Psalm 46

What a beautiful psalm!

There are three verses, evenly spaced that give us the theme of the psalm: 1, 7, 11. God is with us (Emmanuel - who is Jesus, the Christ); he is our help and strength.

The first verses of the psalm refers to extraordinary natural catastrophes: the earth changing, the mountains shaking in the heart of the sea, earthquakes, tsunamis.

In the middle of these terrifying events, exists the city of God (Zion, see Hebrews 12: 22). In it, everything is calm and at peace, even joyful, because it is being fed by the river of God and God is in its midst. (See Jn. 4 for the water that always and completely satisfied - again, it is Jesus, the Christ). All other nations are in an uproar; the city of God (God's people, his church, his assembly) is unmoved; it is secure.

So it is God who makes desolation on the earth. Look and see the desolation that he brings: he makes wars to cease; he breaks the offensive weapons (bows and spears) and defensive weapons (shields), and says, "Be still and know that I am God!" The desolation that he brings is the desolation of men's violence. Violence that exists because we do not trust him and know that he is God.

I don't think that this psalm could have been written when there was no war or threat of war in Israel's history. War was always taking place or on the horizon. Yet, in faith, God calls us to see what he brings. Even in times of tumult, by faith we see our God bringing an end to all wars and all violence.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.