Verse for the week of October 25th:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
Psalm 46 is the inspiration behind Martin Luther’s most well known hymn—‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God.’ Both this psalm and the hymn put forth a concept that God is a strong force that can stand against anything that comes up against it. God is the true fortress that protects and stands firm amid any attack. This fortress becomes our refuge and strength for us. Luther echoes the psalm as hymn announces that the devil comes to attack us, but that God sends His Son, Jesus, to stand with us and fight against this evil foe. Because God is stronger, God will win the battle and protect us—for God is the mighty fortress.
When we look at the words of the psalm, the author proclaims after verse one that because God is our strength and refuge therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea, though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult. The Lord of host is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
This tells us that God is the strength that we need to lean upon throughout our life particularly during the difficult and dark days.
The Psalm reassures us that God is more powerful than us and that God is like a fortress—that which stands strong no matter what comes at it. God who is with us becomes that fortress around us so that when we feel weak, when we feel vulnerable, when we feel helpless, when we feel powerless—God is strong and his strength surrounds us to hold us up during difficult times so that we may see the light at the end of the tunnel. The text seeks to reassure us that even when we are at a low point or wonder what is going on in our lives or believe the chaos of the world is overtaking us—God is with us and stands strong. That we do not stand alone when it seems like world is fall down around us, but that it is God who surround us and stands firm to protect, to help, and to be our strength.
How do you sense God’s strength and presence during difficult times? How is God a fortress in your life?
I fight battles on a daily basis, as we all do. Sometimes that welcomed light at the end of the tunnel might be a freight train. These freight trains are self-inflicted, but the important thing to remember is the war is won and it was won at the foot of the cross for all of us.
The hymn “mighty fortress” always gives me comfort, the melody has such strength the music alone reflects God’s presence