Have you ever felt alone and even that God had abandoned you or at least was not paying attention to your cries? It’s important when you get in that state to have something to remind you of the truth. The book of Psalms is wonderful to have on hand for that very reason. We can always find something in the book of Psalms to which we can relate, but we also find a consistency of bringing us back to the truth. One such Psalm is Psalm 46, from which I drew the title of this article.
Psalm 46:1 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
This Psalm was the inspiration behind Martin Luther’s hymn of encouragement in facing the struggles from resistance to truth. Notice the first verse of the hymn and how it connects to the truth of Psalm 46:
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Psalm 46:1–3 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
“A very present help” is a way we understand the intensity of God being present. We understand the Bible teaches the “omnipresence” of God in that He is everywhere present and nowhere absent.
Psalm 139:1–6 (ESV) — 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
That’s a good reminder of His omnipresence, but there’s more:
Psalm 139:7–12 (ESV) — 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
God’s omnipresence assures us that we cannot be somewhere or in some circumstance of which He doesn’t know. Of course, it means we cannot try to sneak away to hide something from Him. It’s impossible.
This “very present help” is even more intense than omnipresent because it assures us that He is with us, really with us.
Psalm 46:11 (ESV) — 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
No wonder it was comforting to Jesus’ disciples to remind them that although he was leaving from their sight, He would send His Spirit also known as the Holy Spirit, “The comforter,” which means one that comes along beside.
John 14:18 (ESV) — 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:16 (ESV) — 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
What is a benefit of His abiding presence? Peace.
John 14:27 (ESV) — 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
The fact of the presence of God should be a comfort to us to remind us that we are never alone, but wherever we are, God is there. Hence, He is a “very present help” in times of trouble.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV) — 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
God is present because He has given us the Holy Spirit. If He is there and we are in His presence shouldn’t there be peace and joy? Yes, along with other benefits.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV) — 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
See what a little reminder from Psalm 46 will do for you? From difficulty to encouragement and newfound enjoyment, and it’s all because of His presence. Isn’t it good to know we have His presence assured in His promise?
Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Psalm 46:1 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
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