Psalms 46

Psalms 46:1-11

The test of experience; -the God of Jacob. To the chief musician: [a psalm] of the sons of Korah. A song upon Alamoth. The forty-sixth psalm is a psalm of experience; -a joyful utterance of heart in view of conflict ended and the earth at rest; and in the clear apprehension of the grace that is in the God of Jacob -a God who can take up and glorify Himself in the poverty and weakness and failure of the creature. It is perfectly simple in its meaning; as it is joyous and bright in expression; the repetition of the seventh verse as the conclusion of the whole matter showing where the emphasis is to be laid. There are three points: the first; the strong expression of the divine sufficiency and of confidence in it: the second; the testimony of the deliverance which shows the safety at all times of the city of God; the third sees God’s glory accomplished in it, all that exalts itself against Him being swept away; ending with this refrain that Jehovah of hosts is Jacob’s God; He is with us: the entrance into an unspeakable joy. The psalm is a “song upon Alamoth;” which means, no doubt, “with maidens’ [voices];” and may well remind us of Miriam and the women of Israel in their accompaniment of Moses’ song of triumph at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-27). Or as the sixty-eighth psalm: “the Lord gave the word; great was the company of the [women] that published it. Kings’ armies did flee apace; and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.” Good cause is there for such praise as this from delivered Israel; and the particular word here used; which is in its primitive sense the “hidden ones;” and refers to those hidden as yet in the seclusion of their father’s house; may well be applied to the remnant of godly ones who become at last the nation; brought out of their obscurity and owned by their King as His.

1. The first section then here expresses their entire confidence in the divine sufficiency. This has been tested by experience and amply proved. “God is our refuge and strength,” is the happy cry; “a very present help in straits.” They are bold in utterance of this: “therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the heart of the seas.” And the actual state of things which they look back upon might have seemed (morally at least) to indicate such engulfing of another deluge: the waters roar and foam; and the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
2. But this is past, and only revived in memory, to contrast with it the present condition of things. The threatening floods are gone: in their stead is a glorious river, whose divided streams in many channels make glad the city of God. Jerusalem, blessed with the abiding presence of the Supreme, cannot lack the nurture of grace, the vivifying streams of His blessed Spirit. God in the midst of her is abundant security; she shall not be moved: God shall help her at early morn. And so we know the day cannot come for the earth; but to usher it in Israel must get their blessing.

And this is what has actually taken place: “The nations raged; the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, -the earth melted.” Yes, “Jehovah of hosts is with us”: all things then, moving at His bidding, are for us also. Spite of folly and frailty, such is His grace: He is the God of grace, -“the God of Jacob is our refuge.” 3. And He has glorified Himself; and will. The desolations of the earth are witness of His right hand of power. Edom (Isaiah 34:1-17) and Babylon (Isaiah 13:20), as lands that have nurtured His enemies, will be thus condemned to desolation. He will make war against war, and the very implements of it shall exist no more. Blessed display of power, which shall everywhere make Him known as God; -make the nations at last perforce to realize this, and exalt Him over the whole earth! For the God of hosts; the Unchangeable, who has shown Himself thus for Israel, is after all the God of grace, -the God of Jacob.