Psalms Reading – 2.13.2022
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 47
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Psalm 46 responds to the laments of Psalms 42-44 by affirming that God is Israel’s refuge, strength, and fortress, sovereign over nature and nations. It inspired Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It has remarkable promises of God being ever-present and all powerful over the nations of the world. It is in this context that we are given the well-known words, “Be still, and know that I am God” for He alone is to be exalted as the true Lord and King.
Psalm 47 continues the theme and is the exclamation point to Psalm 46. The two psalms together passionately declare that the Lord is mighty over all of creation and all nations. Instead of being still, this psalm tells us to clap, shout, and sing because God is the great King over all the earth.
As you prepare for worship today, I encourage you to read and re-read these two psalms that reassure you of the presence, power, and kingship of our God over all things. May they create within you increasing faith and praise that you bring with you as you join with the family of God.
Memory Verse: Psalm 39:7, “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”
Question(s) to Consider: Why does the psalmist say “Be still, and know that I am God?”