Psalm 46: Our mighty fortress is God

Martin Luther was one of the key figures of church history. God used him to bring reformation to the church. The most difficult year of his life was 1527.

After 10 exhausting years of leading the Reformation, a dizzy spell overcame him in the middle of a sermon on April 22 of that year. He was forced to stop the sermon. On July 6 he felt a buzzing in his ears and was forced to lie down. He was convinced he was dying. He partially regained his strength but he became very discouraged. He experienced heart problems and severe intestinal complications. Luther wrote, “I spent more than a week in death and hell. My entire body was in pain and I still tremble. Completely abandoned by Christ, I labored under the vacillations and storms of desperation and blasphemy against God.”

Even worse, the dreaded Black Plague had entered Germany and spread into Wittenberg. Many people fled. They feared for their lives. Luther and his wife, Katy, remained caring for the sick and dying. Although Katy was pregnant with their second child, their home became a hospital for the sick. He watched many friends die. Without warning their 1-year-old son Hans became desperately ill. Luther was driven to seek refuge in God as never before. Psalm 46 became the strength of his soul.

Luther expanded its truths into the hymn for which he is famous, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” God is our all-sufficient refuge even in our weakest moments. Luther penned, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.”

Like Luther, the author of Psalm 46 found refuge in God during difficult times. The main idea is that God protects his people from their enemies by his presence. Psalm 46:1-11 contains three key ideas.

The first key idea is that God is our immovable refuge in verses 1-3. The psalmist wrote in verse 1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

When attacked by the discouraging circumstances of life, God is our refuge. Protection, strength and stability are found in him. God is pictured as a strong refuge, a strong shelter from danger, an unconquerable fortress or a walled city where protection is found. When trouble found the psalmist, God was his strength.

To have trouble means to be in a tight place, to be restricted, tied up, or to be in a narrow, cramped place. The author was between a rock and a hard place! There was no way out. Yet, God was with him — an ever-present help in trouble. God is immediately present and instantly available to his people.

Having understood God’s all sustaining power, the author wrote, “Therefore we will not fear” (verse 2). This is a bold statement of confidence in God inspired by the greatness of the Almighty. Regardless of what God’s people face, they have no reason to fear. God is in control.

The psalmist continued, “… though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea …” (verse 2). This pictures confusion and a momentous earthquake that overthrows the highest mountains. The mountains, representing stability and continuity, seem to collapse into the sea. Verse 3, “… though its waters rise and be troubled; though the mountains shake with its swelling.” God is your immovable refuge.

The second key idea is that God is our inexhaustible river in verses 4-7. Although the foundations of the earth were shaking and collapsing, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God …” (verse 4). Unlike the turbulent waters that roar and foam, the streams of God are continual and make glad the inhabitants of the city of God. This river will flow from the throne of God in the messianic temple producing abundant harvests (Ezekiel 47:1-12). It flows from “… the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High” (verse 4).

Perhaps Jerusalem had been under attack from a foreign army. The psalmist wrote, “God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn” (verse 5). Even though the enemy often attacked at dawn, God will protect. The nations may threaten to invade and destroy. “The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted” (verse 6) The author continues, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (verse 7). God is your inexhaustible river.

The final key idea is that God is our invincible ruler in verses 8-11. In verses 8-9 God will enforce his peace upon his defeated enemies. This will be fulfilled in the Second Coming of Jesus. In verse 10 God gives a universal command. “Be still, and know that I am God …” This is not a call for reflection but a call to surrender and know God personally and intimately before his judgment is released. The Lord continued, “I will be exalted among the nations.” You must bring your life under the authority of the Lord Jesus.

God alone is the mighty fortress to whom believers must run in their difficult hours. Only through faith in his son, Jesus Christ, will believers find eternal salvation from the coming of God’s wrath. Focusing upon your problems brings fear. But looking to God increases faith bringing peace and comfort.

God’s demonstrated his love for you by sending Jesus to die on the cross. He paid for your sins. He died in your place. Through faith and repentance embrace this God who is your immovable refuge, your inexhaustible river and your invincible ruler.

Ethan Hansen (ethanchansen@gci.net) is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.