The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (see the comment on Psalms 46:7).
HOMILETICS
The unchangeableness of God.
"God as our Refuge," etc. Mountains are the grandest of God's earthly works; natural images of majesty, strength, durableness. Rearing their peaks above the clouds, they gather the airy treasures of snow and rain; and pour from never-failing fountains the streams that water the valleys and feed the plains. Natural fortresses, where liberty has often found an impregnable asylum. Yet they are perishable. Waters wear their rocky sides. Earthquakes and landslips topple their crags into the valleys. Volcanic fires sometimes, as in our own day, tear them from their ancient foundations, and hurl their ruins into the sea. Such an overthrow of what seems strongest and most stable in outward nature, is in the text the image of the possible failure of all earthly support, defence, comfort, hope. But he who built the mountains and gave ocean its bounds, fails not, changes not. "God is our Refuge and Strength: therefore will we not fear." These are the two contrasted thoughts of our text.
I. THE INSECURITY OF EVERY EARTHLY REFUGE; the instability of all human strength. This may be realized:
1. In public calamity; national disasters. Depression of trade may carry discomfort, even ruin, into hundreds of thousands of homes. Our commercial system is so complicated and nicely balanced that one gigantic failure may give a shock to the whole fabric. The tremendous possibilities of war have to be reckoned; clear though the sky may be, the war-clouds may at any time gather and burst; perhaps with destructive fury surpassing all example. Even if our own shores still escape, war expenditure may drain our resources, and the destruction of our commerce entail scarcity—even famine. Some new form of pestilence may defy healing skill. The pride of the nations may be broken, their wealth wasted, their science proved unavailing.
2. In personal and family trouble. It has happened sometimes—travellers well know the spots—that when sky and sea were calm, and no earthquake shook the land, a whole hillside has slid down without warning, carrying down and wrecking peaceful homesteads, even overwhelming whole villages. Even so, when public prosperity is untroubled; the private foundations of your health, fortune, happiness, hope, may fail, and with brief or no warning, and all your earthly welfare be laid in ruins (Psalms 30:6, Psalms 30:7).
3. In prevailing unsettlement of thought and belief. When old forms go out of fashion; traditional beliefs are discredited; trusted leaders fail; men seem to hold nothing firm or settled. Worst of all, when this agitated atmosphere infects our inward life; doubt surges in, and threatens to overwhelm faith and conviction; the ground seems to quake under our feet, and darkness to beset and bewilder our soul.
II. THE NEVER-FAILING REFUGE. God's children, in these and all other calamities, find a "very present Help" in him.
1. His power to save is all-sufficient. All hearts and events are in his hand (2 Chronicles 14:11; 2 Chronicles 16:9).
2. His wisdom is infinite. All that can happen is known—has always been known to him. He can never be at a loss to answer prayer.
3. His promises meet every emergency (Hebrews 13:5, Hebrews 13:6).
4. His faithfulness is the immovable foundation on which we may build absolute trust (Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 6:19). All the experience of the past, all the hope of the future, sheds its light on the dark present, because he changes not. If there be any truth, God must be true. And if anything be certain, it is that Jesus Christ, "the true and faithful" Witness, speaks God's truth to us (John 14:6, John 14:10, John 14:27; John 19:37; Hebrews 13:8).
Our Refuge.
The whole spirit of this noble psalm is condensed in this one phrase—"God is our Refuge." The Hebrew, as the margin of our Bibles shows, has a different word in Psalms 46:7,Psalms 46:11 from Psalms 46:1, signifying "a high place" (Revised Version, "or a high tower")—a retreat beyond reach of foes. The word in Psalms 46:1 means "somewhere [or, 'some one'] to trust in." These two thoughts—trust and safety—are well expressed in our word "Refuge." Take the whole psalm as embodying and enforcing this sentiment.
I. IN TROUBLE WE NEED A REFUGE. In bodily sickness and weakness, healing ministry, careful watching, an arm to lean on. In perplexity, a wise counsellor. In want, danger, or misfortune, timely succour. In sorrow, sympathy and comfort. Under sense of sin, a voice of forgiveness. To lean helplessly on others when we ought to put our own shoulder to the wheel, is unmanly and shameful. But the pride of independence is an illusion when it makes us forget how constantly and how much we depend on one another. None is self-sufficient.
II. GOD IS THE ALL-SUFFICIENT, NEVER-FAILING REFUGE OF HIS CHILDREN. The Hebrew for "very present" means literally "greatly found;" not far to seek, but nigh at hand; not difficult to find, but offering himself; found by experience to be all that he promises, all that we need. Human ministry can do much in the lesser troubles of life; it is God's appointed way of help. But when "the mountains" are removed—in the great crises and overwhelming sorrows, dangers, burdens of life, nothing will serve short of this—"underneath are the everlasting arms." Above all, in spiritual troubles. "Who can forgive sin but God alone?" Who but Jesus can shepherd us through the dark valley?
III. WHEN TROUBLE DRIVES US TO OUR REFUGE, IT FULFILS ITS MISSION. The curse becomes a blessing, and sorrow bears fruit in joy. In fair weather the ships pass gaily by the harbour of refuge; in the storm they make for it. It is easy to stand at the helm with a fair breeze and smooth sea. Easy to stand sentry in time of peace. Easy to trust God with a well-spread table and home bright with blooming faces. In the tempest; in war, when the bullet sings through the dark night, and the blast is freezing to the bone; or by the bed of sick, perhaps dying child,—not so easy! But then it is that God's help is "found" by those who trust him (Genesis 22:14; John 6:18-20).
REMARK:
1. This is the testimony of experience. God is found to be such a Help and Refuge. All the conclusions of science do not rest on a broader basis of induction, a surer witness of experience, than the faith of God's Church.
2. Trouble is not necessarily a means of grace or blessing; has no natural power to drive or lead men to God. We must hear God's voice in it; feel his hand; be led by his Spirit (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). Sad, indeed, if our troubles be wasted,—all misery and no blessing!