For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.’

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

A. Find Out:    

1. How does the psalmist view the Lord here? v.1,7,11
2. What effect does that have on him? v.2,3
3. What supply is there for the city and what effect does it have? v.4
4. What comfort does the city have? v.5
5. What does the Lord do? v.6,8,9
6. So what are we counselled to do? v.10

B. Think:

1. How do verses 1-3 bring comfort?
2. How do verses 4 & 5 bring comfort?
3. How do verses 8 & 9 bring comfort?

C. Comment:

   Central to this psalm is the psalmist’s knowledge of God as a refuge or fortress. We need such a refuge when things go wrong. For him, there is a sense of security in knowing the Lord.

  His first area of “things going wrong” is in the natural realm, so even if the natural elements around us break up under an earthquake (v.2 & 3) the psalmist feels secure in God.

  The next area is that of human conflict. Even if there are wars, he will be secure, for the Lord is one who brings an end to war when He sees the time is right.

  The comfort that the psalmist has in respect of these two areas – natural and human – is that God is in control. But his security comes from more that knowing that God is in control. It is also in the fact that the Lord is there in the city with them and where He is there is a continuous source of blessing flowing to them, a resource that makes the inhabitants of the city glad.

  Then comes a command: Be still! Why? Because then you will know He is the Lord. When we cease our strivings and come to a place of peace before Him, then we know He is the Lord, He is in control, He will provide. He is the Lord Almighty, our refuge, our fortress!

D. Application:

1. Rest in the knowledge of God’s love for you.
2. He will protect you, He will provide for you. Be blessed!