1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. `For the Virgins.' -- A song. God `is' to us a refuge and strength, A help in adversities found most surely.
Near `is' Jehovah to all those calling Him, To all who call Him in truth.
And Jehovah is a tower for the bruised, A tower for times of adversity.
He who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually, He is saying of Jehovah, `My refuge, and my bulwark, my God, I trust in Him,' For He delivereth thee from the snare of a fowler, From a calamitous pestilence. With His pinion He covereth thee over, And under His wings thou dost trust, A shield and buckler `is' His truth. Thou art not afraid of fear by night, Of arrow that flieth by day, Of pestilence in thick darkness that walketh, Of destruction that destroyeth at noon, There fall at thy side a thousand, And a myriad at thy right hand, Unto thee it cometh not nigh. But with thine eyes thou lookest, And the reward of the wicked thou seest, (For Thou, O Jehovah, `art' my refuge,) The Most High thou madest thy habitation.
A tower of strength `is' the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
that through two immutable things, in which `it is' impossible for God to lie, a strong comfort we may have who did flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before `us',
In the fear of Jehovah `is' strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.
and Abraham calleth the name of that place `Jehovah-Jireh,' because it is said this day in the mount, `Jehovah doth provide.'
`For which `is' the great nation that hath God near unto it, as Jehovah our God, in all we have called unto him?
He sendeth from above -- He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters. He delivereth me from my strong enemy, From those hating me, For they were stronger than I. They are before me in a day of my calamity, And Jehovah is my support, And He bringeth me out to a large place, He draweth me out for He delighted in me.
The counsel of the poor ye cause to stink, Because Jehovah `is' his refuge.
Jehovah of Hosts `is' with us, A tower for us `is' the God of Jacob. Selah.
To the Overseer. -- `On the Gittith By sons of Korah.' -- A Psalm. How beloved Thy tabernacles, Jehovah of Hosts!
and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jeheil, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries besides virgins,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 46
Commentary on Psalms 46 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 46
Ps 46:1-11. Upon Alamoth—most probably denotes the treble, or part sung by female voices, the word meaning "virgins"; and which was sung with some appropriately keyed instrument (compare 1Ch 15:19-21; see on Ps 6:1, title). The theme may be stated in Luther's well-known words, "A mighty fortress is our God." The great deliverance (2Ki 19:35; Isa 37:36) may have occasioned its composition.
1. refuge—literally, "a place of trust" (Ps 2:12).
strength—(Ps 18:2).
present help—literally, "a help He has been found exceedingly."
trouble—as in Ps 18:7.
2, 3. The most violent civil commotions are illustrated by the greatest physical commotions.
3. swelling—well represents the pride and haughtiness of insolent foes.
4. God's favor is denoted by a river (compare Ps 36:8; Zec 14:8; Re 22:1).
city of God, the holy place—His earthly residence, Jerusalem and the temple (compare Ps 2:6; 3:4; 20:2; 48:2, &c.). God's favor, like a river whose waters are conducted in channels, is distributed to all parts of His Church.
most High—denoting His supremacy (Ps 17:2).
5. right early—literally, "at the turn of morning," or change from night to day, a critical time (Ps 30:5; compare Isa 37:36).
6. (Compare Ps 46:2).
earth melted—all powers dissolved by His mere word (Ps 75:3; Ho 2:22).
7. with us—on our side; His presence is terror to our enemies, safety to us.
refuge—high place (Ps 9:9; compare also Ps 24:6, 10).
8. what desolations—literally, "who hath put desolations," destroying our enemies.
9. The usual weapons of war (Ps 7:12), as well as those using them, are brought to an end.
10. Be still, &c.—literally, "Leave off to oppose Me and vex My people. I am over all for their safety." (Compare Isa 2:11; Eph 1:22).