The Book of Psalms

Psalm 46

Psalm XLVI · Vol. II, pp. 1015–1017

1 The confidence of the church in God's protection. 8 An exhortation to contemplate his works.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

To the chief musician for¹ the sons of Korah, ^aA song upon ^bAlamoth.

1 God is ^cour refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble:

B.C. cir. 1048 or 1038.

1 Or, of.

a Ps.xlviii. lxvi.

b 1 Ch.15.20.

c ver.5,7,11; Ps.3.3;18.1-18;91.1-16;145.18. De.4.7. Ge.19.15-28;22.14.

2 Therefore^d will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;²

d Ps.23.4. Is.41.10,14;43.1,2,5. 1 Pe.3.14. Phi.1.28.

2 Heb. the heart of the seas.

3 Though^e the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.³

e Ps.93.3,4;18.4. Je.5.22. Mat.7.25. Is.57.20;17.12,13;5.29,30.

3 See note on Ps.3.2.—C.

4 There^g is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad ^hthe city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

g Eze.47.1-12. ver.5. Is.33.21;12.3. Je.2.13. Ps.36.9,10;23.2. Re.22.1.

h 2 Ch.6.6. Re.21.2,3.

5 Godⁱ is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.⁴

i Eze.48.35. Re.21.11,23. Mat.16.18.

4 Heb. when the morning appeareth, Ex.14.21,27. 2 Ch.20.20. Ps.143.8;30.5. Lu.18.8.

6 The^j heathen raged; the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice; the earth melted.

j Ps.2.1-5. Is.17.12-14. Jos.x. xi. 2 Ch.xiv. xx. xxxii. Re.6.12-17;11.18.

**ARENA OF AMPHITHEATRE, PUTEOLI—NEAR WHERE ST. PAUL LANDED IN ITALY. [Psalms, xlvii:8.]** "God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness." We learn from history that wicked men are no less under law than righteous men. The laws of God which wicked men violate destroy them. while the righteous are preserved by observing them. This arena of the amphitheater at Puteoli is a very good illustration of the wreck and ruin which have come to the fame and the fortunes of the men who built it, and found, as Nero did, upon its arena, a scene for wild and unbridled actions. Puteoli is rich in historic associations. Scipio sailed from this place to Spain. Cicero had a villa here, and here Nero planned the murder of his mother. This was the famous watering place of the rich and luxurious Romans

Vol. II, p. 1017

7 The LORD of hosts is ^kwith us; the God of Jacob⁵ is our refuge.⁶ Selah.

A.M. cir. 2956 or 2966. B.C. cir. 1048 or 1038.

k 2 Ch.13.12. ver.1,11. Ro.8.31.

5 God of Jacob as an exile, a stranger, a faithful servant, a tender husband and father, an humble supplicator, but courageous wrestler with the angel of the covenant, Ge.32.24-28. Ho.12.3,4.—C.

6 Heb. an high place for us.

8 Come,^l behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

l Ge.7.21. Ps.111.2; 107.34. Is.24.1; 34.2.

9 Heⁿ 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.

n Is.2.4; 11.9; 25.4,5; 60.18; 9.5,7. Mi.4.3,4; 5.9,10. Ps.76.3. Eze.39.3,9,10.

10 Be^o still,⁷ and know that I am God: ^pI will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

o Zec.2.13. Is.5.16; 33.10. Ps.58.11; 57.5,11. Eze.38.23. Re.15.3,4.

7 Be still. Cease, ye nations, from opposing Christ—be silent ye winds, and calm ye waves of trouble, and hear while your Lord speaks. See Mat.8.26.—C.

p Is.2.11,17.

11 The^q LORD of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

q ver.1,7.

Notes

Ver. 1. This has been called Luther's psalm. 'It was that he was accustomed to sing in trouble. When the times were dark—when the enemies of truth appeared to triumph—when disaster seemed to come over the cause in which he was engaged, and the friends of the Reformation were dispirited and sad—he was accustomed to say to his fellow-labourers, Come, let us sing the 46th psalm.' No other passage in the whole Word of God is more adapted for rousing the drooping faith of the church. The thoughts are noble and the words sublime. God omnipotent—God ever present—God infinite in mercy—God the king, defender, and sustainer of his church, is the grand theme of the psalmist. P.—God is our refuge. The assembled church here exemplifies the fulfilment of the gracious promise of the foregoing psalm, ver. 17, the highest praise being that which is due for deliverance from trouble and strength for duty. C.

Ver. 4. 'The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High is a stream, the branches whereof gladden the city of God' (Mudge). The stream is the truth in Jesus; the branches, reading, hearing, holy converse, prayer, exhortation, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, furnishing the man of God to all good works. C.

Reflections.—When dangers appear greatest our faith in God's promise and perfections should be strongest. If we can triumph in God as our own God we may triumph over every trouble and danger. The revolutions on earth can little affect them whose hearts are duly fixed on things above. They need never fear, and they can never fail, who take God for their refuge and their strength. Notwithstanding all her enemies, his church shall in him obtain joy, establishment, and deliverance. If by his word, his Spirit, and his blood, we enjoy communications of grace and comfort, we are amply repaid for all the storms that can be raised by the world that lieth in wickedness. But in what a tremendous and awful manner he from age to age revenges the injuries done to his church, the ruin of the nations around Canaan, and of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, Syro-Grecians, Romans, Antichristians, Mahometans, and others, have or shall manifest. And it is highly proper to contemplate his infinite perfections, displayed in all his conquests of judgment or grace; that in every age, in every case, we may have faith in him as our Protector, Deliverer, and Strength.