Dear All

Like a lot of us, I have been going through a particularly difficult time. The other day, Don and Lorraine gave me Psalm 46. I thought instead of just reading it through, as I would normally, I would look at each verse and consider it. This is what I found.

Psalm 46:1-2 - “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
“God is our refuge and strength.” We know that we do not stand in our own protection nor are we able to endure by our own strength - God, Almighty God, with whom all things are possible is our protection and strength, and always present; He will never leave or forsake us. (See Hebrews 13:5)
 

Romans 8:32 - “He that spared not His own son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not together with Him also freely give us all things?” Having given us of His very best, anything else we need in comparison is small. He will not withhold anything from us that is good for us.
 

Psalm 46:3 - “(Though) the waters roar and be troubled, (though) the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” No matter how rough -
V4: “(There) is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.” - He has made us His Temple (See 1 Corinthians 3:16)
V5: “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, (and that) right early.” He is aware of us all the time and our needs, He will help us early, He won't be late. Jesus teaching the disciples to pray tells them that our Father knows what things we have need of before we ask. (See Matthew 6:8)

V6: “The heathen raged, the kingdom's were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted.” Even the earth is affected by His voice and His presence. (See Psalm 97:5)
V7: “The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” The Lord is reminding us, He has HOSTS. Not only is He taking care of us but as Hebrews 1:13-14 speaking of the angels says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” THAT’S US.
V7: “The GOD of Jacob is our refuge.” For Israel He plagued Egypt, He parted the Red Sea, He protected, kept and fed them and delivered them from all their enemies, whilst they remained faithful.
V8-9: “Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He has made in the earth; He 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.” Why I asked are we asked to behold these things? To know that the Lord is in control - He breaks the bands of war that may be set upon us of whatever sort.
Isaiah 54:16-17 - “Behold, I have created the Smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.” He is master of all, and He says – “NO weapon formed against you shall prosper: and every tongue (that) shall rise against you in judgement you shall condemn. This (is) the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness (is) of Me saith the Lord.”
 

What about all this? In the light of this, what is the instruction?
 

Psalm 46:10 – “Be STILL and KNOW that I (am) GOD:” No other, none above, none beneath! Romans 8:31 says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” and verses 35-39 go on to list everything imaginable to say NOTHING AND NO-ONE.
Psalm 46:10 – “I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” GOD will be seen to be GOD and will be extolled.
Finally, Psalm 46:11 – “The Lord of Hosts is with us;” (He and His heavenly hosts with us, at His disposal for us - the heirs of salvation) “the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Think on this HOW WONDERFUL - Praise His wonderful name - His fantastic care of us.

I hope that you find this encouraging.

With love in Jesus
Marion 😊