Martin Luther, the great reformer of the early 16th Century had a number of favourite bible passages. One of them was Psalm 46. He liked it so much he even wrote a hymn based on the very first line. He and his colleague Philip Melancthon would sometimes sing this psalm on dark days when they were discouraged and needed uplifting.
Psalm 46 is a beautiful psalm.
It is beautifully written. It is carefully constructed as a piece of literature. It uses adventurous adjectives; moving metaphors; and – I understand – literary devices like: allegory; alliteration (with repeated first letters of words) and assonance (repeated vowel sounds).
It is beautifully God-focussed. God is the main player. It begins with him: ‘God is…’ and it ends with: ‘the God of Jacob is…’ And it has a central chorus, repeated twice: ‘The Lord almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress’.
It is beautifully realistic. It describes the hard times of life and the good times. It talks of ‘times of trouble’ (v.1); of feeling like the very earth we’re stand on is ‘giving way’ (v.2). And yet it talks of ‘finding help’ ( v.2); of standing firm and ‘not being moved (v.5) and of God bringing good out of bad (v.9). So it is realistic about the ups and downs of life.
It’s beautifully meditative. It guides the singer (for don’t forget it would have been sung) to do something that we all need to hear when life gets hectic and busy: to ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (v.10).
Because of is beauty, many people have found, with Martin Luther that Psalm 46 is a source of great strength, assurance and inspiration. And yet, the psalm as a whole makes a claim that to some would be preposterous. That claim is perhaps best expressed in the summary found in Study Bible of the ESV translation – the English Standard Version. This is what it says:
‘The psalm is a hymn celebrating Zion as the special city,
to which God has pledged himself and through which he will bless the world.’
So in this psalm God’s people claim that they are the ones through whom God wants to bless the world. ‘What a preposterous claim!’ some might say: ‘Who do they think they are?!’
Yet that’s what the Old Testament people of God believed. And they were right, for that is the consistent teaching of Scripture. Isn’t that what the call of Abraham was all about? For God told Abraham: ‘through you all nations will be blessed’ (Gen 22). And it’s even more clear in the New Testament because Jesus Christ came to embody God’s blessing to the whole world. To make a way to the Father. To open the gate of heaven. Which is why the people of Christ are called in the Great Commission of Matthew 28 to ‘Go into all the world’ (to all people groups) and proclaim the good news.
Since it was written some 3000 years ago, the people of God, inspired by this beautiful psalm, have believed that through them God wants to bring his kingdom. They’ve believed that through them God wants to bring his transforming power. They’ve believed that through them God wants to change lives, bring hope, and bring freedom. Through them!!!
But time and time again God’s people have qualified any claim to arrogance by saying: ‘that’s because it’s not really about us. It’s all about him. It’s about God being our refuge and strength (v1); God being our very present help (v.1); God being in our midst (v.5); God uttering his voice (v.6); God making wars cease (v.9); God being exalted (v.10). It’s all about him. And us being his people. Serving him. Following him. Rejoicing in him. Loving him. Knowing him. Joining in his work. And telling of what he has done.’
Telling of what he has done is what’s at the heart of this psalm, and is what God’s people are told to do in verse 8: ‘Come and see what the Lord has done’.
It’s about story. It’s about testimony. Telling the stories so people can see. And inviting others to find out. There at the heart of the psalm we’re supposed to sing to each other: ‘Come and see what God has done’.
As I taught The Belfrey staff about this yesterday, I got Simon Bray (our Director of Music & Worship) to sing this verse over us. He did a great job, with no notice, beckoning us to ‘Come and see what the Lord has done’ – and then, as we do each week we told some stories. We heard some great things that God had been doing in our midst – of people discovering faith in Christ, of answered prayer, of financial provision, of people struggling and yet discovering God’s presence in worship.
So when life is tough (which this psalm talks about), and when war is around us (which this psalm talks about), and when it feels like the world around us is crumbling (which this psalm talks about) you are called to tell others of what God has done. You are called to encourage others and draw them towards God through story. With testimony.
Are you doing that? If not, pray for an opportunity to do so this week. Because as you do, you will help others to see how amazing God is – so they too can say: ‘The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.’
Let’s hear those God-stories.
Discipleship Blog 
Just recently I have felt frustrated by the fact that I am don’t seem to meet any one I can help who is struggling. So I have been praying for the opportunity to arise and also for the ability to see that chance and seize it.
Again I have been amazed at God’s response to my prayers. I have been asked twice over the weekend by friends who are intrigued by the way I share openly about my faith and the direct effect that has had on my life. Both have expressed a desire to meet and talk about and explore Christianity. This alone was so encouraging, but more has happened.
I recently affirmed my baptism at St Mikes and several friends supported me, some Christian some not. One of the “not sure” believers is really seeking with all her heart. I now light a candle everyday for her and others that I meet on my journey praying to Jesus to “keep knocking on their door”
I was at a meeting with several other people last week when a Christian friend arrived, drip white in pain. She suffers with an extremely painful back condition.
I was sat in front of her and I could not concentrate because I could feel her pain. So I spent the time praying constantly for her pain relief, in the name of Jesus.
I said nothing to her about this. One hour later I received the following text from her.
“Sorry I didn’t speak much at the meeting but I was in awful agony, but half way through the meeting I sensed the Holy Spirit and a peace came over me and the pain has now completely gone” I shared this with one of my housemates who replied “God is always working Paul”
Indeed he is… Praise be to God
“The Lord of the Heaven’s Armies is here among us, the God of Israel is our fortress”
Nice one, Paul. Thanks.
God is always full of Surprises:- Its a beautiful sunny day and I was just sat outside the shop I work at in my lunch break reading the Purpose Driven Life (which i bought at a Charity Shop, started but i didnt persevere with it) after I heard Al mention Rick Warren in his sermon this Sunday I have picked it up with a renewed zeal. A gentleman drove into the car park and walked towards the shop and saw the book I was reading and said he had just bought it. He was a little guarded at first then he confided in me that he became a Christian 2 weeks ago. he asked me if I was a Christian and i replied yes and asked where did he worship? He said 7pm at St Mikes. We talked at length and were both very excited about our faith and the opportunity to share with each other. Encounters like this really encourage me and I always like to share honestly about my walk with God so as to encourage others.