Psalm 46:1-3 — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Yesterday I was moved to write about the peril that I feel God’s people are facing in an increasingly dark world. Today, I feel moved to write about the “yes but”. “Yes, but God is looking after us.”
Psalm 46:1 was my first ever “favorite verse”. It came back to me today, and reminded me of the security I felt when I read it after I got saved.
The Book of Psalms has so many reminders of Jehovah Roi — “God our Shepherd”, the God who watches. As I contemplated that it seemed to me that of all the faithful, David is one of the greatest. It’s no wonder that he made it into the “Hall Of Fame Of The Faithful” in Hebrews 11! Here’s just a few verses from Psalms to call on when insecurity strikes.
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. (Psalm 3:3) — when David was fleeing from Absalom.
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (Psalm 13:5) — the occasion is unknown, but as Spurgeon says, “If the reader has never yet found occasion to use the language of this brief ode, he will do so ere long, if he be a man after the Lord’s own heart.“
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2) — when the Lord rescued David from all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) — another psalm celebrating no special event, but surely the result of a time of great piece!
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7) — another of David’s psalms that could have been sung at many times.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy. (Psalm 59:17) — a prayer for protection from enemies when Saul sent them to watch the house and kill David,
David was so often in danger, or in want, or alone — and just as often it seems he had a word of faith. No those words of faith are ready for us to call upon in our times of need, or loneliness, or fear. No matter how bad things seem, God is our shield, our salvation, our rock, our defender, strength, high tower, our shepherd … God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble even in these dark days.
Hallelujah. Amen.