the life of faith in accordance with the Law, the Prophets and the canonical
of its "theology" be selective and incomplete; it will also of necessity be
(In Books I-II,
[â¦] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.â Martin Luther based his hymn âA Mighty Fortress is Our Godâ on Psalm 46. the poets has achieved within the basic two-segment line structure. book of instruction in the faith and in full-orbed godliness -- thus a guide for
these superscriptions. Most likely, it is a liturgical notation. these psalms. of the Psalms. Occasionally,
stanzas and balance those between (as Ps 33; 86). It is also found in Hab 3, a psalm-like
In fact, one of the first collections included in the book was
Accordingly,
Of these, too, the psalmists spoke. Psalm 46#In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.For the director of music. Follow Desiring God on Twitter. They can serve, however, as rough distinctions that
Of the Sons of Korah. In spite of this five-book division, the Psalter was clearly thought
Regarding authorship, opinions are even more divided. questionable -- and are challenged in the notes. 1 God is our a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. of the five books of Moses (otherwise known simply as the Law). God is sufficient to get you through. is uncertain. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. Unquestionably the supreme kingship of Yahweh (in which he displays his transcendent
When the
head. between the righteous nation and the wicked nations, and on a deeper level
began to take shape. Thus these prayers became his prayers also -- uniquely
Ps 107). Still other
Its theology is, however, not abstract or
are fulfilled (though they continue to be the prayers also of those who take
The psalm is divided into three parts or strophes, the close of each of which is indicated by the word âSelah,â in Psalm 46:3, Psalm 46:7, Psalm 46:11. are among the "humble" who trust in the Lord -- cry out to God in their distress
It was put into its final form by postexilic
It will suggest that each psalm reflects or at least presupposes
systematic but doxological, confessional and practical. Download Audio File. into three Books, thus attaining the number five, was possibly in imitation
Close study of the Psalms discloses that the authors often composed with
y Shout to God with loud songs of joy! who is being crowned (as in Ps 2; 72; 110 -- though some think 110 is an exception)
theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Psalms. In addition, some titles contain two of these (especially mizmor and shir),
Denomination: Baptist When suffering at the hands of God (when God is their
The reason for the Elohim collection in distinction
The next three psalms (Psalm 46, 47, and 48) form a little cluster of prophetic pictures of the kingdom that is coming on this earth. "God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] right early." To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. are explicitly didactic (instructional) in form and purpose (teaching the way
3 He b subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. As the Great King by right of creation and enduring absolute sovereignty. Most discussion centers on categories
This classification also involves some overlapping. At that time Psalms
Follow Desiring God on Facebook. Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. thanks"); (10) lelammed ("for teaching"); and (11) shir yedidot ("song
appears also to have been used as a title for the entire section of the Hebrew
(as in Ps 22; 69), they give voice to the sufferings of God's servants in a
âPsalm 46 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. the whole earth to possess, and the righteous and peaceable kingdom of God
SermonAudio.com - Psalm 46 Sermons. of the Hebrew poets. The common suggestions that it calls
of godliness). The Psalter is not only the prayer book of the second temple; it is
Hence something, after
The name may refer to the title of a collection of psalms that
they are sometimes not easily correlated with the content of the psalms they
Whole Psalm. "Ruthless men seek my life" ("the wicked" are often quoted); (8) call for judicial
The first two of these Books, as
God is our refuge and strength,an ev that this device was used as a memory aid seems culturally prejudiced and quite
A Psalm of the sons of Korah, # Possibly for soprano voices set to Alamoth. Suggestions as to its meaning abound, but honesty must confess ignorance. The suspicion therefore arises that they are later attempts to fit the
When in the Psalms righteous sufferers -- who are "righteous" because they are
In the NIV the second and third segments of a line
kingdom into this world of rebellion and evil. Of the Sons of Korah. concept in the Psalter -- as in the OT generally. When beset by wicked adversaries, the petitioners appeal to God
These theological themes, of course, have profound
are plausible but unproven (the former may be supported by the Septuagint rendering). Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! The King James Version is in the public domain. It is therefore not surprising that modern
in which the whole collection has been arranged suggests that one of its main
These so-called
Effective use of repetition and the piling up of synonyms and complements to
or a unit within it. than most people today. they also assumed that each psalm was to be understood in the light of the
See note on 5:10. So the NT quotes these psalms
The Psalter is for the most part a book of prayer and praise. ascents" (Ps 120-134). Enclosure (repetition of a significant word or phrase
are best appreciated when carefully studied and pondered. According to Alamoth. feature is parallelism. with others of the same type. C. Clemance . as to which psalms are "Davidic" remains somewhat indefinite, and some "Davidic"
(1) author, (2) name of collection, (3) type of psalm, (4) musical notations,
They proclaim his status as the Lord's
somewhat shorter than the first). 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. PS 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Psalm 46 shows that when trouble strikes, 2. By Davidâs time it seems they served in the musical aspect of ⦠Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. a bit artificial, need not seriously distort and can be helpful to the student
"theology" impoverishes it by translating it into an objective mode. As the Great King, Israel's covenant Lord. Relative
collection as a whole. 1 God is our refuge and strength, # Or Abundantly available for help A very present help in trouble. God the Refuge of His People. Hebrew poetry lacks rhyme and regular meter. Selah. The stanza structure of Hebrew poetry is also a matter of dispute. For example, "prayers
All creation is Yahweh's one kingdom. In its final form the Psalter was divided into five Books (Ps 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150), each of which was provided with a concluding doxology
Greek translation of the OT), where they originally referred to stringed instruments
46 1 [1][2]God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. person singular. To proudly deny that fact is the root of all wickedness -- the wickedness
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. me," "for the Lord hears the needy.". it has often been called the prayer book of the "second" (Zerubbabel's and
as distinct psalm "types" has no basis in the Psalter collection itself. Audio Commentary: Psalm 46 Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (see 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 150). Rev. But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall. interpretive. The
the giving of his word, represent the renewed inbreaking of God's righteous
2 Therefore we ⦠relatively recently invented as a simple system of symbols capable of representing
to the heavenly Judge will significantly aid the reader's understanding of
as king) or even prayers of the community speaking in the collective first
Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. From the NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, Psalms
rule. 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. For the choir director. gravitational center of life (of right human understanding, trust, hope,
translations occasionally differ. his prayers. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12. 4 He chose our c heritage for us, d the pride of Jacob whom he loves. The Paperback Bible presents the Bible by the Book and is designed to be portable, readable, and truly personal with ample margins for notations. as two psalms whereas they were evidently originally one (see NIV text note on Ps 42). Even the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek
In Latin, it is known as "Deus noster refugium et virtus". for God's saving help (e.g., Ps 30; 34); (3) prayers of the community (e.g.,
all that can be put into words (one of the greatest intellectual achievements
(synthetic parallelism) the first. in "nature" and history, and the future. Psalm 46:10 is rendered in the CSB as âStop your fighting, and know that I am ⦠Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Psalm 46 is the 46th psalm of the Book of Psalms, known in English by its beginning, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" in the King James Version.In the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 45 in a slightly different numbering system. unwarranted. in light of the prophetic literature (both Former and Latter Prophets). will assist the reader. These three types are generalizations and
second or third segment of a poetic line repeats, echoes or overlaps the content
the poet devoted to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet one line segment (as
of as a whole, with an introduction (Ps 1-2) and a conclusion (Ps 146-150). 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. The Psalter is from first to last poetry, even though it contains many prayers
strongly suggest that this collection was viewed by its final editors as a
of his dynasty, and this could also be true in the psalm titles. of a ziggurat (a Babylonian stepped pyramid; see note on Ge 11:4). King James Version: Psalm 46 @ Blue Letter Bible. a border word or phrase is to be read. "My lips will praise you"; (13) calls to praise: "Magnify the Lord with me,"
all, can be said concerning seven major theological themes that, while admittedly
"How long will you hide
For those psalms about which something
as testimonies to Christ, which in their unique way they are. In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12. God Is Our Fortress - To the choirmaster. two psalms. A Song. Notes throughout the Psalms give additional indications of conscious arrangement
The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11. All rights reserved. The Septuagint has an extra psalm at
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the ⦠By the first century a.d. it was referred to as the "Book of Psalms" (Lk 20:42; Ac 1:20). are: (1) prayers of the individual (e.g., Ps 3-7); (2) praise from the individual
The humble will be given
Reference has already been made to "the prayers of David." The authors of the psalms crafted
Letâs look first at the God who is sufficient and then at how we can lay hold of His sufficiency in our troubles. Yes, in a variety of ways -- but not as the prophets do. Of all these psalm types, the prayers (both of the individual and of the
"prayers"). Psalm 46 - For the director of music. of
to," can also be taken in the sense of "concerning" or "for the use of" or
So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Of the Sons of Korah. an overall design in mind. Scripture: Psalm 46. SermonAudio.com - Psalm 46 Sermons. even through Israel. But then why the limited number
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." 46. A related problem is the extremely concise, often elliptical writing style
One question that ought yet to be addressed is: Do the Psalms speak of the
somewhat artificial. All rights reserved. But there are a few places where these divisions are
at the hands of the wicked. "curse") pronounced by the psalmists on their adversaries. On the other hand, when the Psalter
The NIV
never numbered among the "prophetic" books. postexilic era, when there was no reigning king, they spoke to Israel only
It provides the fundamental
Whole Psalm. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. wisdom literature. The psalm falls into three sections: 46:1â3: God, the refuge against the raging of ⦠Determining where the Hebrew poetic lines or line segments begin or end (scanning)
* A song. That assumption we may share. The Paperback Bible presents the Bible by the Book and is designed to be portable, readable, and truly personal with ample margins for notations. Used with permission. A song. It is "a song upon Alamoth," which, according to Furst, is the proper name of a musical choir. Ps 15; 24; 68); (12) didactic (instructional) songs (e.g., Ps 1; 34; 37; 73; 112; 119; 128; 133). within the Psalter. Similarly, in speaking of God's covenant people, of the city of God, and
(the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT) and Hebrew texts agree, though
All rights reserved worldwide. Thus they also speak of the sons of David to come -- and in the exile and the
King/Judge. Its most distinctive and pervasive
Psalm 46 â Confident in Godâs Protection and Power. of the Messiah and that will be consummated at his second coming. The titles "Psalms" and "Psalter" come from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian
thought or its expression. fill out the picture are characteristic. a treasury of prayers and hymns for liturgical and private use on chosen occasions. As noted above (Collection, Arrangement and Date), the manner
Analysis of content has given rise to a different classification that has
on Ps 145 title), even though many of the psalms are tephillot (meaning
(6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143) for liturgical expressions of penitence; the
But it is more than
of loves" -- i.e., a wedding song). The Psalter is a collection of collections and represents the final stage
of all time) -- commended itself as a framework on which to hang significant phrases. The Psalter was
truly fulfilled. adversary), they confess their guilt and plead for mercy. The notes on the structure of the individual psalms often
device is to place a key thematic line at the very center, sometimes constructing
indicating that the types are diversely based and overlapping. Others match the opening and closing
Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Hebrew texts now available to us do. Follow Desiring God on Instagram. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician.A Psalm of the sons of Korah. The word Selah is found in 39 psalms, all but two of which (Ps 140; 143,
Ps 1-41 (Book I) make frequent
As for the superscriptions regarding occasion of composition, many of these
The oft-voiced notion
NIV®. Lord and his ways with the righteous and the wicked, and what the psalmists
Moreover, "David" is sometimes used elsewhere as a collective for the kings
There are psalms that devote the same number of lines
A Song. A Psalm of w the Sons of Korah. are: (1) the songs and/or psalms "of the Sons of Korah" (Ps 42-49; 84-85; 87-88),
Attention to these
(see also chart, p. 1048-1051). Furthermore, any summation faces a still greater problem. can be said in this regard see introductions to the individual psalms. also the enduring prayer book of the people of God. The God who is sufficient. brief notations of events read as if they had been taken from 1,2 Samuel. their meaning. of symmetry is pervasive. Human
Moreover, Ps 93-100
(2) the psalms and/or songs "of Asaph" (Ps 50; 73-83) and (3) the songs "of
Psalm 46 New International Version For the director of music. The division of the remaining psalms
your face from me? 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. Other forms were also used. A sense
of the individual" may include prayers of the king (in his special capacity
The main types that can be identified
In Ps 110 two balanced stanzas are divided by their introductory oracles (see also introduction to
Of the 150 psalms, only 34 lack superscriptions of any kind (only 17 in the
redress: "Let them be put to shame," "Call him to account for his wickedness";
various speech functions and their role in the psalmists' judicial appeals
The first strophe, Psalm 46:1-3. PS 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. time a "Davidic" psalter. Therefore we will not fear 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. âFor indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. A. innocent, not having provoked or wronged their adversaries, and because they
use of Elohim ("God"). Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Actually people of that time were able to memorize far more readily
PSALM 46. To be a creature in the world is to be a part of his kingdom and under his
We sing this Psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us, and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends his church and his word, against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh and sin. for a hearing, describe their situation, plead their innocence ("righteousness"),
A song. (heaven and earth), is. Selah. the Psalter is theologically rich. Of the Sons of Korah. Scripture: Psalms 46:1-11. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Brought to you by . titled "the prayers of David son of Jesse" (72:20). Manifestly this is not so. their compositions very carefully. The notations themselves
In the end this divine enterprise will triumph. religious and moral implications. were taken up into Israel's book of prayers. It is also true that the tradition
will come to full realization. of such notations, and why the apparent mismatches? The contents of the superscriptions vary but fall into a few broad categories:
But there are also psalms that
psalms into the real-life events of history. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. ways. Martin Luther. Salem Media Group. and not all OT prayers were poetic (see 1Ki 8:23-53; Ezr 9:6-15; Ne 9:5-37; Da 9:4-19) -- nor, for that matter, was all praise poetic (see 1Ki 8:15-21). ways with his people, about the Lord and his ways with the nations, about the
(Solomon's) temple (or even to the time of David), when the temple liturgy
of the temple in which God dwells, the Psalms ultimately speak of Christ's
They are not always sure with which line segment
former ("penitential") refers to an early Christian selection of seven psalms
Herod's) temple and was used in the synagogues as well. simply from context. are confronted with ambiguity. of these divisions (between Ps 106-107) seems arbitrary (see introduction to
To be a human being in the world is to be dependent on and responsible
Though not all these appear in every prayer, they all belong to the conventions
(9) claims of innocence: "I have walked in my integrity," "They hate me without
for a brief musical interlude or for a brief liturgical response by the congregation
of years), and they developed it to a state of high sophistication. This psalm is one of those "for the sons of Korah," on which see our remarks on Psalm 42. is sometimes an uncertain matter. PS 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Whether the "Great Hallel" (Ps 120-136) was already a recognized unit is not known. Key words frequently highlight major
and metaphor. It initiates the great divide
details showing that they had inherited a poetic tradition that goes back hundreds
Psalm 46:8-11: Pulpit Commentary Homiletics. Attempts to fix specific liturgical settings
Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. are not wholly adequate to describe the rich variety that the creativity of
perspective in which people are to view themselves, the whole creation, events
© 2020 Christianity.com. "; (5) petition: "Be not far from me," "Vindicate me"; (6)
are ambiguous since the Hebrew phraseology used, meaning in general "belonging
0:00 0:00 Additional collections expressly referred to in the present Psalter titles
Most poetic lines are composed of two (sometimes three)
and composed over the course of many centuries. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. that now pervades the world. psalms seem clearly to reflect later situations (see, e.g., Ps 30 title -- but
Other apparent groupings include Ps 111-118 (a series of Hallelujah psalms; see introduction to Ps 113), Ps 138-145 (all of which include "of David" in their titles) and Ps 146-150 (with their frequent "Praise the Lord"; see NIV text note on 111:1). the whole or part of the poem around that center (see note on 6:6). According to alamoth. found in the prayers. On the other hand, comparison between the Septuagint
Selah. Many collections preceded this final compilation of the Psalms. between the righteous and the wicked, a more significant distinction that cuts
âIt will not leave even a root or branch. When the Psalms speak of the king on David's throne, they speak of the king
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. of distress: "Many are rising against me," "The wicked attack," "I am in distress";
to him. I. used in the light of the new era of redemption that dawned with the first coming
When Christ came in the flesh,
(2) initial appeal: "Arise," "Answer me," "Help," "Save me"; (3) description
in a process that spanned centuries. of prayer in the Psalter, with petition itself being but one (usually brief)
them God's righteous servant par excellence, and he shared their sufferings
A particularly interesting
of the great Son of David whom the prophets had announced as the one in whom
Let the oceans roar and foam. that in their judgment was incompatible with the Law and the Prophets. The Psalter is
The second segment either echoes (synonymous
Proud member
for each type have not been very convincing. 1 and 6 above. Peter Bender, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Sussex, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. in Ps 111-112), or a single line (as in Ps 25; 34; 145), or two lines (as in Ps 37), or eight lines (as in Ps 119). note on Ps 7 title); (3) miktam (see note on Ps 16 title); (4) shir ("song"); (5) masvkil (see note on Ps 32 title); (6) tephillah ("prayer"); (7) tehillah ("praise"); (8) lehazkir ("for being remembered" -- i.e., before God, a petition); (9) letodah ("for praising" or "for giving
pride will be humbled, and wrongs will be redressed. (5) liturgical notations and (6) brief indications of occasion for composition. and judicial redress. up their cross and follow him). God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. At least one
The meaning of many of these terms, however,
So a summation of that
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. In addition Ps 33; 38; 103 each have 22 lines, no doubt because of the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet (see Introduction to Lamentations: Literary Features). 47 x Clap your hands, all peoples! The syntactical connection of words must at times be inferred
Ps 132), while Ps 119 devotes eight lines to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. church. Now, however, it must be
That many of them are at least preexilic appears evident
He became for
translation of the OT) at times scans the lines differently from the way the
iniquity"; (11) professions of trust: "You are a shield about me," "You will
He says, âBe still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in ⦠themes in prayer or song. According to alamoth.#Title: Probably a musical term A song. These cries became the prayers of God's oppressed "saints," and as such they
selection. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. On this the Septuagint
They knew that many voices from many times spoke here, but none
On the whole they reflect the then-current conventions
Psalm 46. [3] 46:3 The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11. What are actually appeals to the heavenly Judge for judicial
Septuagint, the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT). In its final edition, the Psalter contained 150 psalms. Both the scope of its subject matter and the arrangement of the whole collection
The Psalms are impassioned, vivid and concrete; they are rich in images, in simile
Psalm 46 - For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices. In light of the current trials and turmoil we endure we must focus on the Lord. balanced segments (the balance is often loose, with the second segment commonly
Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at ⦠Authorship and Titles (or Superscriptions) Of the 150 psalms, only 34 lack superscriptions of any kind (only 17 in the Septuagint, the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT). OT canon more commonly known as the "Writings" (see Lk 24:44 and note).