When
going to church on Sunday morning, I bring my Bible and a notebook to jot down
things that our Pastor Philip De Courcy says during his sermon. When the notebook is filled it goes on the
shelf, seldom to be opened again.
For
a while now…I’ve been thinking that perhaps I need to have a more record of
what I’m taking away from our Sunday morning service. This won’t be a recap…more likely bullet
points. A place for me to record what the
Lord is saying through the study of His Word.
Today
we studied Psalm 46.
God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the
Nations
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of
Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
46 God
is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams
shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is
with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of
the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 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 of hosts is
with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Noah
Webster Quote…God can save by many or by few…
Their greatest weapon was their faith in God.
Psalm
46 is a celebration for what God does for those who trust Him.
Even
in the face of monumental trouble.
Will
we continue to trust Him?
God
is our help in the midst of trouble
Not
a bubble or protected from all trouble
God
does promise to meet us in the midst of the trouble.
Sometimes
God calms the storm.
Sometimes
He calms us in the midst of the storm.
Our
trust is in God Who is sure in the midst of trouble.
Martin
Luther Quote…my conscience is bound by the Word of God.
Faith
in God delivers security
A
sense of well-being
Not
an absence of trouble.
Security
is the ever present presence of God
From
Vs 1 – Trouble = a tight spot…painted into a corner
This
was a time of great shaking for Israel...a time of upheaval.
No
sense of security…nothing firm beneath your feet.
What
are we going to do?
Trust
in God
Deuteronomy
33:27
God
was their greatest stronghold
Tucked
under the shelter of God Himself
Our
Shelter, our Safe Tower
Where
will my shelter be this coming year?
Quote
– Frederick Nolan…where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall. Where God is not, a wall is like a spider’s
web.
Our
God is inexhaustible...an able supply of resources.
A
Strong Refuge
Invincible,
inexhaustible
He
will supply the necessary strength equal to the trial.
God’s
help is timely…in the nick of time…2 Kings 19:35
The
strength of God that is our help when we need it.
There
will be grace when we need it and for what we need it for.
God’s
strength is timeless
He
is our Help from of old.
His
strength has always been present
Psalm
90:1-2 – our Refuge in every generation.
God
is immutable…He does not change.
There
is help from of old.
God
has unlimited resources. Faith in God
provides sufficiency…waters that refresh.
2
Chronicles 32:30Hezakah redirected the waters to come into the city of
Jerusalem.
Rivers
of Living Water
Peace,
joy, comfort, righteousness
A
living well and living water within you…the Holy Spirit
A
fount of every blessing…calls for songs of loudest praise.
Story…Amazon
River…pushes itself out to sea 90 miles.
Surrounded by salt water, underneath the boat was fresh water…but they
didn’t know it. They were asking for
fresh water, but they already had an abundant supply.
Judgment
is the process…peace is the outcome.
God
of the armies of heaven
God
will trouble those who are troubling you.
