1. God is our refuge and strength. Not our armies, or our fortresses. Israel’s boast is in
Jehovah, the only living and true God. When the time comes to carry the war
into the enemy’s territories, the Lord stands his people in better stead than
all the valor of legions or the boasted strength of chariots and horses.
Soldiers of the cross, remember this, and count yourselves safe, and make
yourselves strong in God. Forget not the word our; make sure of your
portion in God. Neither forget that God is our refuge just now as truly as when
David penned the word. All other refuges are lies, all other strength is
weakness. A very present help in trouble or “in distresses he has so
been found.” He never withdraws himself from his afflicted. He is their help,
he is present or near them, close at the side and ready for their succor, and
this is emphasized by the word very. He is more present than friend or
relative can be, closer even than the trouble itself. His assistance comes at
the needed time.
2. Therefore.
The next words are a necessary inference from these. Will not we fear.
With God on our side, how irrational would fear be! Though the earth be
removed, though the basis of all visible things should be so convulsed as
to be entirely changed. And though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea; though the firmest of created objects should be submerged in utter
destruction. Since God remains faithful there can be no danger to his cause or
people.
3. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled. Faith is not afraid of noise, nor even of real force; she
knows that the Lord stills the raging of the sea, and holds the waves in the
hollow of his hand. Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Alps and Andes may tremble, but faith rests on a firmer basis. Selah. In
the midst of such a hurlyburly the music may well come to a pause, both to give
the singers breath, and ourselves time for meditation. We are in nor hurry, but
can sit us down and wait while earth dissolves. Ours is not the headlong
rashness which passes for courage; we can calmly confront the danger. The pause
is not an exclamation of dismay; we merely retune our harps with deliberation
amidst the tumult of the storm.
4. There is a river.
Divine grace, like a smoothly flowing, fertilizing, full, and never-failing river,
yields refreshment and consolation to believers. This is the river of the water
of life, of which the church above as well as the church below partakes
evermore. The streams whereof in their various influences, for they are
many, shall make glad the city of God, by assuring the citizens that
Zion’s Lord will unfailingly supply all their needs. The streams are clear,
cool, fresh, abundant, and gladdening. The great fear of an Eastern city in
time of war was lest the water supply should be cut off during a siege. In this
verse Jerusalem, which represents the church of God, is described as well
supplied with water. In seasons of trial all-sufficient grace will be given to
enable us to endure to the end. The church is peculiarly the “City of God,”
dedicated to his praise, and glorified by his presence. The holy place of
the tabernacles of the Most High. This was the especial glory of Jerusalem,
that the Lord within her walls had a place where he especially revealed
himself, and this is the choice privilege of the saints. To be a temple for the
Holy Ghost is the delightful portion of each saint; to be the living temple for
the Lord our God is also the high honor of the church in her corporate
capacity. Our God is here called by a worthy title, indicating his power,
majesty, sublimity, and excellency; and it is worthy of note that under this
character he dwells in the church. The church contains as clear and convincing
a revelation of God as the works of nature. To have the Most High dwelling
within her members is to make the church on earth like the church in heaven.
5. God is in the midst of her. His help is therefore sure and near. How near is the Lord
to the distresses of his saints, since he sojourns in their midst! Let us take
heed that we do not grieve him. She shall not be moved. His presence
renders all hope of capturing and demolishing the city utterly ridiculous. God
shall help her. Within her he will furnish rich supplies, and outside her
walls he will lay her foes in heaps. And that right early. We are slow
to meet him, but he is never tardy in helping us. Impatience complains of
divine delays, but in very deed the Lord is not slack concerning his promise.
Man’s haste is often folly, but God’s apparent delays are ever wise.
6. The heathen raged.
The nations were in a furious uproar; they gathered against the city of the
Lord and swelled like a tempestuous sea. The kingdoms were moved. A
general confusion seized upon society; the fierce invaders convulsed their own
dominions by draining the population to urge on the war, and they desolated
other territories by their devastating march to Jerusalem. Dismay seized on all
who knew not the Lord. He uttered his voice, the earth melted. Stout
hearts were dissolved, proud armies were annihilated, conquering powers were
enfeebled. At first the confusion appeared to be worse confounded, when the
element of divine power came into view; the very earth seemed turned to wax,
the most solid and substantial of human things melted; but peace followed, the
rage of man subsided, hearts capable of repentance relented, and the implacable
were silenced. How mighty is a word from God! How mighty the Incarnate Word. O
that such a word would come form the excellent glory even now to melt all
hearts in love to Jesus, and to end forever all the persecutions, wars, and
rebellions of men!
7. The Lord of
hosts is with us. This is the reason for all Zion’s
security, and for the overthrow of her foes. The Lord rules the angels, the
stars, the elements, and all the hosts of heaven; and the heaven of heavens is
under his sway. The armies of men though they know it not are made to subserve
his will. Woe unto those who fight against him, for they shall fly like smoke
before the wind when he gives the word to scatter them. The God of Jacob is
our refuge. Immanuel is Jehovah of Hosts, and Jacob’s God is our high place
of defense. When this glad verse is sung to music worthy of such a jubilate,
well may the singers pause; here, therefore, fitly stands that solemn stately,
peaceful note of rest, Selah.
8. Come, behold the works of the Lord. The
joyful citizens of Jerusalem are invited to view the remains of their enemies.
It were well if we also were quick to perceive his hand in the battles of his
church. Whenever we read history it should be with this verse sounding in our
ears. We should read the newspaper in the same spirit. What desolations he
hath made in the earth. The destroyers he destroys, the desolators he
desolates. How forcible is the verse at this date! The ruined cities of
Assyria, Babylon, Petra, Bashan, Canaan, in tables of stone record the doings
of the Lord. In every place where his cause and crown have been disregarded
ruin has surely followed; sin has been a blight on nations. Dismantled castles
and ruined abbeys in our own land stand as memorials of the Lord’s victories
over oppression and superstition.
9. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth. He crushes the great powers till they cannot provoke strife
again; he gives his people profound repose. He breaketh the bow—the
sender of swift-winged death he renders useless. And cutteth the spear in
sunder—the lance of the mighty man he shivers. He burneth the chariot in
the fine—the proud war-chariot he commits to the flames. All sorts of
weapons he piles in heaps, and utterly destroys them. Already the spiritual
foes of his people are despoiled of their power to destroy; but when will the
universal victory of peace be celebrated, and instruments of wholesale murder
be consigned to ignominious destruction?
10. Be still, and know that I am God. Hold off your hands, enemies! Sit down and wait in
patience, believers! Acknowledge that Jehovah is God, you who feel the terrors
of his wrath! Adore him, and him only, you who partake in the protections of
his grace. Since none can worthily proclaim his nature, let “expressive
silence muse his praise.” The boasts of the ungodly and the timorous
forebodings of the saints should certainly be hushed by a sight of what the
Lord has done in past ages. I will be exalted among the heathen. They
forget God, they worship idols, but Jehovah will yet be honored by them. The
prospects of missions are as bright as the promises of God. I will be
exalted in the earth, among all people; whatever may have been their
wickedness or their degradation, either by terror or love God will subdue all
hearts to himself. The whole round earth will yet reflect the light of his
majesty.
11. The Lord
of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. It was fitting to sing this twice over. It is a precious privilege
which cannot be too often considered. Is the Lord on your side? Is Emmanuel,
God with us, your Redeemer? Is there a covenant between you and God as between
God and Jacob? If so, show your joy in holy song, and in times of trouble still
make music for your God. Selah. Here as before, lift up the heart. Rest
in contemplation after praise. It is easier to sing a hymn of praise than to
continue in the spirit of praise, but let it be our aim to maintain the
uprising devotion of our grateful hearts, and so end our song as if we intended
it to be continued.
Excerpt from:
The Treasury of David
By Charles H Spurgeon
