Ps 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This world is headed for trouble. The psalmist speaks of a time in Israel’s future when the earth will be removed and mountains carried into the midst of the sea. Earthquakes and tidal waves will bring fear and devastation around the globe as the world bears down on the descendants of Jacob in the tiny land of Israel. Yet, as the heathen rage with fury against God’s chosen people they may rest assured that “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved.” (v 5) Psalm 46 like many of the Psalms is prophetic. It looks ahead to the time known as the great tribulation. It will be a time when the kingdoms of this world will unite against the nation of Israel seeking her annihilation. Because of the imminent and overwhelming danger Israel will be in they will have only the Lord to look to for protection. They will need to remind themselves that, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (v 7,11) 

Because their calamity will be so severe, they are invited to “Behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” (v 8) All we have to do to gain an understanding of how devastating the tribulation will be is to read the book of Revelation. It will be a time of unprecedented cataclysmic upheaval. Just as Egypt was decimated in Exodus when they opposed the Israelites so shall the tribulation be. The God of Jacob will make the city of God His dwelling place when Christ returns in power and great glory conquering the armies of the world. It is then that He will “break the bow,” “cut the spear in sunder,” and “burn the chariot with fire.” The Lord Jesus Christ will make “wars to cease” and will then be “exalted in the earth.” It is in the midst of all of this chaos that Israel needs to remember that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (v 1) This scripture is also true for us as well; when we face troublesome times, we too may rest assured that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Amen