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Psalm 46:1 - God Is Our Refuge, Strength And Ever-Present Help.

Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) God is our refuge and 
strength, A very present help in trouble.  

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 46 was the scriptural catalyst for 
Martin Luther's great hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is 
Our God." This psalm extols the adequacy of God 
in facing threats from nature and the nations. 
God indeed protects (see vv. 1, 7, 11) His 
people upon the earth (see vv. 2, 6, 8, 9, 10). The 
major burden of Psalm 46 is that God provides 
stability for His people who live in two exceedingly 
unstable environments. [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Our Ever-Present Help
   God is our "ever-present help in 
trouble." Don't you love that phrase? 
   Ever present. Not occasional or sporadic 
help. You'll never be put on hold or told to check 
back later. He's never too busy or preoccupied. 
God is... 
   Ever present. As near as your next 
breath. Closer than your own skin. "Where can I go 
from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your 
presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if 
I make my bed in the depths, you are there" 
(Psalm 139:7-8). Rehab clinic? He is there. Prison 
cell? He is present. No palace is too royal. No 
hovel is too common. He is present. And he is 
present to... Help. Not hurt or hinder. He is here 
to help. 
   Hang on! Hold on! Don't give up. Help is 
here. It may not come in the manner you requested 
or as quickly as you desire, but it will come. 
Assume that something good is going to happen. The 
door to tomorrow is unlocked from the inside. 
Turn the knob and step out. [You Can Count On God 
by Max Lucado] 

COMMENTARY

   While engaged in our daily work, we 
should lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These 
silent petitions rise like incense before the 
throne of grace; and the enemy is baffled. The 
Christian whose heart is thus stayed upon God cannot 
be overcome. No evil arts can destroy his 
peace. All the promises of God's word, all the 
power of divine grace, all the resources of 
Jehovah, are pledged to secure his deliverance. It 
was thus that Enoch walked with God. And God was 
with him, a present help in every time of 
need. {GW 254.2}   
   Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is 
the secret of spiritual power. No other means of 
grace can be substituted, and the health of the 
soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into 
immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and 
strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious 
experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in 
prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems 
convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual 
faculties lose their vitality, the religious 
experience lacks health and vigor.  {GW 254.4}   
   It is only at the altar of God that we 
can kindle our tapers with divine fire. {GW 
255.1}   

HYMN BASED ON THIS PASSAGE:

A Mighty Fortress is our God: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY4DCG-nFBI

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY 

Psalm 46:1 - God Is Our Refuge, Strength And 
Ever-Present Help. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150305-2109.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

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