Psalm 46:1–4
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.
1God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
She is present; more than that, she is there and aware of every move her little boy is making. It is easy to see the love and pride on her face as he plays in the park. He is sliding, I know, because before every attempt, he calls out, “momma watch me; I’ll do it even better this time!” Perhaps a park isn’t the best place to go study for sermons. She is watching him, encouraging him with kind congratulations for his fantastic effort of sitting his little backside down and letting gravity pull him to the bottom of the slide.
Ok, can you sense my frustration? I know I am a bit cranky, but he makes it hard to concentrate on my reading.
Now he is crying; he is crying aloud, the volume is almost deafening.
Oh no, has he lost an arm or leg?
No, he has a scratch on his leg. The loving mother rushes to her little boy’s side, taking him in her arms and kissing the boo-boo to make it better.
His cries cease for a season as he snuggles with his sympathetic momma. I am delighted; I can go back to my work in peace!
Isn’t it something the difference? She was present, but when he was hurting, she became even more.
That has always been one of my favorite parts of Psalm 46. I know that God is omnipresent, which means he is everywhere.
Her teacher challenged a little girl in Sunday school, “I’ll give you an apple if you can tell me where God is.” The teacher expected the child to answer with, “Heaven” The little girl thought for a few seconds and said, “I’ll give you an apple if you can tell me where God isn’t.”
He is there when we are sleeping.
He is there when we’re awake.
He is there when we are bad and good…
Ok, that stuff is usually said about Santa’s sight, but it is true of the presence of our God.
Something special happens when we are hurting, the one who was present somehow becomes even more.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
He is very present in troubled times and will be a help when we cry out to him.
Shouldn’t that help us live with peace?
(For another thought on this passage here is a link to last years blog. https://www.thebaldbeliever.com/post/a-secret-supply-inside )
My 2021 Bible Reading Plan
April 13, 2021