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Psalm Forty-six
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 46
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. The word
"Alamoth" is thought by some, as Aben Ezra, to be the beginning of a
song, to which this psalm was set; and by others a high tune, such as virgins
express; and by others the name of musical instruments, as Jarchi and Kimchi;
which seems most likely, since it is mentioned with other instruments of music
in 1 Chronicles 15:19;
and may not unfitly be rendered "virginals", from the sound of them
being like the shrill voice of virgins, which this word signifies; though
others choose to render it "of hidden things",F19צל צלמות, υπες των κρυφιων, Sept. "pro arcanis", V. L. ,
making it to design the subject matter of the psalm, the secret counsels and
purposes of God, both in a way of love and grace to his people, and of judgment
to his enemies. Some think this psalm was occasioned by the victories which
David obtained over the Ammonites and Moabites, and other neighbouring
countries; and others are of opinion that it was penned on account of the siege
of Jerusalem by Sennacherib being raised, in the times of Hezekiah: but it
seems rather to be a prophecy of the church in Gospel times, and is applicable
to any time of confusion and distress the nations of the world may be in
through any kind of calamity, when those that trust in the Lord have no reason
in the least to be afraid. Kimchi says this psalm belongs to future times;
either to the gathering of the captives, or to the war of Gog and Magog; to
which also R. Obadiah refers it, and Jarchi interprets it of time to come;
according to the Targum it was written by the sons of Korah, when their father
was hid from them, and they were delivered.
Psalm 46:1 God
is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
YLT
1To the Overseer. -- By sons
of Korah. `For the Virgins.' -- A song. God [is] to us a refuge and strength, A
help in adversities found most surely.
God is our refuge and strength,.... That is,
Christ, who is God as well as man, is the "refuge" for souls to fly
unto for safety; as for sensible sinners, in a view of danger, wrath, and
misery, so for saints, in every time of distress; typified by the cities of
refuge, under the legal dispensation; See Gill on Psalm 9:9; and he
it is from whom they have all their spiritual strength, and every renewal and
supply of it, to exercise grace, perform duties, withstand enemies, bear the
cross patiently, show a fortitude of mind under the sorest distresses, and hold
on and out unto the end: in short, he is the strength of their hearts, under
the greatest trials, of their lives, amidst the greatest dangers; and of their
salvation, notwithstanding all their enemies;
a very present help in trouble; whether inward or
outward, of soul or body; the Lord helps his people under it to bear it, and he
helps them out of it in the most proper and seasonable time: they are poor
helpless creatures in themselves; nor can any other help them but the Lord, who
made heaven and earth; and he helps presently, speedily, and effectually: in
the Hebrew text it is, "he is found an exceeding help in trouble"F20נמצא מאד "inventum
valde", Michaelis. ; in all kind of trouble that the saints come into, the
Lord has been found, by experience, to be an exceeding great helper of them;
moreover, he is easily and always to be come at, and found by them for their
help.
Psalm 46:2 2 Therefore we will not
fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea;
YLT
2Therefore we fear not in
the changing of earth, And in the slipping of mountains Into the heart of the
seas.
Therefore will not we fear,...., The consideration
of the Lord's being the refuge, strength, and help of his people, in all times
of trouble and distress, has a great influence on their faith and confidence,
and makes them intrepid and fearless in the midst of the greatest dangers: nor
indeed have they any reason to be afraid of men or devils, since the Lord is on
their side; nor should they indulge a slavish fear on any account whatever;
though the earth be removed; or "changed"F21בהמיר "cum mutabit", Pagninus; "etiamsi
permutarit", Vatalbulus; "si commutaret", Junius &
Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth. , as to its position or fruitfulness; or
whatever changes, vicissitudes, and revolutions may be in the kingdoms,
nations, and among the inhabitants of the earth, through wars and desolations
made thereby;
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; so the
destruction of kingdoms, empires, and cities, is expressed by a like phrase; as
of Babylon, Jeremiah 51:25; and
of the Roman and Pagan empire, Revelation 6:12,
and of the city of Rome, Revelation 8:8.
Psalm 46:3 3 Though
its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with
its swelling. Selah
YLT
3Roar -- troubled are its
waters, Mountains they shake in its pride. Selah.
Though the waters
thereof roar and be troubled,.... The noise of which
causes men's hearts to fail them for fear, Luke 21:25;
though the mountains
shake with the swelling thereof. All these figurative expressions denote the
hurlyburlies, confusions, and disorders that have been or will be in the world;
amidst all which the people of God have no reason to fear; for it is always well
with the righteous, let it go how it will with others. The passage may be
applied to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the wars preceding it, and the
dispersion of the Jews upon it; when true believers in Christ found him to be
their refuge, strength, and help in that time of trouble, such as never was the
like, and were safe and without fear; and Aben Ezra, a Jewish commentator,
thinks it is right to interpret this psalm concerning the wars of Jerusalem:
moreover, these words may be applied to any other time of calamity, through war
or persecution, that has been since; as also to any that is to come; as to the
slaying of the witnesses, the hour of temptation that will try all that are
upon the earth; and even to the day of judgment, when heaven and earth shall
flee away from the face of the Judge; when the heavens shall be folded up as a
garment, and the earth, and all that is therein, shall be burnt up, and the
whole world of the ungodly shall be thrown into the utmost panic, the saints
will be safe with Christ, and ever happy with him; and, in the worst of times
in this world, God is always their covenant God, their shield, portion, and
exceeding great reward; Christ is their Redeemer and Saviour, their city of
refuge, and strong hold; and though they may be plundered of their goods and
property, they have a better and a more enduring substance in heaven; an
estate, an inheritance there, that can never be taken away; and even should
their enemies kill the body, that is the utmost they can do; their souls are
safe in the hands of Christ; their life is hid with him; and when he shall
appear, they shall appear with him in glory; and therefore they may well say,
"we will not fear"F23"Si fractus illabatur
orbis", &c. Horat. Carmin. l. 3. Ode. 3. v. 7. .
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 46:4 4 There is
a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of
the tabernacle of the Most High.
YLT
4A river -- its rivulets
rejoice the city of God, Thy holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
There is a river,.... The
allusion is either to the river Kidron, which ran by Jerusalem; or to the
waters of Shiloah, which by different courses and branches, ran through the
city of Jerusalem, and supplied the several parts of it with water, to the joy
and comfort of its inhabitants: but the words are to be understood in a
figurative sense, as applicable to Gospel times; and this river either designs
the Gospel, the streams of which are its doctrines, which are living waters
that went out from Jerusalem, and which publish glad tidings of great joy to
all sensible sinners; or the Spirit and his graces, which are compared to a
well, and rivers of living water, in the exercise of which the saints have much
joy and peace; or else the Lord himself, who is a place of broad rivers and
streams to his people, and is both their refreshment and protection; or rather
his everlasting love to them is here intended; see Psalm 36:8; The
head of this river is the heart of God, his sovereign goodwill and pleasure;
the channel through which it runs is Christ Jesus; the rise of it was in
eternity, when, like a river that runs underground, it flowed secretly, as it
does before the effectual calling; when it breaks up, and appears in large
streams, and flows, and so it proceeds running on to all eternity. It is a
river that is unfathomable, and cannot be passed over; it has heights and
depths, and lengths and breadths, which cannot be fully comprehended: as for
the quality of it, it is a pure river, clear as crystal; free of all
dissimulation in the heart of God, and clear of all motives and conditions in
the creature. Its water is living water; which quickens dead sinners, revives
drooping saints, secures from the second death, and gives eternal life; it
makes all fruitful about it, or that are planted by it;
the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God; the
"streams" of this river are eternal election; the covenant of grace
its blessings and promises; the provision and mission of Christ as a Saviour,
and redemption by him; justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, perseverance
in grace, and eternal life; called "streams", because they flow from
the fountain of divine love; and because of the rapidity, force, and power of
the grace of God, in the application of them in conversion, which carries all
before it; and because of the abundance, continuance, and freeness of them, and
the gratefulness and acceptableness of them to those who see the worth of them,
and their interest in them; see Song of Solomon 4:15;
and these, when made known and applied, "make glad" the hearts of
God's people under a sense of sin and guilt, under divine desertions, the
temptations of Satan, and the various afflictions they meet with; for these are
intended by "the city of God", as the church is often called, because
of his building, and where he dwells, and where the saints are fellow citizens.
And the same are signified by
the holy place; being an holy temple to
God, consisting of holy persons, such who are sanctified by the Spirit of God,
and live holy lives and conversations: and
of the tabernacles of the most High; being the dwelling
places of God, Father, Son, and Spirit. All which is a reason why the saints
should not fear in the worst of times.
Psalm 46:5 5 God is in the midst
of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
YLT
5God [is] in her midst --
she is not moved, God doth help her at the turn of the morn!
God is in the midst of her,.... The church and
people of God; not merely by his essence, power, and providence, as he is in
the midst of the world; but by his gracious presence, and which always
continues, though not always perceived; and is a sufficient antidote against
all fear of men and devils;
she shall not be moved; though the earth may;
and when it is, Psalm 46:2, neither
from the heart of God, on which his people are set as a seal; nor from the
hands of Christ, from whence they can never be plucked; nor from the covenant
of grace, which is immovable; nor off of the rock Christ, on which they are
built; nor from the state of grace, of justification, adoption, and
sanctification, in which they stand; nor out of the world, by all the cunning
and power of antichrist;
God shall help her, and that right early: or "when
the morning looks out"F24לפנות בקר "respiciente mane", Pagninus; "ad
prospectum aurorae", Musculus; "at the looking forth of the morning",
Ainsworth; that is, "speedily and quickly", as Suidas interprets it
in voce πρωι. . When it is
night with the church, it is the hour and power of darkness with the enemies of
it; and this is the time of the reign of antichrist, whose kingdom is a kingdom
of darkness: but the "morning cometh, and also the night"; the former
being about to break forth, and the latter to be at an end; yea, at eventide it
shall be light: and the Lord will be a suitable, seasonable, and timely help to
his people; for though weeping endures the night, joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 46:6 6 The nations raged, the
kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
YLT
6Troubled have been nations,
Moved have been kingdoms, He hath given forth with His voice, earth melteth.
The Heathen raged,.... As they did at Christ's first coming,
against him, his Gospel, and people; and which continued during the three first
centuries; and then the Pagan kingdoms belonging to the Roman empire were
removed; since then another sort of Heathens, the Papists, have raged, in
violent persecutions and bloodshed of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, and will
rage again, about and at the downfall of Babylon; see Revelation 11:18;
the kingdoms were moved; either from their Pagan
or Papal religion, and became subject to Christ. So it was at the downfall of
Rome Pagan; and so it will be at the downfall of Rome Papal; when the kings of
the earth shall hate the whore, make her desolate, and burn her flesh with
fire. Or they shall be destroyed; that is, those that shall be gathered
together in Armageddon, to make war with the Lamb; see Revelation 16:14;
he uttered his voice, the earth melted; like wax, as
the inhabitants of the earth do at the voice of his thunder, and as antichrist
will at the breath of his mouth; and all within the Romish jurisdiction,
signified by "the earth", as it often is in the book of the
Revelation, when the voice of the mighty angel shall be heard, "Babylon is
fallen, is fallen", Revelation 18:1.
Psalm 46:7 7 The Lord of hosts is
with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
YLT
7Jehovah of Hosts [is] with
us, A tower for us [is] the God of Jacob. Selah.
The Lord of hosts is with us,.... The Targum is,
"the Word of the Lord of hosts". He whose name is Immanuel, which is,
by interpretation, "God with us", Matthew 1:23; who
is King of kings, and Lord of lords; who has all creatures in heaven and earth
at his command, whom all the hosts of angels obey; he is on the side of his
people, and therefore they have nothing to fear from all the hosts and armies
of men; seeing more are they that are for them than they that are against them;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. As, in the
former clause, the argument against fear of men is taken from the power of God,
and the extent of his dominion, here it is taken from the grace of God, and his
people's covenant interest in him: for by Jacob is meant the church of God, and
all true believers, who are Israelites indeed; the Lord is the refuge and
shelter of such in all times of distress and trouble, and therefore they need
not fear; See Gill on Psalm 46:1.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
Psalm 46:8 8 Come, behold the works of
the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
YLT
8Come ye, see the works of
Jehovah, Who hath done astonishing things in the earth,
Come, behold the works of the Lord,.... Of nature and grace,
especially those of Providence; both in a way of judgment, as in this verse;
and of mercy, as in Psalm 46:9. These
words are an address of the psalmist to his friends, as Apollinarius supplies
it; or of the church to the fearful among them, who were dismayed at the
commotions and disturbances that were in the world, Psalm 46:2; and who
are encouraged to trust in the Lord, from the consideration of his works,
particularly his providential dispensations;
what desolations he hath made in the earth; in the land
of Judea, at the time of the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem,
foretold by Moses, Deuteronomy 32:22;
by Daniel, Daniel 9:26; and by
our Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew 23:38; and
which desolations being the fulfilling of prophecy, may serve to strengthen the
faith of God's people, that whatsoever he has said shall come to pass; and that
seeing he made such desolations among the Jews, for their rejection of the
Messiah, what may not be expected will be made in the antichristian states, for
their opposition to him? and, besides, are a confirmation of the truth of his
being come; since after his coming these desolations, according to Daniel, were
to be made; nor was the sceptre to depart from Judah till he came, nor the
second temple to be destroyed before he was in it. Moreover, these desolations
may refer to those that have been made in the Roman empire, upon the blowing of
the trumpets; the first "four" of which brought in the Goths, Huns,
and Vandals, into the western part of it, which made sad ravages and
devastations in it; see Revelation 8:7; and
the "fifth" and "sixth" brought in the Saracens and Turks
into the eastern part of it, which seized and demolished it, and made dreadful
havoc among men; see Revelation 9:1.
Likewise the desolations that will be made in the antichristian states may be
here intended; when the seven vials of God's wrath will be poured out upon
them, Revelation 16:1
when the kings of the earth will hate the whore, and make her desolate, Revelation 17:16;
and all her plagues shall come upon her in one day, Revelation 18:8.
And a view of these desolations, even in prophecy, may serve to cheer the
hearts of God's people under the present reign of antichrist, and under all the
rage, fury, and oppression of antichristian powers, since they will all in a
little time become desolate. This will be the Lord's doing, and it will be
wondrous in our eyes.
Psalm 46:9 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.
YLT
9Causing wars to cease, Unto
the end of the earth, the bow he shivereth, And the spear He hath cut asunder,
Chariots he doth burn with fire.
He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth,.... As at the
birth of Christ, the Prince of peace, in the times of Augustus Caesar, when
there was a general peace in the world, though it did not last long; and in the
times of Constantine, signified by silence in heaven for half an hour, Revelation 8:1;
when for a while there was a cessation from wars and persecution; and as will
be in the latter day, and which is here chiefly designed; when nations shall
learn war no more, and Christ's kingdom will take place; of which and its peace
there shall be no end, Isaiah 2:4. The
consideration of which may serve to relieve distressed minds under terrible
apprehensions of present troubles and public calamities;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth
the chariot in the fire; that is, "chariots", or "carts"F25עגלות "plaustra", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus,
Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis. or "wagons", in which, as Aben Ezra
observes, arms and provision were carried for the use of soldiers; the Targum
renders it "round shields"F26So the Septuagint, Vulgate
Latin, Ethiopic and Arabic versions. : and the destroying of all these military
weapons and carriages is a token of peace, and of war's being caused to cease,
there being no more use for them; with this compare Ezekiel 39:8. It
was usual to burn the arms of enemies taken in warF1Vid. Lydium de
Re Militari, l. 6. c. 4. p. 229, 230. .
Psalm 46:10 10 Be still, and know that I am
God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
YLT
10Desist, and know that I
[am] God, I am exalted among nations, I am exalted in the earth.
Be still, and know that I am God,.... These
words are thought by some to be spoken by the Lord to the nations of the world,
to "cease from war", as the Targum renders the words; or from going
up any more against Jerusalem, as Jarchi interprets them; and that they were
spoken to them before the breaking of their bows, &c. as Aben Ezra
observes; or that they are an exhortation to them to cease from their evil
works, and know that the Lord is God, and has power to raise up and to make
low; which, is Kimchi's sense of the words: but they are rather a continuation
of the church's address to the fearful among them, as before to behold the
works of the Lord, so here to hearken to what he says, as follows, "be
still"; not that they should be like sticks and stones, stupid, indolent,
and unconcerned at the commotions that were in the earth, and be unaffected
with the judgments of God, and be wholly silent and inactive; but that they
should not be fearful, nor fretful and impatient, or restless and tumultuous;
but be quiet and easy, resigned to the will of God, and live in an assured
expectation of the appearance of divine Providence in their layout. And
"know"; own and acknowledge that he is God, a sovereign Being that
does whatsoever he pleases; that he is unchangeable in his nature, purposes,
promises, and covenant; that he is omnipotent, able to help them and deliver
them at the last extremity; that he is omniscient, knows their persons, cases,
and troubles, and how and where to hide them till the storm is over; that he is
the all wise God, and does all things after the counsel of his own will, and
makes all things work together for good to them; and that he is faithful to his
word and promise, and will not suffer them to be overpressed and bore down with
troubles. Who further says for their encouragement, and is to be hearkened to
in it,
I will be exalted among the Heathen; with or in the conversion
of the Gentiles; when the kingdoms of this world shall become Christ's, and all
nations shall come and worship before him, Revelation 11:15.
Or in the destruction of the Gentiles; the Papists, the antichristian states;
which will cause great rejoicings, hallelujahs, and attributions of honour and
glory to him, Revelation 16:5; so
Jarchi interprets the words, "I will be exalted", בצקמתי,
"in my vengeance"; that I will take upon the Heathen;
I will be exalted in the earth; now Christ is exalted in
heaven at the right hand of God, before long he will be exalted in the earth,
where he was despised and rejected, crucified and slain; he will be King over
all the earth; his dominion will be from one end of it to the other; his
tabernacle will be among men; and his people, as kings and priests, will reign
with him on earth; by whom he, and he alone, will be exalted in the dignity of
his person and offices, and, especially in his kingly office, Zechariah 14:9. The
consideration of which may serve to remove fears and dismayings of mind under
present troubles.
Psalm 46:11 11 The Lord of hosts is
with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
YLT
11Jehovah of hosts [is] with
us, A tower for us [is] the God of Jacob! Selah.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is
our refuge. See Gill on Psalm 46:7. The
Targum paraphrases it, "the Word of the Lord of hosts", as in Psalm 46:7; and the
same words are here repeated, to comfort those that were fearful and
unbelieving, with which the church then comforted herself.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》