Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Key Verse:
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Key Observation:
The Lord is coming to reign on earth.

Memory Verse:
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Devotion:
Matthew Henry says: “It is said of Luther that, when he heard any discouraging news, he would say, Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm.” It was his favorite psalm. It is a psalm of great comfort, and though Henry does not refer to it’s Messianic tone it is apparent throughout. McGee connects this psalm to Psalm 45, which introduced the theme of the Messianic Kingdom. He says that 46, 47, and 48 all go together. Psalm 46 is a beautiful psalm and an “ever present help in the time of trouble.”

I do have to wonder why so many people interpreting the Bible so want to do it allegorically—substituting the church for Israel. Do they really think that God made a mistake? These psalms show that God fully intends to rule the earth through the nation of Israel. In that day we will see the child who dies at 100 thought to be accursed. We will see the wolf lying down with the lamb, and the lion eating straw. In that day all the nations of the world will bring tribute to Israel, where they will meet and worship the Lord. The Bible says it! Believe what it says, or if you have problems believing it, believe that God does know what he is talking about. Ask God to help you believe.

In this psalm it talks of the earth melting, the mountains going into the sea, and a huge earthquake shaking everything up. All of these things are talked about in Revelation. They are all going to come to pass exactly as God has promised—not one whit will change from what he has told us. In history, I think the spiritualizing of many prophecy passages came to pass partly because the Lord did not appear. Christians tried to make sense of the world around them with the prophetic passages and the result was a complete muddle. Revelation has been interpreted by many Christians in many different historical periods; none of them were true, because Revelation is the 70th week of Daniel. We Christians will not even be here when Revelation does start being fulfilled. God will fulfill his last week with Israel, and then will come to reign on the earth with his Christians right behind him. That is how I know Revelation has not happened yet.

Peter tells us that God is not slack concerning his promise, but is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He is coming! Are you ready for his appearance? There is only one way to get ready—believe God. Believe that He sent the Son for redeeming you. Pick up your Bible and start reading in the great book of John—where so much is taught about the Son of God. Read a chapter and tell God you may not understand it, but you believe it. Pray that God may help you in your unbelief.