In Psalm 46 there is once more a reference to the waters. In this case the reference is to mythical primal waters. You may remember that in Genesis 1 the Spirit of God hovers over the waters. The mythological significance of the small section on the Spirit over the waters is huge. The precreation waters are chaotic, mighty, and untamable. God is such a force for order that he is able to take the seemingly untamable forces of the primal waters and tame them. In Psalm 46:2 it looks so bad to the psalmist that the very act of God’s creation of mountains from the seas of chaos looks to be undone. However, the psalmist is reminded that the chaos of water is redirected through God’s presence into an irrigating stream from the Temple Mount that brings life from God to his people.
Do you sometimes feel like chaos is taking over God’s ordered plans for you?
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Questions
- When is God at hand?
- What does God tell people after they are still?
- How would people see pacifism in this psalm?
- How can there be no fear in the midst of chaos?
- What battles are you fighting? How can the chaos of war become an ordered peace?
Plymothian 
1) God is at hand when we go through struggles, needs and hard times.
2) The Lord says “Know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
3) You could read pacifism in this Psalm because of how powerful God is. Since God is so powerful, “when he speaks the earth melts”, if he wanted to over through a king/power he could do it without the help of mankind. As followers of God this Psalm makes it clear that we are to turn and find rest in the Father when we face struggles.
4) We have have no fear even in the chaos because we find comfort in the Lord’s goodness. He has complete power and control so we can find comfort that our God can save us. I think that when I look at how powerful god is and how he loves me I do not need to fear anything. This does not mean life will be perfect according to my thoughts but that does mean that my life is cared for by God and nothing “beyond what I can bear” will be given to me. These are hard thoughts though, pain and chaos always make me think of my best friend’s mom who after having three children delivered two stillborn babies. Remembering that pain, watching them hurt, I know now that God was enough for them, he took them through…but sometimes I wonder how much pain we must endure. BUT at the same time, this very same example reminds me that God was there in that time and comforted their hearts, they made it through the darkest days (those initial days, months and then when it happened again…). They can still say God is good and so can I.
5) Battles? I think O often don’t view them as battles but simply as….”little issues” or “stuff I’m going through”…battles seems like such an intense word to use. But That’s part of my nature~ I try to simplify and sweeten things…but I think my biggest battle is against myself. I’m realizing how often I do not act like someone who is living “in the moment” for God instead of striving to please myself and this causes disorder and unhappiness in my life. Since studying Ecclesiastes I’ve realized how much of my unhappiness and discontentment stems from my choosing to please myself and thus I walk outside of God’s plan. Chaos can become peace when I chose to look to God and not to my own desires.
1. This psalm seems to teach that when we are going through trials or battles that God is at hand. God is available at all times, and is walking with us at all times, even when it seems He is not doing so. There are times when it is just crazy out, and God sorta vanishes behind a storm cloud or some violent wind, and we think He is gone.
2. The Lord says “Know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth” when we are still.
3.It says that God makes war cease and He breaks shields and spears, which could lead one to believing that God is a pacifist. I don’t think this is what the passage is saying though. I think the message is more that God is capable of all things, and that even in the midst of war, God demands praise. We are to praise Him for who He is, even in war. God will deliver us from our enemies.
4. There can be no fear in chaos if we learn to totally trust God with our lives. It sounds so cliche, until you actually do it. I have found myself in such a deep serenity with God, it makes me cry. Of the many things I have learned since becoming a Christian, this has truly been the most valuable. My life always seems chaotic with all the family issues going on, and with all the financial crap with college and what not. There are always great unknowns for everyone. The beauty that is offered us is in trusting God with it, trusting that He will almost literally take us by the hand and walk us through. God is so faithful, and He is my constant, my foundation. I see my sister who does not have this. Her only constant is being with a guy whom she does not love, but he has always been around so she stays with him. God is always around, but He is so much more than that. I wish I could communicate to her this great Truth. God can eliminate all fear because He has gone before us, and is beside us, and is behind us. He can eliminate it because He died on the cross, and nothing else matters. Praise God!
5. My battles are finding contentment with where God has placed me. I want to fast-forward to a year from now, when I’m done with my student-teaching, and looking for my first stop in my career. I want to teach full-time! I just want to be there! I want to know if the girl I’m dating is really the one that I will spend the rest of my life with. I just want to be there already. I have questions, I want answers from the One who knows all things. Will I be a good teacher? Husband? Am I a good friend? What more do I have to learn to be great? How can I better share the Gospel with my family? Friends? How do I disciple those that need it? But God has put me here. For a reason. Because God isn’t random, per se. He has a reason for everything. I need to find my purpose in the now, and seek to be the best in this now. I pray God helps to calm my frantic youthful heart, to teach me to stop and take in the beauties around me.
1. When is God at hand? He is with His people always, during all situations and seasons (cross reference: Heb. 13:5-6).
2. What does God tell people after they are still? “Know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
3. How would people see pacifism in this psalm? While this verse definitely cannot stand alone in arguing for pacifism, I think it does further her case a wee bit. This verse assures us that God will one day stop all violence, war, and gore. God hates unjust war and desires for His people to live in peace with one another. If God longs to see wars stop, why would we have a part in them? After all, violence begets violence.
4. How can there be no fear in the midst of chaos? If you are completely trusting God, “you ain’t got no worries, you ain’t worry bout a thang” (“No Worries” by Trip Lee). He takes away all fear.
5. What battles are you fighting? How can the chaos of war become an ordered peace? I’m fighting burn out. I just want a vacation (and I won’t get one til Thanksgiving break)! I’m so tired of hectic schedules, sleepless nights, long work shifts, and endless homework. But I know God will see me through this because He always does! I just need to be willing to surrender everything before His throne and allow Him to create peace and order where it’s missing. And allow Him to change my schedule or my standards if that’s necessary.
When is God at hand? God is at hand in the midst of chaos, just as the Holy Spirit hovered over the water in Genesis 1.
What does God tell people after they are still? The Lord says “Know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
How would people see pacifism in this psalm? They could use this Psalm to show that God will one day have fighting and war cease, which is what is meant to be. I am not convinced that this is meant to be in this day and age, but a picture of what is to come after the healing of the nations in the millennial kingdom.
How can there be no fear in the midst of chaos? By being still and understanding that the Lord is present.
What battles are you fighting? How can the chaos of war become an ordered peace? I am fighting the business of my day. I have so much going on, in class, at work and socially. I can barely find time to process anything, and when I do, it is too short. But in my chaos, the Lord gives me strength and presses me on toward tomorrow.
When is God at hand?
HE is the ever-present help in trouble.
What does God tell people after they are still?
“I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
How would people see pacifism in this psalm?
In this psalm in particular because God is saying let the war stop and get rid of all the battle equipment. But He also makes His power know that ” Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.” I feel like this just shows the almighty power of God in the midst off all the chaos and war that you can still be still and know that He is in control.
How can there be no fear in the midst of chaos?
Knowing that God is much more powerful that the fears that you face, know that you can find peace in just being still before God and admitting that this situation and circumstance is out of your control and you are giving it to God because there is just nothing you can do more. Trusting that all things are for the good coming from the providential hand of God who sustains and comforts in times of chaos.
What battles are you fighting? How can the chaos of war become an ordered peace?
I would say the battles with my inner self of all the things that i come to learn and find out about myself. Seeing my weaknesses with clear sight and wanting to change them is a constant everyday battle against my flesh my pride. I find that if i come to God with an open heart and in prayer be honest about my position and my need of Him I feel like the whole world around me just falls in to place and the chaos that was overwhelming me fades away in the awesome presence of the peace and love of my Father.