DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY – PSALM 46

Study and reflect on one of the great Psalms about God’s ultimate sovereignty which has comforted people in times of trouble for over 3000 years. ‘Be still and know that I am God…’

Psalm 46

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

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

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

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
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.

For reflection

“The injunction ‘Be still…’ is not so much comfort for the harassed but a rebuke to a restless and turbulent world: ‘Be Quiet!’ – in fact, ‘Leave off!’ It resembles Jesus’ command to the raging storm.  And the end in view is stated in terms not of man’s hopes but of God’s glory. God’s intention ‘I will be exalted’ stirs up resentment among the proud but longing and resolve among the humble.

From theologian Derek Kidner:

Questions:

  • Being honest; in what ways are we tempted to be afraid at the moment?  
  • What might ‘Leave off!” mean to us as we live through this isolation?
  • How specifically does Psalm 46 comfort and strengthen us? 
  • How can we draw near to God during this crisis?  How may we encourage each other?