When the lockdown began, we were encouraged to learn this Psalm. I thought it would be good to revisit it now, several weeks later, to draw more comfort and encouragement from it. Here are a few headings that occur just on the surface of the passage:
God is Great. This is easy to overlook, as it is a statement of the obvious. But take a look at His works, as we’re encouraged to do in verses 8-9. He has brought appalling waste and horror on the earth, but He has also made wars to cease everywhere. He brings to nothing man’s weapons of destruction and death. He is above all these things and in control of them all.
God is Near. He is described in verse 1 as “a very present help.” The word, “very” means “exceedingly,” “abundantly,” or “greatly.” He is not just present - He is engaged! Some belief systems see God as having set the earth going and then withdrawn to see what would happen. This “God” has no interest or concern with the endpoint beyond (presumably) some sort of curiosity. The God of the Bible, however, is a God Who is near (Jeremiah 23:23–24). He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:8–10) and is working out all things according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11). He is near, He is interested and He is concerned for the glory of His Name and thus for the good of those people upon whom He has set His name.
God is a refuge and strength. A God like this, Who is great and Who is very near, is therefore a refuge and strength for His people. He is both able and willing to defend and protect them. No trial we can face should therefore cause us to fear. The writer seems to speak of colossal disasters - landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes in verses 2-3. These are events on a massive scale, well beyond our ability to control. And yet, confident of God’s nearness and His greatness, the writer says that even in the midst of these, “we will not fear.” Indeed, if this God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?
God is a source of joy, refreshment, strength to His city. God’s care for His people goes well beyond protection. His nearness goes well beyond being close. The writer speaks here of the holy habitation of the Most High. Under the Old Covenant, God’s holy habitation was in the City of God, Jerusalem. Especially, it was in the Holy of Holies in the temple in that city. These things were all types and shadows. We read in Revelation that the New Jerusalem is the Church, and that she is now where He dwells. By His Spirit, He has taken up residence in the hearts of His people. God is in our midst! This great and powerful God is not just near - He is within! He is abundantly present with His children. Therefore we shall not be moved. He will not allow us to be lost but will extend all His power and His energy to ensure that we will be with Him forever in Glory! The river of life flows from God's throne in the New Jerusalem down the middle of her street. The tree of life is there also, bearing fruit and with leaves that are for the healing of the nations. No wonder there is joy here (v 4)! No wonder that this river, watering this city, brings such gladness to His people (take a look at Revelation 21 & 22)!
God brings peace. What should we do in the light of these thoughts? We should be at peace in the midst of difficulties and remember Who is our Refuge and our Strength! “Be still, and know that I am God!” No-one can overturn His plans and purposes. All our panicking and flapping about accomplishes nothing. He has determined that He will be exalted among the nations and in the earth - and one of the main ways in which this will happen is as He lifts up dead and rebellious sinners, breathes new, eternal life into them, inhabits them by His Spirit and brings them certainly to glory, to live with Him forever! How the refrain from this Psalm should encourage us - The Lord of Hosts is with us (power and “very presence”), the God of Jacob is our fortress (covenanted to defend us, omnipotent to keep the covenant)!
Once when I was really sick, with a high fever and confined to bed, my heart was racing and I was scared. I began to sing in my soul a beautiful and short praise song, drawn from this Psalm and from Exodus 15:26:
“Be still and know that I am God.”
“I am the LORD, that healeth Thee.”
As I sang, I was helped to be still in Him. My heart rate decreased and the Lord did heal me and raise me to health again. In these troubled days, surely we can rest in Him still? What is the coronavirus against His omnipotence? He cannot fail us. He is abundantly present to comfort and to bless. He will protect and defend us, saving us to the uttermost!All in all, then, this is still a great Psalm for us to memorize, so that the Lord can bring it to mind when we go through times of trouble!
