PSALM 46:1-3

BIG IDEA 

WHEN YOUR WORLD IS BEING RIPPED APART, REMEMBER YOU HAVE A REFUGE.

INTRODUCTION: “FREEDOM”

Songs have a way of lifting the human spirit. Songs have a way of connecting us emotionally. Songs have a way of helping us remember. That’s why we teach little children the alphabet through songs. That’s why I learned the 50 states in alphabetical order through a song. We can hear a song and it takes us back to a place, a time, an event, or a memory. A memory. A remembrance. Sometimes a song is born out of significant suffering.

Everyone thought the pandemic had ended. It had raged on for so long. Surely, not another wave? And yet there was. Already, well over 25 million Europeans had perished. But it wasn’t over. Will it ever be over? The head of the seminary made it very clear that all the professors and all the students should leave the area. It wasn’t safe. Nothing could stop the assault on human life.

One professor remained. On August 19, just 17 days into the renewed wave, an 18th death was recorded. The professor reflected on what to do. Should he run? Should he stay? 

On November 10, just three months into the outbreak, the professor’s son John was already sick. His wife Katie was pregnant. His dear friend George had just lost his pregnant wife and their unborn child. On top of that, the mayor’s wife died in the professor’s arms. What was he to do?

The professor wrote to his dear friend Justus these words:

I am concerned about the delivery of my wife, so greatly has the example of the Deacon’s [George Rörer] wife terrified me. But He who is mighty has done great things for me; and so the endurance of great things also is required of me. May my Christ, whom I have purely taught and confessed, be my rock and fortress. Amen. My little John cannot now send his greetings to you because of his illness, but he desires your prayers for him. Today is the twelfth day that he has eaten nothing; he has been somehow sustained only by liquids. Now he is beginning to eat a little bit. It is wonderful to see how this infant wants to be happy and strong as usual, but he cannot because he is too weak … We hope for the end of the plague. Farewell, and give a kiss to your son and a hug to his mother, and remember us in your prayers.

(https://hail.to/laidlaw-college/publication/z0YvCh2/article/otABdxy)

I want to draw your attention to the words right in the middle of this letter excerpt: “May my Christ, whom I have purely taught and confessed, be my rock and my fortress.”

In due course, a daughter was born, the second child, but the first daughter to the professor and his wife. The joy of the new birth quickly passed though, as the sickly child struggled to survive, eventually dying seven months later.

The year: 1527

The city: Wittenburg, Germany

The pandemic: Bubonic plague, “The Black Death”

The professor: Martin Luther.

Sometime after the events that I have described for you today, Martin Luther wrote words that have sounded through the following centuries, first written in German, but now translated into many languages.

A mighty fortress is our God; a bulwark never failing.

Our helper He amidst the flood; of mortal ills prevailing.

MARTIN LUTHER

The source for the sentiment of the song is none other than Psalm 46. Martin Luther loved this Psalm. Historians tell us that often when tempted by despair through trying times, Luther would say to his friend and co-worker, Philip Melanchthon, “Come, let us sing the 46th Psalm and let the devil do his worst.” It was his familiarity with this Psalm that led Luther to write “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”

Many have called this song, “The Battle Song of the Reformation,” for it embodies the Reformation theme of “Sola Fide,” that is to say, “Faith Alone.” But more than a battle song for the Reformation, I believe that this is the heart cry of a reformed man. It is the testimony of a weak man behind a mighty fortress.

Luther’s life was reborn when he heard the cry of the prophet Habakkuk, “The just shall live by faith.” He realized that his hope for salvation was not found in religious activity but rather by faith in Jesus Christ. Faith. A saving faith. A faith that brought grace and a new relationship with God. This confession of faith allowed Luther to remain calm even in a time of catastrophe. His suffering led him to sing a new song. 

SONG: A MIGHTY FORTRESS

Luther was not alone. He stood on the shoulders of Sons of Korah, songwriters for King David in the employment of the tabernacle. Eleven of the Psalms are attributed to them. Their songs are remarkable in their poetry and recognition of the awesomeness of God. In these eleven Psalms, we see some of the most beautiful and memorable phrases, such as, “As a deer pants for water, so my soul longs after thee,” “How lovely is your dwelling place,” and our text for today, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

If you look above this Psalm, there is an attribution. “To the choirmaster.” There are directions on how this song was to be sung. “Of the sons of Korah.” This is the author. “According to Alamoth.” This is a Hebrew phrase that loosely translates as “For the sopranos,” or “to be sung by the women.” “A Song.” This is the purpose. Sing, so that you are reminded, that even when your world is being ripped apart, you have a refuge.

In the right margin of this Psalm, the word “Selah” appears three times. It is a musical term. It is not known exactly how to translate the word, but it is understood to mean, “pause.” It was a break in the singing. It was a time for reflection and remembrance. And that is exactly how this song is broken down into three parts.

1. Remember, there is a refuge. (Psalm 46:1-3)
2. Remember, there is a river. (Psalm 46:4-7)
3. Remember, there is a reason. (Psalm 46:8-11)

Today, we will look at the first of the three, and together, through song, we will remember that even when the world is being ripped apart, there is a refuge.

EXPLANATION

1. THE CONFIDENT CONFESSION.

“GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.” PSALM 46:1

“A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD, A BULWARK NEVER FAILING.”

This is the confident confession of the Sons of Korah. The Sons of Korah gave a confident confession.

Notice please, this is a personal confession. The writers do not say, “there may be a God,” or even, “some may have a God,” they wrote, “God is OUR refuge and strength.” Elohim was their God. It was personal.

Also, please notice this is a powerful confession. God is our REFUGE, and place to run to, and strength, a power to protect us. A refuge is a place to run to when you are assailed by a storm or attacked by an enemy. It is a safe place. It is a place where even if you are frail, you can be protected, even if you are weak, you can find strength.

Notice also, please, that it is a present confession. God is a very present help in times of trouble. God is not far off. He is not far away. He is near to you even when you are in danger.

Finally, please notice that this is a prior confession. The Sons of Korah make this confession prior to the calamitous catastrophe we will examine in a moment. It preceded their predicament.

This was the example set not only by the Sons of Korah, but Martin Luther as well.

• Before he nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg door, God was Luther’s refuge.
• Before he was harassed by the Church of Rome, God was Luther’s refuge.
• Before the Diet of Worms, where he was commanded to renounce his faith, God was Luther’s refuge.
• Before his ex-communication, God was Luther’s refuge.
• Before the Black Death came to Wittenburg, God was Luther’s refuge.
• Before thousands were burned at the stake by the Church of Rome, God was Luther’s refuge.
• Before his friend George’s wife and unborn child died, before the mayor’s wife died, before Katie gave birth, before Elizabeth was born, before Jonathan recovered, before Elizabeth died, God was Martin Luther’s refuge.

And so he could sing, 

“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper he amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing…Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right man our side, the man of God’s own choosing? Dost ask who it may be, Christ Jesus, it is He. The Lord of Hosts His name, from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.”

MARTIN LUTHER

Where do you run when your world is being ripped apart?

• Do you run to the bottle?
• Do you run to human wisdom?
• Do you run for the needle?
• Do you run for the pill bottle?
• Do you run to pop-psychology?

When your world is being ripped apart, run to the only refuge strong enough to save and support you!

Luther’s confident confession brought a calming consequence, believing by faith that Christ would conquer any calamitous catastrophe.

II. THE CALMING CONSEQUENCE

“THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR…” PSALM 46:2a

“WE WILL NOT FEAR FOR GOD HATH WILLED HIS TRUTH TO TRIUMPH THROUGH US. THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS GRIM, WE TREMBLE NOT FOR HIM. HIS RAGE WE CAN ENDURE, FOR LO, HIS DOOM IS SURE, ONE LITTLE WORD WILL FELL HIM.”

A confident confession of the sure and sustaining power of God has a calming consequence. I love how Martin Luther paraphrased this.

• “There is no need to tremble at the prince of darkness because He is doomed.”
• “We will not tremble because the truth of God will triumph through us.”
• “We are not doomed, but the Prince of Darkness is doomed by our declaration!”

On your very worst day, never forget, God wins! If God is your refuge and if God is your strength and if God is your very present help in time of trouble, why would you run anywhere else?

Listen, fear is a normal initial response. It is normal to experience fear when your world is being ripped apart. But fear fades as faith comes to the fore. Fear dies as faith is declared. Fear evaporates as faith is exercised.

That’s why we need to remember our refuge. That is why we need to sing of our salvation. When we raise our refrain we are reminded of our refuge. When God is your refuge and strength, there is no room for fear.

When you are afraid, stop, reflect, and ask yourself, “What am I afraid of? Is it bigger than God? Is it stronger than God? When the answer is rightfully, “no” let fear fade and faith flourish.

III. THE CALAMITOUS CATASTROPHE.

“…THOUGH THE EARTH GIVES WAY, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE MOVED INTO THE HEART OF THE SEA, THOUGH ITS WATERS ROAR AND FOAM, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE AT ITS SWELLING.” PSALM 46:2-3

“LET GOODS AND KINDRED GO, THIS MORTAL LIFE ALSO, THE BODY THEY MAY KILL, GOD’S TRUTH ABIDETH STILL: HIS KINGDOM IS FOREVER.”

Scholars have debated what sort of a calamitous catastrophe had befallen the Sons of Korah. It is a dire picture. It is the picture of the world being ripped apart. It was a war similar to what our world is experiencing today. It was a plague similar to the one in the days of Martin Luther. Next week, when we consider the next stanza, I will give you my best understanding of the context of time when this song was written. It was an awful time. And yet, despite the calamitous catastrophe, there was a confident confession and a calming consequence.

In fact, I think Martin Luther got it perfectly right in his paraphrase.

• When goods are ripped away, remember your refuge.
• When family is ripped away, remember your refuge.
• When your own life is being ripped away, remember your refuge.

There is no landslide greater than our God.

There is no hurricane greater than our God.

There is no earthquake greater than our God.

This is the truth that allowed Martin Luther to remain in Wittenburg when everyone else ran. This is what allowed Martin Luther to stand when his son Jonathan was so sick. This is what carried Martin Luther through when God carried Elizabeth into the arms of Jesus. This is what allowed Martin Luther to look Black Death in the eye and say, “Death doesn’t scare me.”

All are just temporary; His kingdom is forever! Whatever you are experiencing today is just temporary. It may feel eternal, but it is not. In fact, the eternal God is just in the process of building His eternal Kingdom in you.

And what is the worst that can happen to you? Is it death? No. Death is not the worst that can happen to you. The worst that can ever happen to you is that you live and die and never understand that God is building a Kingdom that is forever. Let goods go. Let family go. Let go of your life. God’s truth abideth still. What is that truth? His Kingdom is forever.

CONCLUSION: SELAH

 Selah. And so we come to the end of the first stanza. It is time to pause and reflect.

1. Remember: there is a refuge. You must be able to have a confident confession. Is God your God today? If so, rest in Him. If not, run to Him.
2. Remember: there is a refuge. You are able to experience a calming consequence as a result of your confident confession. If you are filled with fear, let go and be filled with faith.
3. Remember. There is a refuge. You may already be or soon will be experiencing a calamitous catastrophe. You may be able to survive it, but even if you don’t it won’t matter if you have a confident confession. The goal should not be to live on earth as long as possible; our goal should be to live on earth in a manner that prepares us for eternity.