August 18, 2021 — Psalm 46:1–49:20   

“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. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46:1-11 

“G-d is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” reads psalm 46.  Martin Luther paraphrased this line to read “A Mighty Fortress is Our G-d.”  How does this read to a contemporary audience today? What might a mighty fortress look like, or where do we find that fortress today? Where do we go to take refuge from this world? From what do we draw strength? For many we might say the following: “A mighty bank account is my G-d”, or “A mighty mansion is my G-d”.

To take refuge is something is to put our complete trust in that thing. Psalm 46 is stating, from the beginning, that G-d is the one whom we are to put our complete trust. What does the Psalmist say then that we are not to fear? It is not a trivial thing, because what verses 2 and 3 describe is nothing less than overwhelming, cataclysmic disaster. Where did we turn in the waning hours of the September 11, 2001 disaster?  Where did many seek refuge during this pandemic, or hurricanes like Katrina and Hugo, or the most recent floods and storms? Again I ask, where do we go to take refuge when all around us is falling apart? G-d is our refuge and our strength.

Let us pray,

Lord, you are my refuge. Help me find the rest in you that will give me strength to love you, love my enemies, and be the source of your love and joy so many need today. Amen.

Pastor Dave