Psalm 44

Therefore We Will Not Fear

This a psalm of praise and comfort, that reminds us, no matter what dangers or trials we will face in our lives, God is ever present in our lives, and He will provide comfort and guidance during these trying times.  As far as a theme for a psalm, it is pretty common, but there are some great ideas hiding under the surface.  The psalm writer refers to God a few important ways here, as both a refuge and a fortress.  While those two words can be synonymous, they do mean slightly different things.  A refuge is a place that provides protection from danger, while a fortress provides protection from attack.

This psalm describes many dangers that believers can face.  This psalm describes the earth shaking, the waters rumbling, and the mountains crashing into the sea.  God is our refuge from these natural disasters, therefore we need not fear them.  God is much greater than the Earth and the powerful forces that disrupt it.  Even an event as dramatic as mountains crashing into the sea is no match for God.  He is also our fortress from attacks from our enemies.  This psalm describes God ending wars throughout the world.  The combined power of the human war machine is no match for God.  He takes our  implements of war and breaks them and burns them.  What this teaches us is that human power, as great is it may be, is no match for God's power.  Those that humble before God will have their fortress in His love.  Those that try to rival his strength will have his weapons destroyed.

In my last post, I talked about how what we say matters to God.  This psalm is cool because it reminds us that what God says is important too.  We hear two instances of God speaking, once directly, and another indirectly.  Verse 6 tells us "Kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice and the Earth melts."  That is powerful imagery to me, which reminds us again to humble ourselves before God, because not only the kingdoms of men, but the Earth itself, will act at the command of God.  Verse 10 quotes the voice of God directly.  I love that the first thing God says is "Be still and know that I am God!".  I picture a battlefield full of soldiers hearing God's voice, and just dropping their weapons on His command, suddenly realizing the enormity of His power.

People are born, and then they die.  Mighty nations rise, and then fall from power.  The Earth itself will collapse and tremble.  But God is forever.  He will not fall.    He is eternal.  And He is with us.

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.