I was reading the other day and just happen to run across Psalm
46. And reading through that chapter
it really kind of hit home with things that are going on in the
world today. And you know, I think we just
sometimes need to be comforted in some ways and be assured and
be strengthened in our faith. And this chapter, I believe does
that And so this is really just a chapter study, a word study if
you want of several verses. So it's kind of dry in a sense,
but I hope that you get out of it.
What what I did we're going to start off.
In the first verse of chapter 46, 46 of the, Psalms of David.
Says to the chief musician, a Psalm of the sons of Korah a
song for a lamothe. God is our refuge and strength.
A very present help in trouble. He talks about this God of our
refuge. It says, in other words, God is
a place where we can go, where we can Flee for safety and he's
a source of strength in times of danger, the word refuge means to
flee and and then to flee, to order to take shelter in and
denotes a place to, which one would flee into.
Times of danger as a lofty wall. A Hightower a fort or a
fortress. The idea is that the people of
God, in times of danger, can find God to be that place of
Refuge the word strength, implies that God is the source
of strength, to those who are weak and defenseless, and that
need help and need to some place to go and to be comforted.
He talks about a very present help in trouble.
The word trouble would help here means, excuse me to give Aid to
give assistance to and the word trouble would cover.
All those all that can come upon us, which would give us anxiety
and sorrow. The word present means basically
near to Us close to us. So we look at such things that
are going on in the world and in all the distress and trouble and
things that are going on around us, we see it.
We had maybe have an experience, some of those but we see these
things going on and we worry about the economy, we worry
about jobs, we worry about maybe paying our bill, we worry bills,
we worry about all different kinds of things.
The unrest that is going on in the world today and how that's
going to maybe affect us and all that.
We put too much important sometimes on the things that are
going on in the world. And the writer says here that
God is one that we can always turn to.
We can always trust him, he was always near.
He is always powerful. He is a place of Refuge to help
in times of trouble for us. He is nearby and Hebrews 13 and
verse 5. Therefore, excuse me, got to go
one more. I went too far.
Did I miss that one? I guess I missed that one.
Sorry folks and Hebrews 13, Verse 5 lecture conduct be
without covetousness. Be content with such things as
you have for. He himself has said, I will
never leave you nor forsake you You know, it's a terrible thing.
If someone leaves us in times of trouble, someone that when we're
looking for help, when we're in time of need, someone would turn
their back on us and walk away. Well, he says, God is not that
kind of person. He says, I will never leave you,
and I will never take forsake you True Refuge is only found in
God. So, verse 2.
He says, therefore we will not fear even though the Earth shall
be moved removed and though the mountains be carried into the
midst of the sea. So, the psalmist, David here is
really talking figuratively because I believe as has been
said time and time again, that man will not destroy this Earth.
God will be the one that destroys this Earth we worry
about and people worry about nuclear disasters and nuclear
attacks and all these kinds of things that we have this war
that that would just wipe man off the face of the Earth that
will not happen because God will be the one that destroys this
Earth. So David is talking from
figuratively here and he says if the the Earth should be
dissolved and fall in pieces around him, in other words, I
think I kind of messed up here. I'm sorry.
There we go. Now I'm in the right place and
this Earth represents the human things.
The things that we see the things that we enjoy in this
life, the things of this world The tangible things.
And his meaning is though there should be some kind of
earthquakes or, or commotions or problems in this world around
us. Even though the countries and
states would would be in Mass confusion and possibly even Wars
rebellions and tumults. And their gum and some
governments might even be overturned by rebellions and
Revolt of people. Even though the leaders and
Powers turn against the church. And the people of God, though,
they would even want to ruin the church and destroy the very
things that we consider sacred and holy such as our worship to
God. And at some point, maybe income
and stop us from worshipping. Yet, we will not fear. knowing
that all these troubles will end well for the Christian and for
the church in the body of Christ, if you're worth were to
being removed, those that have reason to fear that have laid up
all their trust in the treasures and things of this Earth, And
have set their hearts on those things, but not for those who
have laid up for themselves, Treasures in Heaven.
And who then can expect to be certainly happy when all the
things of this Earth are dissolved and done away with.
You know, I reminded of that song, the rocket Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee.
A cleft is a little niche or a little place that a person could
get into or slide into or be covered over when the storm
would come and be able to find a place of refuge.
And God is that refuge for us, in times of trouble, in times of
fear and Times of distress and things of that nature.
ER, he says, therefore we will not fear.
Our confidence in God shall be in shaken.
Having him for our refuge and strength and we can have nothing
to fear. Notice First, Timothy 1:7 For
God, has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind, you know, we will never know what
true strength and peace is, until we believe in and trust
that God oversees everything. And and can do anything.
And we're going to notice a little bit more about that.
Satan is the one that's behind all the confusion.
Satan is the one that's behind all the uneasiness and the
trouble, notice Matthew 8 + 44, you are of the, your father, the
devil, and the desires of your father, you want to do, he was a
murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth
because there is no truth in him.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources.
For, he is a liar and the father of it.
Also notice second Corinthians 4 and verse 4, whose mind the God
talking about a small G, not a big G.
The God of this age has blinded Who do not believe less the
light of the Gospel, the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine on them. So the devil is the one that is
trying to control your thoughts, your mind your processes and
your mind to distress, you to trouble, you to have, you have
fear He is the one that is the the author of confusion and and
the one that causes the troubles God is our refuge from that God
is the place that we can go to for Comfort.
Certainly God is the one that is in control.
So it's a waste of time and it's really unreasonable for the
child of God to fear the things that are happening around us.
It's a waste of energy, it's a waste of resources.
It's a waste of our time. Notice Philippians, 4:6-7, be
anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and
supplication with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding will guard your hearts and Minds through Jesus
Christ through Christ. Jesus.
God is the author of comfort. God is the author of hope.
God is the author of things that would calm us, and settle us
down. Notice now, as we continue on in
our, in our study here, I'm just going to read through these
verses He says though, though, its Waters Roar and be troubled.
We know how a stormy sea is, how how thing it can cause
destruction and tear ships apart, and things of that
nature. It's as though its Waters Roar
and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its
swelling seal up. There is a river, whose streams
shall make glad the city of God. The holy place of the Tabernacle
of the most high God is in the midst of her.
She shall not be moved. God shall help her just as the
break of dawn. The nation's rage, the kingdoms
were moved. He uttered his voice.
And the Earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us.
The god of Jacob is our refuge see law.
Excuse me. Forgot to do that.
Come Behold, The Works of the Lord who has made desolations in
the earth. He makes Wars cease to the end
of the Earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the
spear into. He burns the Chariots and Fire.
All This calamity. All these things that go on all
this God is still the one that's in control.
We think things are getting out of control.
We just have to remember that the things that are going on.
God is controlling. It's God's will or he wouldn't
allow it to happen. We think wonder what is the
world coming to? How much longer is God?
Going to put up with this earth and the things that are going on
in there? So I don't know but God is the
one that's controlling it. Man is not in control.
God is hopefully maybe trying to get our attention with the
things that are going on in the world and help us to realize and
look to him. So he says, 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. Be still, he talks about the
word used here means properly to cast down to let fall to let
hang down, then then to be relaxed slacking, especially the
hands. It is also employed in the sense
of not making an effort, not putting forth eggs or exertion,
and then would express the idea of leaving matters with God or
of being without anxiety. About the issue.
You ever got into a situation before where you weren't really
worried even though there is some just turmoil going on.
You weren't worried because you knew what the outcome was going
to be other words. You just kind of stood back and
let things happen. You knew what was going to
happen. That's what he's saying here.
Be still and know that I am God In This Place.
The word seems to be used as a meaning.
That there was to be no anxiety that it was to be calm trust in
God and let him show his divine power.
The mind was to be calm in view of the fact that God had shown
that he was able to defend his people when surrounded by
dangers. You seem a little mother,
keeping her little, a mother bear, keeping her Cubs close by
You don't mess with. You don't mess with the Cubs
from Mother. Bear is close by.
She's the one that's in going to be in control and that's kind of
the way that he's saying here about God, God is protecting the
church. God is protecting the body of
Christ. God is protecting those things
that are holy and he will protect those things.
It may not be what we think it ought to be or what we've been
used to. What we've been accustomed to,
but God is the one that is in control of all that and he will
protect his church. He will protect the body of
Christ. Most of us at one point, or
another have had our children come and sit on our laps, maybe
in the doctor's office, or at a concert, or in someone's office,
a meeting or in church, you know, in some of the children
just come up and sit and they just want to sit and talk.
And they want to carry on a conversation or they've got this
to do or that to do in there, making noise and they want to
ask questions and they're they're just always kind of in a
turmoil. And then you have that one
child, just comes up and sit you in your lap and just sits there
and they're still It's not much better than that.
Your child just to sit in your lap and be still.
They said that the basically are the kind of saying that I love
you. I trust you, I feel safe with
you. There's nothing that compares to
that feeling just for them to sit there and be still.
I think that's the point that the psalmist David here is
saying he's stop and think about God, and recognize his power and
his ability. Stop and think about it.
Psalm 143 and verse 5, I remember the days of old, I
meditate on all your works. I'm use on the work of your
hands. Someone 45 and 5.
I will meditate on the Glorious Splendor of your majesty and the
on your works on on your wondrous Works.
Psalm 119 and verse 27. Make me understand the way of
your precepts. So shall I meditate on your
wonderful works. He says stop and think about
God. How powerfully is how loving he
is, how he has things in control.
He says and know that I am God. See what I've done.
The evidence of things that you can see in the things that I've
accomplished. You know, we all pray.
We pray for God to do things for us to accomplish things for
stop. And think about those things
that God has accomplished for us.
He is powerful. I know he's accomplished things
in my life and I know he has in your life as well.
Be still and know that I am. God.
All the powers of this world. Don't stand up to God.
God is the one that's in control.
And he says, Goins goes on to say, I will be exalted among the
heathen. That is among the nation's among
all that are troubled and in despair.
Those that don't worship me. The ones that worship idols.
They will see that I am God. This is, I will be exalted in
the earth and the, in the lands abroad.
All over this world, God will be exalted.
In other words, I have everything under control.
God is in control of all this. We have sometimes problems with
accepting that and I know we do. We complain about this.
We complain about that. We worry about this.
We were about all these other things that are going on around
us and God says Don't Fear. Be still.
And know that I am, God. And verse, 2 verse 11, the Lord
of hosts is with us. The god of Jacob is our refuge.
So let's find refuge in God, in times of trouble.
Let's not just be in turmoil. That's not be worrying about all
the things that are going on around us.
God has it in control, there's nothing we can do to change it.
It's his will. Let's just go on be still and
look at God and what he does for us.
What he has done for us, what he can do that, he is in control
that we are not and let's just go on with life and accept and
worship him and adore. Him, bless him, and praise him
for what he is. That he is our God and don't
worry about it. Let's just go on with life.
Because we're not going to change things that are going on.
Let's pray to God for four, things that that are happening
in the world. Pray to him.
For those things, that let him let him deal with it and not us.
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