GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH
Key verse: 7,11
NIV
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of (A)the Sons of Korah. According to (B)Alamoth.[a] A Song.46 God is our (C)refuge and strength,
a very (D)present[b] help in (E)trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear (F)though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into (G)the heart of the sea,
3 though (H)its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is (I)a river whose streams make glad (J)the city of God,
the holy (K)habitation of the Most High.
5 (L)God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 (M)The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he (N)utters his voice, the earth (O)melts.
7 (P)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 (Q)Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 (R)He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he (S)breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
(T)he burns the chariots with fire.
10 (U)“Be still, and know that I am God.
(V)I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 (W)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
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Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 46:1 Or well proved
Cross references
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 42, title
- Psalm 46:1 : 1 Chr. 15:20
- Psalm 46:1 : See Ps. 14:6
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 145:18; Deut. 4:7
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 9:9
- Psalm 46:2 : [Ps. 18:7]
- Psalm 46:2 : Ezek. 27:26
- Psalm 46:3 : [Ps. 93:3, 4; Jer. 5:22]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 36:8; 65:9; [Isa. 8:6; 33:21; Rev. 22:1, 2]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 48:1; 87:3; [Isa. 60:14]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 43:3; 84:1
- Psalm 46:5 : Lev. 26:12; Deut. 23:14; Isa. 12:6; Ezek. 43:7, 9; Hos. 11:9; Joel 2:27; Zeph. 3:15; Zech. 2:5, 10, 11; 8:3
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 2:1
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 18:13; 68:33; 76:8; Jer. 25:30; Joel 2:11; 3:16; Amos 1:2
- Psalm 46:6 : Ex. 15:15; Josh. 2:9, 24; Amos 9:5
- Psalm 46:7 : ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
- Psalm 46:8 : Ps. 66:5
- Psalm 46:9 : Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3
- Psalm 46:9 : Ps. 76:3; 1 Sam. 2:4
- Psalm 46:9 : Ezek. 39:9
- Psalm 46:10 : [Ex. 14:13]
- Psalm 46:10 : Isa. 2:11, 17; 33:10
- Psalm 46:11 : [See ver. 7 above]; ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
46 God is our (C)refuge and strength,
a very (D)present[b] help in (E)trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear (F)though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into (G)the heart of the sea,
3 though (H)its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is (I)a river whose streams make glad (J)the city of God,
the holy (K)habitation of the Most High.
5 (L)God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 (M)The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he (N)utters his voice, the earth (O)melts.
7 (P)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 (Q)Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 (R)He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he (S)breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
(T)he burns the chariots with fire.
10 (U)“Be still, and know that I am God.
(V)I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 (W)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 46:1 Or well proved
Cross references
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 42, title
- Psalm 46:1 : 1 Chr. 15:20
- Psalm 46:1 : See Ps. 14:6
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 145:18; Deut. 4:7
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 9:9
- Psalm 46:2 : [Ps. 18:7]
- Psalm 46:2 : Ezek. 27:26
- Psalm 46:3 : [Ps. 93:3, 4; Jer. 5:22]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 36:8; 65:9; [Isa. 8:6; 33:21; Rev. 22:1, 2]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 48:1; 87:3; [Isa. 60:14]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 43:3; 84:1
- Psalm 46:5 : Lev. 26:12; Deut. 23:14; Isa. 12:6; Ezek. 43:7, 9; Hos. 11:9; Joel 2:27; Zeph. 3:15; Zech. 2:5, 10, 11; 8:3
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 2:1
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 18:13; 68:33; 76:8; Jer. 25:30; Joel 2:11; 3:16; Amos 1:2
- Psalm 46:6 : Ex. 15:15; Josh. 2:9, 24; Amos 9:5
- Psalm 46:7 : ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
- Psalm 46:8 : Ps. 66:5
- Psalm 46:9 : Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3
- Psalm 46:9 : Ps. 76:3; 1 Sam. 2:4
- Psalm 46:9 : Ezek. 39:9
- Psalm 46:10 : [Ex. 14:13]
- Psalm 46:10 : Isa. 2:11, 17; 33:10
- Psalm 46:11 : [See ver. 7 above]; ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The earth and the mountains are two of the most immutable and impregnable things in nature. But even those can give way. Earthquakes do not happen often, but they do happen in some corners of the world. Torrents of rain can make mountains slide into the heart of the sea. Catastrophes can happen and disaster strike in life. There is no security in the world. Things like a health scare can happen to myself or to my beloved.
The psalmist knows there is security only in God. “God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble” (1). He dwells in the city of God--the holy place, where a river of gladness flows. She will not fall (5). Although nations may be in uproar and kingdoms fall, the Lord Almighty is with us, his children (cf. Rom. 8:15-18).
Throughout Christian history, heroes of faith fought valiantly against those who hated God and his people. One of them was Martin Luther. He stood up against the corruption in the church, which threatened sincere believers and encroached on their freedom to worship God in the ways Scriptures prescribed. He overcame his fear by believing “the God of Jacob is our fortress,” which inspired him to write the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (7,11).
Prayer: Father, thank you for being my fortress in times of trouble. Amen.
One Word: “The God of Jacob is our fortress.”
