A Fearless Refuge

There is a river whose stream shall make glad the city of God, the holy

 place of the tabernacle of the Most 

High.

Psalm 46:4

     One of the main themes in David's psalm is God as the refuge of the church. The hope of God's people was that His presence was with them. They had this hope during their Exodus from Egypt, and it sustained them during the Babylonian exile. Our studies in Isaiah have turned often to this point as the prophet has remained the people that though nations might fall around them, though the gates might break and the walls crumble, God would be their refuge. While pagan nation put their trust in bulwarks and armies, the people of Israel were to put their trust in God alone.

      Psalm 46 speaks of this theme with beautiful imagery: "God is our refuge and strength, very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its water roar and be troubled, though the mountain shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations 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."

      The gentless of the river is contrasted here with the roar of the sea. For Jewish people, the ocean was a terrible thing. Huge monsters were said to rise from its depths. Great gust of wind would blow i from the sea across the desert region, bringing devastation to crops and because the Jew never had a port, other nations that had seafaring trade became powerful and rose up against them. In contrast to the ocean, the Jordan River was a source of delighted  It ran though the country, providing food and water.

      David used this geographic situation to depict the comfort we have in God. Though the sea the troubles of this world rages about us, the river God Himself provides for us and protects us. He is like the Jordan River that brought food and water to the Jews. He is our strenght, our refuges and our provider. Because of Him, we will never be moved. Though the nations rage like ocean, the Lord will protect His Holy City. Let us then be still and know that He is God, our refuge and our strength.

      In Act 5:29 that we ought to obey rather than man he gives all things, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 timothy 1:7 fear of people does not come from God. And in psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits: 

     A soldier was standing at attention during a parade drill when he waved to one of the spectators. The drill instructor went over to the young man and growled, "Soldier, don't ever do that again!" But as his company marched past the reviewing stand the young man waved a second time. When the troops got back to the barracks, the drill instructor barreled in and barked at the soldier, "I told you not to wave! Aren't you afraid of me?" "Yes sir," the private replied. "But you don't know. My mother!" Fear causes us to stop and question what God has clearly told us to do. Perhaps we were confident in our obedience until persecution came; now doubt whether we heard God correctly. Most fear is fear of the unknown. We do not know what lies ahead of us, so we become apprehensive. Our imagination can magnify problems until they seem insurmountable. We need s sound mind to see things in proper perspective just as King David was. The very best thing is He didn't leave us an orphan. That is why God gave us His Holy Spirit, to enable us to see thing as God sees them.

         Our God is our refuge and strength, the very present help in trouble. Speaking of trouble apostle paul was asking fo prayer.The apostle Paul may be considered one of the most bold and courageous ambassadors of the Gospel, but even he got butterflies in his stomach. In one paragraph, he twice asks for prayer for courage in sharing the truth of the Gospel. How odd to think that even the great apostle felt fear. If He need prayer how much more about us? "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should." ( Ephesians 6: 19-20 ). All those imaginary in psalm 46:4 will be steal from us if we would not prayed. ( John 10:10).