God is our every ready and able protector therefore fear not. God gives joy by His timely provisions therefore fret not. God will yet rule and overrule for His glory, therefore be not disheartened amidst trouble but press on with God's help. (Summary Statement)
This psalm is a Song upon Alamoth - to the voice of young women, literally of soprano (BDB). It is written from the Chief Musician for the sons of Korah.
The opening and closing statements of the psalm provides for us the theme - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. The word "refuge" means "place of safety and protection".
The "LORD of hosts" describes the Almighty power of God as the commander of all powers, material and spiritual for He is the LORD of heaven and earth. The LORD of host is with us is emphasized twice in verse 7 and 11 . By way of illustration, in the book of Zechariah, the "LORD of hosts" is used 53 times for God's people to repent from their sin and backsliding. Come back to God! God has the power to create and He has the power to destroy. Surely His creatures must tremble at His wrath when we are not on the LORD'S side.
We can become disheartened and discouraged when disasters sweep into our lives without warning. The psalmist wants to deeply impress upon the mind and heart of the reader that there is safety in God. He is ever ready and able to protect His children. The image of refuge is the picture of a place of safety from danger (v 2-3 ), defense from an enemy (v 6 ), protection from wars and aggression (v 9 ), giving security.
We visited the remnants of the last stronghold of the Jews before they were capture by the ingenuity of Roman army who built a ramp up the high mountain to capture the seemingly impregnable fort called Masada, in the Holy Land. After taking a cable car up the slopes, we have to walk several flight of stairs. The stairs were constructed from converging rocks that provided good shelter from the heat of the sun. One brother remarked, "behold, the clef of the rock!" How cooling it is under its protection, it sheltered us from the heat of the sun.
We recall well December 26, 2004 that Indian Ocean undersea earthquake, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing more than 225,000 people in eleven countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters ( 100 feet). It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were hardest hit. With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. It caused the entire planet to vibrate as much as 1 cm and triggered other earthquakes as far away as Alaska.
The teaching from God's Word here is we shall not fear.
I have related this incident before, some of you may have heard it, for those who have not, this is especially for you. My wife was expecting our second child Lucas when we brought our daughter Lois to the visit the Istana. It was our first visit to the Presidential grounds. It has been raining the past days. As we cleared the security, my daughter at that time 3 plus years old saw on her left an open field. My wife being pregnant could not follow my daughter Lois who started running in the open field. I followed her. Suddenly, I saw her disappeared as she fell into a pond that is covered with plants. Because of the rain, the pond was the same level as the field, being fully covered with floating plants, the plant resembled the field. The police that was guarding the place had just walked away. There was no sign to show that it was a pond. I thank the Lord that I instinctively jumped into the pond. It was a very deep pond, I was told later. It was very dark. I thank the Lord that I managed to feel the sweater that Lois and grab it, lifting her up with all my might, and a Chinese man, lifted her to safety from my hands. She drank some of the pond water but she was conscious and totally shocked. Both of us were very wet, being escorted to the police vehicle nearby to rest. Had I missed the helm of her garment, she would have drowned, for she was dragged down quickly by her own weight. When we got up to safety, as we look at the pond, there is only a little hole, exposing the pond, with a floating plant overturned. They rest of the pond was still covered by the plants, resembling the field. The Lord was merciful. It would have been head line news "Girl drowned in Istana" had God not been merciful.
Truly, God was a very present help in trouble. He enabled me to grap hold of the seam my daughter's sweater to pull her up. It was a split second action.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (v 4 )
What is the river that makes glad the city of God? I answer, God himself is the river, as in the following verse, "God is in the midst of her."
1. God the Father is the river: "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13 .
2. God the Son is the river, the fountain of salvation: "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." Zechariah 13:1 .
3. God the Spirit is the river: "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 7:38 ; 4:14 . What are the streams of this river? Answer -- the perfections of God, the fullness of Christ, the operations of the Spirit, and these running in the channel of the covenant of promise. (Ralph Erskine, Treasury of David)
The precious fountain flows from Calvary's mountain cleanse every sinful but contrite heart. This is the river of Christ's precious blood, that healing stream. When we are healed from our sins, there is great joy in our hearts.
Notice that the river makes glad the city. It nourishes the city with water. It is the lifeline of the city. Therefore, it is to the rejoicing of the inhabitant. The river is the picture of God to His children. Jerusalem is one great ancient city that is not built beside a river. The King Hezekiah had to redirected the river Gihon to supply Jerusalem with underground water. 2 Chronicles 32:30 "This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works." It enabled them to survive when the Assyrian army laid siege over the city.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. (v 5 )
The word "moved" is from the verb meaning "totter, shake, slip." When God is our help, we shall not fret.
The psalmist urged the reader to rehearse and see the wonderous works of God in delivering His people from seemingly impossible impasse (v 8-9 ).
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (v 10 )
"Be still" is in the imperative. We are commanded to be still when we fear most and when we fret most. It is a realization based on God's truth - The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (v 11 ) God will help us. Ponder and consider carefully this tremendous statement of truth. We are not deserving but this is our privilege as God's child. May the Lord help us to always trust in Him in all times.
Words: Har-ri-et B. Stowe, in Henry Beech-er's Ply-mouth Col-lect-ion, 1855. Stowe ha-bit-u-al-ly rose at 4:30 in the morn-ing; the lyr-ics speak to her ear-ly morn-ing walks in the si-lence be-fore the rush of day.
Music: Consolation (Men-dels-sohn), ar-ranged from "Song With-out Words," by Fe-lix Men-dels-sohn ( 1809- 1847)
Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.
Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.
As in the dawning o'er the waveless ocean
The image of the morning star doth rest,
So in the stillness Thou beholdest only
Thine image in the waters of my breast.
Still, still with Thee, as to each newborn morning,
A fresh and solemn splendor still is given,
So does this blessd consciousness, awaking,
Breathe each day nearness unto Thee and Heaven.
When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber,
Its closing eye looks up to Thee in prayer;
Sweet the repose beneath the wings o'ershading,
But sweeter still to wake and find Thee there.
So shall it be at last, in that bright morning,
When the soul waketh and life's shadows flee;
O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning,
Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.
Words: Ed-gar P. Stites, 1876.
Music: Ira D. Sank-ey (MI-DI, score).
The lyr-ics first ap-peared as a po-em in a news-pa-per. They were giv-en to Ira Sank-ey's part-ner Dwight Moo-dy, who asked Sank-ey to write mu-sic for them.
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate'er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain