Psalm 46

Sisyphus · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: Psalm 46

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

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.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

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.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Reading this tonight I am mindful that today and even more so in the times to come that the Christian faith and Christians themselves are going to come under ever more and stronger attacks from all quarters.
Psalm 46 holds three key ideas for us to hold onto, first, God is a place of security when all else is insecure. Second, God protects His city, giving it's people assurance and comfort. Third, all men are called upon to consider His works and submit to His authority.

This is the Psalm that prompted Martin Luther to write his hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and is often seen as the Battle Hymn of the Reformation.

We too should see Psalm 46 as our battle hymn and accept Gods assurance of his protection and deliverance.
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".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

keepingthefaith · Guest

I love the Psalms, and I love David I read about David's love for his son Absolom, when my daughter did what she did Davids story was a great comfort to me.

Covenanter · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1446

Without being controversial about prophecy, we are commanded as the church, to sing Psalms, hymns & spiritual songs. The Psalms so often speak of God's defence of Israel. We must appropriate God's protection & blessings to his church - to ourselves as Christians - the people of God - as promised to Israel in the Psalms. So many Psalms are Messianic & there we sing of & to our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

When choosing hymns, I always look for Psalms to link with my teaching. Our Praise hymn book begins will all the Psalms many in more than one paraphrase.

One of my favourites is Christopher Idle's paraphrase of Ps. 118, which goes very well to the tune of "How deep the Father's love for us."

Give thanks to God for he is good,
the everlasting giver,
let all his people praise the LORD,
whose love endures for ever.
For his right hand has made me strong;
I am his new creation:
he is my strength, he is my song,
my strength & my salvation.
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May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will ... (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Sisyphus · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:56 pm Post subject:

I will admit Cove that, just as some music grates on the ear, some Psalms grate on my eyes. I find some very very difficult to read, but those I do find easy are often a blessing.
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".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

keepingthefaith · Guest

Psalm 22 this is a great Prophetic Psalm about the suffering of Christ on the cross

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel. [a]

4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8 "He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me [b] in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced [c] my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save [d] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you [e] will I fulfill my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1095 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

PSALMS 32
For me Speaks about Gods Great Love for Us, His Children.
It's a Fathers Love.
[Special] Icon_hugginsmileys_753

Sisyphus · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject:

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

I pray all the time too Angel, not official prayers, but just constant dialogue in my head,(real prayers, but not oh, father that art in heaven type stuff, iyswim?) if that makes sense? and yes, I do think He cares about the smallest thing, just often I forget that.

Sisyphus, your words touched me, thank you.

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

So im not Mad then, Thanks TT Icon_hugginsmileys_753

Though when Im tucked up in Bed, My last Prayer is "The Lords Prayer"
As it is a very powerful Prayer, IMO.

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

Well..you might be mad angel...but at least if you are, you're not alone Icon_chuckle

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

Thanks TT [I think] Icon_hugginsmileys_753

Im in Good Company Then Icon_wink

Talitha Tetelestai · Guest

Well, you're in my company..don't know if thats good Icon_wink

(Now, could I interest you in some flat toad in the hole?)