God the Refuge of His People.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, [a]set to Alamoth. A Song.
46 God is our refuge and strength,
[b]A very present help in [c]trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the [d]sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. [e]Selah.4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her [f]when morning dawns.
6 The [g]nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He [h]raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
[i]Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “[j]Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the [k]nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
The first few verses sum up this chapter pretty well. God is our refuge, he is our strength, and when we are in trouble, He is faithful to help us. But it continues on with a description of all sorts of calamities, to make sure we get the message.
If the earth quakes, if mountains literally melt into the sea, if the sea rages with storm, hurricane, or tsunami, God is with us, and He is our stronghold. If the nations roar, if some rise, and others fall, if the earth itself literally melts away… God is with us, and He is our stronghold.
Some of things have happened, some are happening, and some will happen (maybe sooner than we think). The earth will one day dissolve into nothing. Yet for those who put their trust and hope and faith in God, we will remain. For God is with us, and He is our stronghold.
Verse 10 puts the brakes on the whole thing, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” In the footnotes it gives an alternate translation, “Let go, relax and know that I am God.” Stop trying to fix it, stop trying to be in control. Everything is for His glory, and He will be glorified no matter what happens. No ruler can stop Him, no mountain can touch Him, no sea can overwhelm Him.
And that God, that ruler and leader of hosts of angel armies, that God is with us, that God is our stronghold. Let it sink in, let the truth of who He is overcome your doubt and your worry, your striving and your trying and your fighting. Let go, and know that He is God, and there is no other like Him, and He cares, for you, right now, where you are.