Psalm 46:2 Kommentar

This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and his power, and providence, and gracious presence with his church in the worst of times, and directs us to give him the glory of what he has done for us and what he will do: probably it was penned upon occasion of David's victories over the neighbouring nations (2 Sa. 8), and the rest which God gave him from all his enemies round about. We are here taught, I. To take comfort in God when things look very black and threatening (Psa 46:1-5). II. To mention, to his praise, the great things he had wrought for his church against its enemies (Psa 46:6-9). III. To assure ourselves that God who has glorified his own name will glorify it yet again, and to comfort ourselves with that (Psa 46:10, Psa 46:11). We may, in singing it, apply it either to our spiritual enemies, and be more than conquerors over them, or to the public enemies of Christ's kingdom in the world and their threatening insults, endeavouring to preserve a holy security and serenity of mind when they seem most formidable. It is said of Luther that, when he heard any discouraging news, he would say, Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm. To the chief musician for the sons of Korah. A song upon Alamoth.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 46 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. The word "Alamoth" is thought by some, as Aben Ezra, to be the beginning of a song, to which this psalm was set; and by others a high tune, such as virgins express; and by others the name of musical instruments, as Jarchi and Kimchi; which seems most likely, since it is mentioned with other instruments of music in Ch1 15:19; and may not unfitly be rendered "virginals", from the sound of them being like the shrill voice of virgins, which this word signifies; though others choose to render it "of hidden things", (s), making it to design the subject matter of the psalm, the secret counsels and purposes of God, both in a way of love and grace to his people, and of judgment to his enemies. Some think this psalm was occasioned by the victories which David obtained over the Ammonites and Moabites, and other neighbouring countries; and others are of opinion that it was penned on account of the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib being raised, in the times of Hezekiah: but it seems rather to be a prophecy of the church in Gospel times, and is applicable to any time of confusion and distress the nations of the world may be in through any kind of calamity, when those that trust in the Lord have no reason in the least to be afraid. Kimchi says this psalm belongs to future times; either to the gathering of the captives, or to the war of Gog and Magog; to which also R. Obadiah refers it, and Jarchi interprets it of time to come; according to the Targum it was written by the sons of Korah, when their father was hid from them, and they were delivered. (s) , , Sept. "pro arcanis", V. L.

Therefore will not we fear,...., The consideration of the Lord's being the refuge, strength, and help of his people, in all times of trouble and distress, has a great influence on their faith and confidence, and makes them intrepid and fearless in the midst of the greatest dangers: nor indeed have they any reason to be afraid of men or devils, since the Lord is on their side; nor should they indulge a slavish fear on any account whatever; though the earth be removed; or "changed" (u), as to its position or fruitfulness; or whatever changes, vicissitudes, and revolutions may be in the kingdoms, nations, and among the inhabitants of the earth, through wars and desolations made thereby; and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; so the destruction of kingdoms, empires, and cities, is expressed by a like phrase; as of Babylon, Jer 51:25; and of the Roman and Pagan empire, Rev 6:12, and of the city of Rome, Rev 8:8. (u) "cum mutabit", Pagninus; "etiamsi permutarit", Vatalbulus; "si commutaret", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth.

Everything he shakes, he rocks, he moves when he wishes, so easy and trouble-free is everything for him.… So great is his power, you see, that he simply nods and all this happens. So how can we be afraid when we have such a Lord?

Now then, such security received, what say they? "Therefore will not we fear, when the earth shall be confounded" [Psalm 46:2]. Just before anxious, suddenly secure; out of too great tribulations set in great tranquillity. For in them Christ was sleeping, therefore were they tossed: Christ awoke (as but now we heard out of the Gospel), He commanded the winds, and they were still. [Matthew 8:24-26] Since Christ is in each man's heart by faith, it is signified to us, that his heart as a ship in this world's tempest is tossed, who forgets his faith: as though Christ sleeping it is tossed, but Christ awaking comes tranquillity. Nay, the Lord Himself, what said He? "Where is your faith?" [Luke 8:25] Christ aroused, aroused up faith, that what had been done in the ship, might be done in their hearts. "A helper in tribulations, which found us out too much." He caused that therein should be great tranquillity.

"Therefore we will not fear." Ps. 26: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" As if to say: I will fear no one. And rightly, because he himself is "our God, a refuge and strength, a helper in the tribulations that have found us exceedingly." Second, he shows what things are to be feared. But two things are to be feared: namely, general tribulation and the oppression of the great. General tribulation is when all are slaughtered. The other is when leaders are captured. In these, fear has its place. But "I will not fear while the earth is troubled," that is, even if the whole people is tribulated, "and the mountains are transferred into the heart of the sea." Nor will I fear even if the great are captured. But mystically, by "earth," which is solid, Judea is understood, which was solid in the knowledge of the one God, and fixed, and surrounded by nations, just as the earth is surrounded by the sea and encircled by waters. Is. 1: "Your land is desolate." And so it signifies the persecution that the faithful suffered from the Jews. As if to say: I will not fear while Judea is troubled by the preaching of Christ. Mt. 2: "When Herod heard this, he was troubled," etc. And I will not fear, because "the mountains," that is, the apostles, will transfer themselves to the nations. Acts 13: "Behold, we turn to the Gentiles." "Into the heart of the sea," that is, into the expansion of the Gentiles, because the Gentiles held the apostles in great reverence. Or "into the heart of the sea," that is, to the depths and the ends of the earth. Acts 22: "I will send you far away to the nations."

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 Ch1 15:19-21; see on Psa 6:1, title). The theme may be stated in LUTHER'S well-known words, "A mighty fortress is our God." The great deliverance (Kg2 19:35; Isa 37:36) may have occasioned its composition. (Psa 46:1-11) refuge--literally, "a place of trust" (Psa 2:12). strength-- (Psa 18:2). present help--literally, "a help He has been found exceedingly." trouble--as in Psa 18:7.

The most violent civil commotions are illustrated by the greatest physical commotions.