Psalms 46:4

In contrast to the tumultuous sea threatening to engulf the solid mountain, is the river, the streams whereofmake glad the city of God. The gently flowing river, fertilising all the land over which it is distributed in channels and rivulets, is an emblem of Jehovah's Presence, blessing and gladdening His city. Abundant irrigation is indispensable in Palestine. Cp. Psalms 1:3; Isaiah 30:25. The figure reminds us of Isaiah 8:6, where "the waters of Shiloah that go softly" are the emblem of the Divine government, and "the waters of the River great and many" are the emblem of the power of Assyria; and again of Isaiah 33:21, where Jehovah is compared to a mighty river encircling and protecting His city.

the city of God Cp. Psalms 48:1; Psalms 48:8; Psalms 87:3; Psalms 101:8; Isaiah 60:14; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12.

the holyplace &c. Better, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. Cp. Psalms 43:3, note. The title Most Highis significant. By His deliverance of His own city He has proved Himself the supreme Ruler of the world, refuting the self-deifying pretensions of Sennacherib (Isaiah 36:20; Isaiah 37:4; Isaiah 37:10 ff., Isa 34:23, 35; cp. Isaiah 14:13-14). Cp. Psalms 7:17, and for the usage of this title see Appendix, Note ii.