Psalms 46–47 (Listen)

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.¹ A Song.

46:1   God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present² help in trouble.
2   Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3   though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4   There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5   God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6   The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7   The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8   Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9   He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10   “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 of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

God Is King over All the Earth

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

47:1   Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2   For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
3   He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
4   He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5   God has gone up with a shout,
    the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6   Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7   For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!³
8   God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
9   The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
  For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted!

(ESV)

46 In the face of terror, worry and mountain-moving, God is refuge and strength! Such faith challenges all fear.

He is the living water flowing through the habitat of His family. Such gladness challenges all fear.

Consider His mighty works, silencing chaos with but a word! Such power challenges all fear!

Twice repeated: God is Supreme over the heavens and protects the individual.

47 Praise and celebration erupt as worship beholds the Most High, seated on His throne and highly exalted. Ironically—and so Biblically—such joy finds its roots in fear: “the Lord is to be feared.” His great power over all the earth looks upon His children with tenderness and eternal love! The Power, Provider and Protecter is highly exalted!

1 Timothy 4 (Listen)

Some Will Depart from the Faith

4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

6 If you put these things before the brothers,¹ you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive,² because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,³ so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

(ESV)

Despite demonic instruction in self-ism (self-exaltation or self-deprivation), the apostle is clear: requiring the denial of what God has made holy is silly religion, not sincere love for God. Rather, if your conscience is clear, receive His work with thanksgiving and prayer. Three times the word “train” is used. Timothy is to “train” the Church in faith and doctrine. Ironically, what the nominal world holds as “silly religious rules” (sound doctrine), believers are told to “toil and strive” after, that their hope may be set on the living God. In addition to instruction, Timothy is to set his life as an example for “all to see” that they might be saved by hearing of the living Christ through him and seeing Christ alive in him.