This closing verse of Psalm 46 repeats verse 7, probably in keeping with the psalm's musical nature. The term se'lāh, used at the very conclusion, is only vaguely interpreted. The use implies a pause, so it may be like the exclamation "amen!" or be used as part of musical notation.

The emphasis on God's role as commander of the armies of heaven, His covenant relationship with the people of Israel, and His omnipotent power to preserve His people are all fitting conclusions.

As the Lord of Hosts, God commands all the armies of heaven. He can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We face no problem that He cannot solve, no temptation that He cannot defeat, and no trial that He cannot overcome. Best of all, He is "with us." When Jesus commissioned His disciples, He promised to be with them always (Matthew 28:20), and Hebrews 13:5 assures us that He will never leave us or abandon us.

Further, our Lord is the God of Jacob. When Jacob was on his journey from Beersheba to Paddan-aram, he had a dream in which he saw the Lord above a ladder that stretched to heaven (Genesis 28:10–16). The Lord spoke to him and promised to give him and his descendants the land He had promised to Abraham and his descendants. He also promised to bless all the families of the earth in Jacob and his descendants. Finally, He promised to be with Jacob and to keep him and return him home. Despite the animosity of Esau and, later, the abuse of Laban, the Lord kept Jacob safe. He prospered Jacob and eventually returned him home. Jacob could not take credit for any of his good fortune (Genesis 32:22–28).

Similarly, the Lord is depicted as a reinforced, secure, high place beyond the reach of enemies: a "fortress." Nothing can destroy our safety in Him.

Psalm 46:8–11 invites worshipers to consider the peace God gives those who trust in Him. He triumphs over those who wage war, and He will be given His proper respect among the peoples of earth. He is with His chosen nation, Israel, as their protector and guardian. This might have been composed in response to one of God's miraculous rescues of Israel, such as when Assyria besieged the city (2 Kings 19:35).

Trust and thanksgiving are the main themes in Psalm 46. It begins with strong praise for God's strength and availability. It continues with the assurance that the nation of Israel need not fear, no matter what happens. Despite how anyone might rage, or strive, the psalm declares that God will one day judge mankind and put a dramatic end to war. The psalm ends as it began by confiding in the Lord of hosts, since He is with His people as their secure, undefeatable Protector. This psalm may have inspired Martin Luther to write the hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."

This psalm, found in the second division of Psalms (42—72), seems to have been composed for congregational worship. One possible background for this song is God's deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians. They threatened the city in the time of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18—19; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36—37). Scholars speculate Hezekiah may have written this psalm, as well as Psalms 47 and 48.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 12:35:39 PM

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