Psalm 46

Psalm 46 belongs to Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42–72) and is one of the psalms of the sons of Korah that begin with Psalm 42. It follows Psalm 45, which celebrates a royal wedding. Together with Psalm 47 and Psalm 48, it forms a sequence celebrating God's reign and His city.

Outline

• Verses 1–3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The psalmist therefore declares that God's people will not fear, though the earth be removed, the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, and its waters roar and overflow. The section ends with "Selah."
• Verses 4–7 A river whose streams divide makes glad the city of God. Because God is in the midst of the city, it shall not be moved, and God shall help her right early. The heathen raged and the kingdoms were moved, but when God uttered His voice, the earth melted. Then comes the refrain: "The LORD of hosts is with us."
• Verses 8–11 The psalm calls its hearers to come and behold the works of the LORD. God makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth and destroys the bow, the spear, and the chariot. God Himself then speaks—"Be still, and know that I am God"—and the psalm closes with the same refrain.

Key Verses

• Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength": This confession expresses the theme of the entire psalm. → Psalm 46:1–3
• Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God": This is one of the verses most frequently quoted in the Korean church. → Psalm 46:8–11
• Psalm 46:7, 11 "The LORD of hosts is with us": This refrain occurs twice. The title "LORD of hosts" signifies that He commands the armies of heaven.

People and Places

• God (the LORD): The central subject of the psalm. He is called "the LORD of hosts," "the most High," and "the God of Jacob."
• Jacob: The ancestor of Israel. Here his name stands for the people of Israel.
• The sons of Korah: The group of authors named in the superscription. They were descendants of Korah, who appears in the book of Numbers, and are known as a Levitical family responsible for singing in the temple.
• The city of God: The text does not name it. It is traditionally understood as Jerusalem, that is, Zion.

Points for Reflection

• Structure: The three stanzas are divided by Selah, a musical or liturgical term of uncertain meaning. The second and third stanzas end with the same refrain.
• "Be still" (verse 10): This is commonly read as an exhortation for the individual to meditate quietly. However, many interpreters understand it in context as a command to the warring nations to cease their hostilities. The Korean New Korean Standard Version renders it "stay your hands for a moment."
• Historical background: Some interpreters connect this psalm with the withdrawal of the Assyrian army from Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah. The text itself, however, does not say this directly.
• Connections with the New Testament: The "river" that gladdens the city is often read alongside the water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47 and the river of the water of life in Revelation 22. The phrase "is with us" is often meditated upon in connection with Immanuel.

In the Korean Church

• The hymn that Martin Luther wrote on the basis of this psalm, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," appears in Korean translation in the New Hymnal under the title "내 주는 강한 성이요." It is often sung on Reformation Sunday.
• Verses 1 and 10 are frequently used in sermons and in pastoral visitation messages to comfort church members facing hardship.