Psalm Category: Song of Zion

Central Thought: Psalm 46 reveals the glory of our sovereign God. He is sovereign over both nature and nations.

Keyword: Mahseh (v. 1). Mahseh is translated as “refuge” (NIV) in verse 1. This word can function in several ways. First, it can simply refer to finding physical shelter from a storm or calamity. Second, it can also refer to an act of faith. It can reflect the confident trust of the believer in God. Finally, it can also serve as an epithet for God. It is this last function that is operative in Psalm 46.

Psalm 46

September 11th, 2001. Hurricane Katrina. The war in Iraq. Iran’s nuclear program. North Korea’s missile launchings. Bird flu. Terrorists’ plots. Our lives are marked by tumult and war. We face the ever-present dual threats of nature and nations. The big question is: How do we deal with these things? Many people deal with the threats of this world by finding refuge in money, sex, drugs, or alcohol.

In Psalm 46, we find the psalmist in a time of tumult and trouble. Everything seems to be crashing down around him. But the psalmist doesn’t find refuge in money, sex, or a bottle. Instead he finds refuge in the sovereign God.

Sovereign Over Nature (vv. 1-3): Here we see God’s sovereignty over nature. The psalmist describes his calamity in terms of natural disasters like earthquakes (“though the earth give way”) and floods (“though its water roar and foam”). Here the psalmist notes that the seemingly stable things, like the earth and mountains, are ultimately unable to provide him with security. Nature offers no place of true refuge.

So where does the psalmist find his refuge? He finds it in the God who is sovereign over nature. In verse 1, the psalmist declares that God is his “refuge,” “strength,” and “ever-present help.” While some may run to the mountains for refuge, the psalmist runs to the God who is sovereign over the mountains.

Sovereign Over Nations (vv. 4-11): We see here the sovereignty of God over the nations. Although the psalmist uses natural imagery in this psalm to express the tumult he is experiencing, the ultimate source of his fear is not in nature but in the actions of mankind. The psalmist’s calamity is caused by men and nations. When you read this section of the psalm, you get the sense that Jerusalem in under siege from foreign invaders. For example, consider verse 5: “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” As was often the case, Israel is here on the brink of war. The barbarians are at the gate.

What does the psalmist do in the face of such calamity? Where does he turn for refuge? He runs to the God who is sovereign over nations.

We see God’s sovereignty over the nations in verses 6-10. This is particularly stressed in verse 9, where he declares of God, “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.” This profound statement of God’s sovereignty over the nations is then followed by this assuring command to Israel in verse 10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” God’s commanding voice, which is capable of melting the earth (v. 6), calls us to be still in times of trouble and place our trust in His sovereign power.

Christ Our Sovereign Lord: Until the return of the Lord, we will face tumult and trouble—the earth will quake, the seas will roar, and nations will threaten. There will be times in your life when your entire world will seem like it is falling apart before your eyes. In those inevitable times, run to the refuge of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is sovereign over nature. He rebuked the wind and the waves by declaring, “Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Jesus is also sovereign over nations, since as mediatorial King He has been given all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). Jesus, our Immanuel, brings out the full meaning of Psalm 46:11, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

—Anthony Selvaggio