_GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE._ Psalms 46:1.-The Church's security, because God is in her, amidst the world's convulsions: as shown in the sudden overthrow of Sennacherib's invading hosts (cf. Psalms 46:8), which hitherto had swept on irresistibly. Two coincidences... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEREFORE WILL NOT WE FEAR, THOUGH THE EARTH BE REMOVED, AND THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE CARRIED INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA;_ Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed - literally, 'in the earth being changed.' Compare Psalms 102:26. The change of the earth means here great revolutions th... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOUGH THE WATERS THEREOF ROAR AND BE TROUBLED, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS SHAKE WITH THE SWELLING THEREOF. SELAH._ (Though) the waters thereof roar, and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. What a beautiful contrast there is between the roaring waters here and the still "r... [ Continue Reading ]
_THERE IS A RIVER, THE STREAMS WHEREOF SHALL MAKE GLAD THE CITY OF GOD, THE HOLY PLACE OF THE TABERNACLES OF THE MOST HIGH._ There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God. Jerusalem possessed no literal "river," but had spiritually the river of God's grace. The "waters of Sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER; SHE SHALL NOT BE MOVED: GOD SHALL HELP HER, AND THAT RIGHT EARLY._ God is in the midst of her - (Leviticus 26:12; Deuteronomy 23:14.) But this is especially true of the New Testament Church, which is the "habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22; 2 Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE HEATHEN RAGED, THE KINGDOMS WERE MOVED: HE UTTERED HIS VOICE, THE EARTH MELTED._ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved - (Isaiah 17:12.) Hengstenberg, instead of "raged," translates 'roar;' to which, in striking contrast, follows -- HE UTTERED HIS VOICE, THE EARTH MELTED - at His voice t... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE. SELAH._ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. So Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:10. The Church's security against the blustering pagan world, when it threatens her, is the truth which dooms the former to destruction-namel... [ Continue Reading ]
_COME, BEHOLD THE WORKS OF THE LORD, WHAT DESOLATIONS HE HATH MADE IN THE EARTH._ Come, behold the works of the Lord - invitation to all, without distinction, to see the proof of the Lord's might in the overthrow of the great world-powers. WHAT DESOLATIONS HE HATH MADE IN THE EARTH - what a desolat... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE MAKETH WARS TO CEASE UNTO THE END OF THE EARTH; HE BREAKETH THE BOW, AND CUTTETH THE SPEAR IN SUNDER; HE BURNETH THE CHARIOT IN THE FIRE._ He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth. When He has destroyed the ambitious world-powers which caused wars, then peace ensues "unto the end of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD: I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH._ Be still, and know that I am God. His miraculous interposition for His people proved that _ YAHWEH _ (H3068) of Israel is _ 'ELOHIYM_ (H430) - i:e., God. The transition is most impressive, the c... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE. SELAH._ The Lord of hosts is with us ... - repeated from the close of the second strophe (Psalms 46:7), and virtually equivalent to Psalms 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength." So that the Psalm closes as it began.... [ Continue Reading ]