June 16, 2021
Psalms Series
Psalm 46 – Radical Trust
Episode 59

This is the Psalm that inspired the hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

Now, the emphasis in this Psalm is on God and how God alone is our refuge and our help in times of trouble.  Many people think that they will only be secure in this life if they have enough money.  Obviously money is a huge help in times of need, but during the times of real struggle money is not the answer.  

 Others depend upon their education, or upon their skills, or depend upon their connections (you’ve heard the saying -- it’s not what you know, but who you know).  

1. God is our refuge 
   Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
    1  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 
   Our ultimate security is found in God. 
    
2. God is our strength 
   Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
    1  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 
    
   Sometimes God shields us from troubles like a fortress or a refuge.  But sometimes He doesn’t.  And it is during those times that God gives us strength to get through the difficulty, rather than taking us out of the difficulty.  He enables us to get through the storms of life.
    

How can we apply this to our lives?

1.  Be still. Cease
   Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
    10  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 
    
   Sometimes God shields us from troubles like a fortress or a refuge.  But sometimes He doesn’t.  And it is during those times that God gives us strength to get through the difficulty, rather than taking us out of the difficulty.  He enables us to get through the storms of life.
    
2. Know that God is God 
   Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
    10  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 
    
   Often times the Hebrew word for ‘know’ means to experience.  In other words, we can and will experience God at work in our life if we will be still, if we will wait for God to show up.