Psalm 46
Psalm 46, Confident in God’s Protection and Power
Psalm 46 is titled, “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.” This psalm is a great song of confidence in God’s protection, presence, and power. It teaches that God is the refuge of His people, the strength of His people, the help of His people, and the sovereign King over all nations. It begins with the security of God’s people in the middle of cosmic upheaval, moves to the gladness of the city of God, and ends with the command of God Himself, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
The sons of Korah were Levites from the family of Kohath, and by David’s time they served in the musical ministry connected with temple worship.
2 Chronicles 20:19, “And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, And of the children of the Korhites, Stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.”
The phrase “upon Alamoth” may refer to a musical setting, possibly a high pitched arrangement, a choir of young women, or a particular kind of instrument. Adam Clarke suggested that Alamoth may mean an ode concerning virgins, possibly sung by a choir of young women. Charles Spurgeon wondered whether it referred to a high pitched stringed instrument, as suggested by 1 Chronicles 15:20.
1 Chronicles 15:20, “And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, With psalteries on Alamoth;”
Psalm 46 has strengthened the people of God for generations. G. Campbell Morgan said that commentary on this great song of confidence almost seems unnecessary because it has so powerfully taken hold of the heart of humanity and so perfectly sets forth the experience of trusting souls in all ages and tumultuous times. John Trapp recorded that Martin Luther, when in great distress, often called for this psalm, saying, “Let us sing the forty sixth psalm in concert, and then let the devil do his worst.” That is the spirit of the psalm. It is not weak optimism. It is defiant faith in the living God.
Psalm 46:1 to Psalm 46:3, The Help of God Is Greater Than Any Crisis
Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:2, “Therefore will not we fear, Though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”
Psalm 46:3, “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”
The psalm does not begin with trouble. It begins with God. Many psalms begin by describing the crisis, the enemy, the danger, the pain, or the confusion. Psalm 46 begins with the confession, “God is our refuge and strength.” This is deliberate. The psalmist does not ignore trouble, but he refuses to give trouble the first word. God comes first.
God is “our refuge.” A refuge is a place of shelter, safety, and protection. In Israel, the cities of refuge provided safety for the one fleeing danger until his case could be heard. In a far greater way, God Himself is the refuge of His people. He is not merely the One who points to a refuge. He is the refuge.
Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms: And he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; And shall say, Destroy them.”
Psalm 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:2, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.”
God is also “our strength.” The believer’s security does not rest in natural courage, human ability, military preparation, financial reserve, political stability, or favorable circumstances. God Himself is the strength of His people. Spurgeon rightly noted that we may be timid by nature like weak creatures, but God is our refuge. We may be weak by nature like bruised reeds, but God is our strength. The issue is not the strength inherent in the creature. The issue is the strength of God for His people.
God is “a very present help in trouble.” He is not distant. He is not merely a past help or a theoretical help. He is very present. Morgan said that the secret of confidence is the consciousness of the nearness of God. This is the heart of the verse. God is not only powerful. He is near. God is not only able. He is present. God is not only sovereign over trouble. He is with His people in trouble.
Isaiah 43:1, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, And he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
The logic of verse 2 follows naturally, “Therefore will not we fear.” Biblical courage is not pretending danger is unreal. Biblical courage reasons from who God is. If God is refuge, strength, and very present help, then fear does not have the final right to rule the heart. The psalmist does not say there is nothing frightening in the world. He says God is greater than everything frightening in the world.
The crisis imagined is extreme, “Though the earth be removed.” The earth represents stability. Mountains represent permanence. Seas often represent chaos and danger. The psalmist imagines the most terrifying natural upheaval possible, the earth giving way, mountains collapsing into the sea, waters roaring, waters troubled, and mountains shaking with swelling. He pictures creation itself coming undone.
Yet even then, the people of God say, “Therefore will not we fear.” This is not because they are strong in themselves. It is because God is their refuge and strength. Kidner noted that the robust and defiant tone of the psalm suggests it was composed in a time of crisis, which makes the confession of faith doubly impressive. Faith is most clearly seen when danger is real.
The psalmist’s imagery also teaches that created things are unstable compared with God. The earth can be removed. Mountains can be carried into the sea. Waters can roar. Kingdoms can shake. Nations can rage. But God remains. Therefore, to fear creation as though it were greater than the Creator dishonors God. The believer may feel alarm, but he must bring that alarm under the greater truth that God is God.
Verse 3 ends with “Selah.” This calls for pause, reflection, and worshipful consideration. Spurgeon said it would be well if all believers could say “Selah” under tempestuous trials, but too often we speak in haste, strike the strings of life roughly, and mar the melody. Psalm 46 teaches the soul to pause before panic. The believer must stop and consider, God is refuge. God is strength. God is present. God is greater than the shaking earth.
Psalm 46:4 to Psalm 46:6, The Peaceful Provision of God
Psalm 46:4, “There is a river, The streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.”
Psalm 46:5, “God is in the midst of her; She shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”
Psalm 46:6, “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted.”
The psalm moves from roaring seas to a gladdening river. Verse 3 described troubled waters that shake mountains. Verse 4 describes a river whose streams make glad the city of God. With God, waters are no longer merely threatening seas. They become a life giving river.
“There is a river.” This is a striking image because Jerusalem did not have a great natural river like many ancient cities. Maclaren noted that Jerusalem was unique among historical cities in that it had no great river, only a tiny thread of water. Yet the psalmist speaks of a river that makes glad the city of God. The image points beyond ordinary geography to the supernatural provision and future promise of God.
The prophets later speak of a river flowing from the temple, bringing life wherever it goes.
Ezekiel 47:1, “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; And, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: For the forefront of the house stood toward the east, And the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, At the south side of the altar.”
Ezekiel 47:12, “And by the river upon the bank thereof, On this side and on that side, Shall grow all trees for meat, Whose leaf shall not fade, Neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: It shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, Because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: And the fruit thereof shall be for meat, And the leaf thereof for medicine.”
The final vision of Scripture also includes the river of life.
Revelation 22:1, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, Clear as crystal, Proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
Revelation 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, And on either side of the river, Was there the tree of life, Which bare twelve manner of fruits, And yielded her fruit every month: And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
The river makes glad the city of God for several reasons. First, water means life, especially in dry and semi arid land. Second, the river has streams, suggesting abundant and distributed provision. Third, the river reminds us of Eden, where a river went out and divided into streams.
Genesis 2:10, “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; And from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.”
Fourth, a river can represent peace. Isaiah uses this kind of imagery.
Isaiah 48:18, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, And thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”
Isaiah 66:12, “For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: Then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, And be dandled upon her knees.”
Fifth, a river gives security to a city under siege. A city with guaranteed water can endure pressure from enemies. The river therefore represents life, joy, peace, provision, and security.
The “city of God” refers first to Jerusalem, the place of the holy dwelling of the Most High in Israel’s worship. Yet the phrase also lifts the mind beyond earthly Jerusalem to the perfected city of God, the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 3:12, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, And he shall go no more out: And I will write upon him the name of my God, And the name of the city of my God, Which is new Jerusalem, Which cometh down out of heaven from my God: And I will write upon him my new name.”
Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, Coming down from God out of heaven, Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Verse 5 gives the reason for the city’s security, “God is in the midst of her; She shall not be moved.” The blessing of the city is not ultimately its walls, geography, army, wealth, water system, or human government. The blessing is God’s presence. Because God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
This is intentionally contrasted with the earlier language of things being moved. The earth may be moved. The mountains may be moved. The kingdoms may be moved. But the city where God dwells shall not be moved. Kidner noted that the promise “she shall not be moved” gains special force because the same word is used of the moving mountains and kingdoms. What creation and nations cannot guarantee, God’s presence guarantees.
“God shall help her, and that right early.” The phrase carries the idea of help at the break of dawn. Clarke explained that as daybreak scatters shadows and darkness, so the bright rising of Jehovah scatters the darkness of adversity. God’s help may seem delayed during the night, but morning belongs to Him.
Psalm 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; In his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, But joy cometh in the morning.”
Verse 6 turns from the peace of God’s city to the rage of the nations. “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved.” The nations rage just as they do in Psalm 2. The kingdoms shake. Political powers rise, threaten, boast, and war. But God does not strain against them. “He uttered his voice, the earth melted.” One word from God is enough.
Psalm 2:1, “Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing?”
Psalm 2:2, “The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,”
Psalm 2:3, “Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us.”
Psalm 2:4, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision.”
God’s voice is more powerful than national rage. He speaks, and the earth melts. The security of God’s people does not depend on the calmness of the nations. It depends on the supremacy of God.
Psalm 46:7, The Confident Chorus
Psalm 46:7, “The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
This verse is the chorus of the psalm. It is repeated again in verse 11. “The LORD of hosts is with us.” The title “LORD of hosts” is Yahweh Sabaoth, the LORD who commands armies. He commands the armies of heaven, the armies of His people, and all created powers. Poole said that under His command are all the hosts of heaven and earth, angels and men, and all other creatures. Maclaren explained that the name views the universe as an ordered whole, a disciplined army, a cosmos obedient to His voice.
This is the God who is with His people. That is the wonder. The commander of all hosts is not merely above His people. He is with His people. His greatness does not make Him distant. His sovereignty does not make Him cold. His glory is the glory of the God who dwells among His own.
Isaiah 8:10, “Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; Speak the word, and it shall not stand: For God is with us.”
Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, And shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, Which being interpreted is, God with us.”
“The God of Jacob is our refuge.” This title emphasizes covenant grace. Jacob was not known for natural nobility or spotless conduct. He was often scheming, fearful, and morally mixed. Yet God set His covenant love upon him, changed him, preserved him, and remained faithful to him. To call God “the God of Jacob” is to remember that God is merciful to flawed people whom He has chosen by grace.
This is great encouragement. If the psalm said only “the God of Abraham,” we might think mostly of faith. If it said only “the God of Isaac,” we might think of promise. But “the God of Jacob” reminds us of grace to the weak, grace to the struggling, grace to the inconsistent, grace to those whom God must discipline and transform. The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Kidner notes that the word “refuge” here differs from the word in verse 1 and carries the idea of an inaccessible height, a high stronghold. God is not only a shelter to run into. He is a high fortress enemies cannot reach.
In this chorus, God is presented in two powerful ways. He is the LORD of hosts, the King over the multitude, the commander of all armies. He is also the God of Jacob, the personal covenant God of one man and his descendants. He is infinite in majesty and intimate in mercy. He rules hosts and remembers Jacob.
The verse ends with “Selah.” The people of God are called to pause and consider. The LORD of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. This truth is worthy of deep reflection.
Psalm 46:8 to Psalm 46:9, Beholding the Works of the LORD
Psalm 46:8, “Come, behold the works of the LORD, What desolations he hath made in the earth.”
Psalm 46:9, “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.”
The psalm now calls the reader to behold the works of the LORD. The first half of the psalm emphasized God as refuge and help. Now the emphasis turns to the glory of God displayed in judgment, victory, and peace. “Come, behold” is an invitation to look carefully, not casually. The works of the LORD must be considered, remembered, and interpreted by faith.
VanGemeren noted that the recitation of God’s mighty acts plants deep in the memory of God’s people the evidences of His care, protection, and providential rule. This is why believers must remember God’s works. Forgetful people become fearful people. Remembering God’s works strengthens confidence in God’s rule.
The verse says, “What desolations he hath made in the earth.” This may sound severe, but it refers to God’s power to judge evil, overthrow enemies, and end rebellion. The people of God are invited to look over the battlefield after God has routed His enemies. The instruments of war are broken, scattered, and burning.
God “maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth.” This is not the weak peace of compromise with evil. This is peace enforced by the sovereign power of God. He ends wars by defeating the pride, violence, and rebellion that produce them. His peace is not fragile. It reaches to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 2:4, “And he shall judge among the nations, And shall rebuke many people: And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruninghooks: Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more.”
The verse continues, “He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.” The bow, spear, and chariot represent the weapons and military power of man. God breaks them. God cuts them apart. God burns them. Human warfare is no match for divine sovereignty.
This is both comfort and warning. It comforts God’s people because their enemies are not ultimate. It warns the nations because their weapons cannot defeat God. The same LORD who is refuge to His people is terror to His enemies.
For believers, this points forward to the final reign of Christ. The Lord Jesus will return, defeat His enemies, judge the nations, and establish His kingdom. Wars will not cease permanently through human diplomacy, international institutions, or moral evolution. Wars will cease when the King of kings reigns in righteousness.
Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, That with it he should smite the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Psalm 46:10, A Word From God Himself
Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
This is the most famous verse in the psalm, but it is often softened in popular use. “Be still” is not first a gentle invitation to private contemplation, though believers certainly should quiet their hearts before God. In context, this is a divine command to stop striving, stop resisting, stop arguing, stop opposing, and acknowledge that God is God.
Horne observed that in this verse Jehovah Himself is introduced, commanding the world to cease its opposition, own His power, and acknowledge His sovereignty over all the kingdoms of the nations. Kidner said that “be still” is not first comfort for the harassed, but a rebuke to a restless and turbulent world. Boice explains the sense as, “Lay down your arms. Surrender, and acknowledge that I am the one and only victorious God.”
The command “Be still” is therefore a word to the nations, to enemies, to rebels, and also to anxious believers who are tempted to contend with God. The basic meaning is, “Cease.” Stop fighting against the LORD. Stop speaking as if He must answer to man. Stop acting as though human power can overturn divine rule. Stop resisting and know that He is God.
For the believer, this is also a needed correction. Anxiety often argues with God. Fear imagines God has lost control. Pride questions God’s wisdom. Impatience demands that God act according to our schedule. “Be still” calls the soul to surrender its arguments before the majesty of God.
Jonathan Edwards, cited by Spurgeon, noted that our submission to God is not contrary to reason. God does not require irrational submission. Rather, the bare consideration that God is God is sufficient reason to silence objections and opposition against divine sovereignty. In other words, knowing who God is should quiet the heart.
“Know that I am God.” This is the foundation. The issue is not merely that God is strong. He is God. He is self existent, eternal, sovereign, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, faithful, and righteous. He is not one power among many. He is the LORD. The proper response is surrender, reverence, trust, and worship.
Isaiah 45:5, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, There is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:”
Isaiah 45:6, “That they may know from the rising of the sun, And from the west, That there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.”
God then declares, “I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” This is not a wish. It is a decree. God will be exalted. The nations may rage, but God will be exalted among them. Kingdoms may move, but God will be exalted in the earth. His glory will not remain hidden. His name will not be permanently mocked. His kingdom will not fail.
This points to the future universal exaltation of Christ. The nations will bow. Every knee will bend. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Philippians 2:9, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, And given him a name which is above every name:”
Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, Of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”
Philippians 2:11, “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, To the glory of God the Father.”
Psalm 46:10 is therefore not passive spirituality. It is the announcement of divine victory. God tells the world to stop its rebellion and recognize His supremacy. He tells His people to stop fearing and trust His rule. He will be exalted among the nations. He will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46:11, The Confident Chorus Repeated
Psalm 46:11, “The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
The psalm ends by repeating the chorus from verse 7. “The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” This repetition seals the message of the psalm. The God who rules armies is with His people. The God who showed covenant mercy to Jacob is their high stronghold.
The repetition is important because faith must often repeat what is true. Trouble repeats its threats. The nations repeat their rage. Fear repeats its questions. Therefore, faith repeats its confession. The LORD of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Boice recorded that on the day John Wesley died, after he had nearly lost his voice and could barely be understood, he suddenly cried out with all the strength he could summon, “The best of all is, God is with us.” Then, raising his hand slightly and waving it in triumph, he said again, “The best of all is, God is with us.” That is the heart of Psalm 46. The best of all is not that trouble is absent. The best of all is that God is with us.
The psalm closes with “Selah.” The reader is again called to pause and consider. God is refuge. God is strength. God is very present help. God is in the midst of His city. God speaks and the earth melts. God breaks the weapons of war. God commands the nations to be still. God will be exalted in all the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Theological Summary
Psalm 46 teaches that God Himself is the refuge and strength of His people. The believer’s security does not rest in circumstances, created stability, military strength, national peace, or personal courage. God is the refuge. God is the strength. God is the very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46 teaches that faith reasons from God’s character. “Therefore will not we fear” follows “God is our refuge and strength.” Biblical courage is not denial of danger. It is confidence that God is greater than danger.
Psalm 46 teaches that God’s presence is the security of His people. The city of God is glad and shall not be moved because God is in the midst of her. The presence of God is better than natural rivers, stronger than walls, and more stable than mountains.
Psalm 46 teaches that the nations may rage, but God reigns. Kingdoms can be moved, but God only needs to utter His voice and the earth melts. Human rebellion is loud, but divine sovereignty is final.
Psalm 46 teaches that the LORD of hosts is both majestic and merciful. He commands all heavenly and earthly armies, yet He is also the God of Jacob, the covenant God who shows grace to weak and flawed people.
Psalm 46 teaches that God will end war and judge rebellion. He breaks the bow, cuts the spear, and burns the chariot. Lasting peace will come only through the sovereign reign of God, ultimately fulfilled in the rule of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 46 teaches that “Be still” is a command to surrender before God’s supremacy. The nations must cease their rebellion. The anxious heart must cease its argument. The proud must stop opposing. God will be exalted among the nations and in the earth.
Psalm 46 ends with confidence. The same God who rules the universe is with His people. The same God who helped Jacob is our refuge. Therefore, even if the earth shakes, the people of God are secure in Him.
