Our Refuge and Strength

#8. Feb. 23, 2015

2015 Devotional. These passages are taken from: “100 Verses Every Christian Needs to Know” by Freeman-Smith. All passages are from the NIV.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God;

                             I will be exalted among the nations,

                              I will be exalted in the earth”.

The book of Psalms is a book of prayer and praise songs to God. Psalm 46 is a praise song; the title suggests a liturgical and probably a responsive song with two or three groups of singers answering each other initially used in temple worship but later also sung in procession up to Jerusalem/temple. The Hebrew term “alamoth” in the title means; young women, but here may also mean youth. The term suggests the participation of women dancing with tambourines to accompany the song. It may also suggest youth answering their elders in a responsive song.

Besides Psalm 46 being a praise song it praises God as our protector and comforter in tumultuous times, stanzas one v.1-3. Also He is our provider by his Holy Presence, stanzas two v. 4-5. God is in control of the earth and the nations on it, stanzas three v. 6-7. God’s works are on display and He opposes war in dramatic fashion, stanzas four v. 8-9. To the men’s/ women’s back and forth praise God responds with a command and man responds with God “is our fortress”, stanzas five v. 10-11.

Martin Luther wrote the Hymn; “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” based on this Psalm which has been called “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation”. In early Reformation times the song was sung in many situations: at times of war before battle, while Christians were being led to the inquisition by fellow Christians, while being led into exile, and while heading for martyrdom. Later it became a favorite Christian song for Lutherans and other Christians in many denominations. In more modern times the song has been used and abused by the entertainment industry (Wikipedia).

Verse 10 begins with two Hebrew imperatives: “be still and know”, God is commanding us to be silent before him. Stop! Don’t speak! Don’t think! And do know Him, suggesting not a superficial awareness but a deep and intimate knowledge of God. This is God’s response to the praise of the stanzas’ that are sung before this last one. It is a difficult command to come to grips with as Christians. As in the past, Christians today are led off to be killed and they call on God. The answer “be still and know that I am God!” But God, we are about to be beheaded, thinking now of Coptic Christians who refused to apostate. “Be still and know that I am God!” What matters here is that Christians will not suffer the “second death”. Nothing, nothing will hurt us spiritually and nothing, nothing will separate us from God’s Love (Rom 8: 28-38). I think that the tribulation Scripture talks about has been going on for centuries and is increasing and will continue to do so until it becomes the “great tribulation”. Christians are not exempt from it but God is our refuge and strength.

God continues in verse ten with, “I will be exalted among the nations and in the earth”. Those who are faithful exalt God, and those who choose death over apostasy exalt God! God is exalted now! Also, the Hebrew terms indicate “I am”. Therefore, God says: “I am exalted and I will be exalted among the nations”. “I am exalted and I will be exalted in the earth” (my translation). The Lord our “God cannot be mocked” and those who do so are playing with fire! In contrast God is with those who acknowledge Him; He is our refuge and strength. Let us bring our praise and exaltation to Him!