Psalm 46:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

NIV: God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

NASB: God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

CSB: God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.

NLT: God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it.

KJV: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

NKJV: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

Encouraging statements in the Psalms are prone to being taken out of context. This verse is a common example of this. The phrase "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved" is often applied to encourage women in difficult circumstances. And yet, the "her" mentioned here is the city of Jerusalem (Psalm 46:4). It is appropriate to be encouraged while reading this verse, knowing that God's strength protects those who honor Him (Exodus 20:6). Yet it is not a literal reference to women in general or any woman in particular. Rather, this statement is part of Israel's praise for God's deliverance (Psalm 46:1–3).

The statement made in this verse declares that God's presence would guarantee Jerusalem's stability. A possible inspiration for this psalm is the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the invasion of Assyria (Isaiah 37:36). When the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem, the leader of the Assyrian forces taunted the people to abandon hope. He pointed out that the gods of the lands the Assyrians conquered failed to deliver those countries. He insisted it would be no different with Jerusalem's God (2 Kings 18:28–35). Later, when Hezekiah received a demanding letter from the Assyrian king, he entered the temple and spread the letter before the Lord and prayed for deliverance (2 Kings 19:14–19).

When morning dawned, there was clear evidence that the Lord had answered Hezekiah's prayer. Strewn throughout the Assyrians' camp were 185,000 dead bodies. During the night, the angel of the Lord had struck the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35).

Psalm 46:1–7 introduces the theme of trust in God. He is Israel's protector, and He is present whenever the people of Israel need Him. The people may trust in Him regardless of what happens. Neither natural calamities nor the threat of nations can shake God's people, because they have an abundant supply of the presence of the Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob.

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.