon Cook
Psalm 46, To the choir master of the sons of Korah, according to Alamoth. A song.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdom's totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah"
It has been called the Martin Luther psalm. As you know, Martin Luther was converted by studying the book of Romans, but he also made good use of the psalms. His favorite psalm was Psalm 46, and when he found himself in dark, dangerous times during the Reformation, when he was terribly discouraged and overwhelmed by the situation that he was facing, he would turn to his friend Philip Melanchthon and he would say, “Let us sing Psalm 46”, and that's what they would do, they would sing Psalm 46.
In Psalm 46 you have two great unstable environments or frightening situations, both of them are profiled. The first is verses 1-3, the unstable or unsafe environment of nature, a huge storm of some kind. Verse 2 says, “The earth gives way, and mountains are moving into the heart of the sea.” Verse 3, again, “Waters roar and foam.” It takes a lot of power and energy for waters to roll and form, sounds like a hurricane, tornado or tsunami. I'm sure you're familiar with what has taken place in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Hurricane Helene has what, 180 people dead, they're still counting. It has been called the second greatest hurricane storm in America in 50 years. Massive destruction everywhere. In Romans 8 Paul tells us that this present creation groans, it will never stop groaning, not until Jesus comes back again. Here's the analogy I've often used, it's like a war veteran; this present creation is like a war veteran that has one leg, maybe half an arm, he's got a blind eye, maybe a deaf ear. That's creation, present creation, it's groaning, it's impaired. It's not like the old or the brand new creation that God made that was more like an Olympian champion running; not anymore.
But notice something else that explains this instability and the pain and suffering of this present age. The second major force, or power that makes this world so frightening, unpredictable, and unstable, verse 6, “The nation's rage, the kingdom's totter,” and Jesus said, “There will be wars and rumors of wars.” Someone has said this country has fought 13 wars, Britain 78 major wars, Russia 62 wars, Germany 23. It never stops, it never stops. There are wars taking place right now in parts of the world, Ukraine, Israel. Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles yesterday into Western and Central Israel, and they believe that Israel is going to retaliate. Some think we're on the verge of another global war. But nothing that we can say about this life is ultimately safe, nothing. This is not a safe world, it never will be. It's subject to war, earthquakes, disease, disaster, you go down the list. And the most powerful countries, the strongest of military forces cannot guarantee safety. There's only one safe place, the psalmist tells us. He gives a beautiful picture, a graphic of God in verse 1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Here's the great stability, God.
And here's the great way to deal with our fears, “The Lord is my strength, my help.” He is stable, he's as secure as secure can be. David had a lot of difficulties, a lot of fearful situations, and he wasn't afraid to admit he was afraid. Even the Apostle Paul admits he had fears from without, fears from within. Psalm 56, “When I am afraid I will trust in you.” Here's the great comfort, he's a present help, verse 1 of Psalm 46, and that's emphasized again in Psalm 46:11, “The Lord of Hosts is with us.” He's not a faraway god, he is not the god of the Deists, he is near, and you can call on him anytime, anyplace. I'm sure you have felt some fears, maybe even today, last week, last month, and they can shake our souls and trouble our minds. We have to look again and again by faith to the all-powerful sovereign, loving, merciful God and trust His promises. This world will always be a scary, frightening place, and there's only one ultimate safe place, God and God alone. That's where we must run, that's where we must hide. To use another beautiful figure, “Under the shadow of his wings,” Psalm 91. So let's go to prayer believing who God is, exercising faith in His absolute sovereignty, power, mercy and grace.
Posted in Pastor Devotional