Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 46
“ For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Cease striving 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 stronghold. Selah.[1]†(Psalm 46, NASB 95)—Psalm 46
A crisis is not an external event like a storm or a disease; instead, it is our internal reaction to a devastating loss when our coping mechanisms fail. No life is exempt. We are either coming out of a crisis, are in one now, or will face one sometime in the future. This is the reality of life in a broken world.
The question Psalm 46 answers is, “Where is God in a crisis?â€
Psalm 46 tells us He is both “our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble†(Psalm 46:1). Our biggest challenge is releasing our grip—our impulse to try to control our lives. That belongs to God, who alone can save. Truly loving God with everything we are, including our sorrow and brokenness, is the key to overcoming a crisis. We experience God in the presence of the Holy Spirit and through the love of other believers.
Begin by reading Psalm 46 aloud.
A crisis is not an external event like a storm or a disease; instead, it is our internal reaction to a devastating loss when our coping mechanisms fail. No life is exempt. We are either coming out of a crisis, are in one now, or will face one sometime in the future. This is the reality of life in a broken world.
The question Psalm 46 answers is, “Where is God in a crisis?â€
Psalm 46 tells us He is both “our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble†(Psalm 46:1). Our biggest challenge is releasing our grip—our impulse to try to control our lives. That belongs to God, who alone can save. Truly loving God with everything we are, including our sorrow and brokenness, is the key to overcoming a crisis. We experience God in the presence of the Holy Spirit and through the love of other believers.
Begin by reading Psalm 46 aloud.
Discussion Questions
1. When did you face a crisis and learn that only God could see you through it?
2. Why is it so hard to release the urge to control our lives and trust God for every detail?
3. How has a community of believers strengthened you? If someone in your group has helped you, tell them about that now.
4. How can you exercise the transformative gift of presence in someone else’s life right now? Do you know someone who needs it?
2. Why is it so hard to release the urge to control our lives and trust God for every detail?
3. How has a community of believers strengthened you? If someone in your group has helped you, tell them about that now.
4. How can you exercise the transformative gift of presence in someone else’s life right now? Do you know someone who needs it?
Posted in Sermon Notes