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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》