Psalms 46:6 - Meaning and Application

These verses give glory to God as King of the nations and King of his people. As King of the nations, he rules the world by his power and providence, and he directs all human affairs to his own glory. He does what he wills among the people of the earth, and no one can say, “What are you doing?”

He restrains the anger of the nations and breaks the power of those who oppose him and his cause in the world (Psalm 46:6). The nations raged at David’s rise to the throne, and they raged again when the kingdom of David’s Son, the Messiah, was established. Compare (Psalm 2:1, 2). Kingdoms rose in a furious uproar to resist it, but God spoke with his voice. He spoke in anger, and they were thrown into confusion and fear. Their plans fell apart, their order collapsed, and the earth seemed to melt under them, so they had no firm place to stand. Their proud hearts failed them with fear and melted away like snow in the sun. A similar picture of enemies losing heart appears in (Judges 5:4, 5), and see also (Luke 21:25, 26).

When God chooses to draw his sword and let it work, he can bring great destruction among the nations and leave the land in ruins (Psalm 46:8). “Come, see the works of the Lord.” They are meant to be noticed (Psalm 66:5) and carefully considered (Psalm 111:2). We should view all God’s works in providence, meaning his wise rule over events, and see both his character and his purpose in them. Here we are especially to notice the ruins he has made in the earth among the enemies of his church, who thought they would make Israel desolate. The destruction they meant for God’s people turned back on themselves. War usually ruins the very place where it is fought. David carried the war into enemy territory, and what devastation it brought there. Cities were burned, land was laid waste, and armies were cut down and left in heaps.

Come and see the results of God’s judgments, and stand in awe of him. Say, “How awesome are your works” (Psalm 66:3). Let all who oppose him see this with fear and expect the same cup of trembling. Let all who fear him and trust him see it with joy, and not be afraid of even the strongest powers against the church. Let them gather themselves for battle, but they will be shattered.

When God chooses to put away his sword, he ends the wars of the nations and crowns them with peace (Psalm 46:9). War and peace depend on his word and will, just as storms and calm seas do (Psalm 107:25, 29). He makes wars stop throughout the earth, sometimes out of pity for the nations, when long wars have worn them down. Both sides may grow tired of fighting and be willing to stop. Peace terms may be found, warlike rulers may be removed, and peacemakers may take their place. Then the bow is broken, the spear is cut apart and made into a pruning hook, the sword is beaten into a plowshare, and the war chariots are burned because they are no longer needed.

More likely, this also points to what God does for his own people. He makes the wars stop that are fought against them and meant to destroy them. He breaks the enemy’s bow when it is aimed at Zion. No weapon formed against Zion will succeed (Isaiah 54:17). The final destruction of Gog and Magog is pictured in the burning of their weapons of war (Ezekiel 39:9, 10), which also suggests the church’s full safety and sure lasting peace. Because of that peace, there is no need to store those weapons for future use. When a long war ends well, that is a work of the Lord, and we should watch it with wonder and thankfulness.

As King of his saints, God must be owned as doing great and marvelous things (Revelation 15:3). He does, and will do, great things for his own glory (Psalm 46:10). “Be still, and know that I am God.” Let his enemies be still. Let them stop their threats and know, to their own terror, that he is God, far above them and more than able to defeat them. Let them rage no more, for it is useless. He who sits in heaven laughs at them. Despite all their angry attacks on his name and honor, he will be exalted among the nations, not only among his own people, and he will be exalted in the earth, not only in the church. People set themselves up and try to do their own will, but God will be exalted. He will have his way, do his will, and glorify his own name. In whatever way they act proudly, he will be above them and make them know it.

Let his own people be still too. Let them be calm and quiet, and stop trembling. Let them know, for their comfort, that the Lord is God, and God alone. He will be exalted above the nations, so let him be left to guard his own honor, carry out his own plans, and uphold his own cause in the world. Even if we are brought low, we should not lose heart, because God will be exalted. That should be enough for us. He will work for his great name, and then it does not matter what becomes of our smaller names. When we pray, “Father, glorify your name,” we should believe the answer given when Christ prayed the same prayer, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Amen, Lord, so be it.

He is triumphant in the first truth, “I will be exalted.” His people triumph in the next truth, and again in (Psalm 46:7, 11): “The Lord of hosts is with us.” That is the heart of the song. He is with us, on our side, acting with us, and standing over us. “The God of Jacob is our refuge,” a place where we can run for safety and in whom we can trust completely. Let all believers rejoice in this.

They have the presence of a God of power, all power. The Lord of hosts is with us. He is the Lord over all hosts, all the creatures of heaven and earth that are under his command. He uses them as he chooses, either as tools of his justice or his mercy. This sovereign Lord is with us. He is for us, he acts with us, and he has promised never to leave us. Many forces may be against us, but we do not need to fear them if the Lord of hosts is with us.

They are also under the protection of a God who has made a covenant, a binding promise. He is not only able to help them, but is also bound by his honor and faithfulness to do so. He is the God of Jacob, not only of Jacob the man, but of Jacob’s people, and even of all who pray, the spiritual children of wrestling Jacob. He is our refuge, the one who shelters us and satisfies us. By his providence he secures our well-being when fights are outside, and by his grace he quiets our minds and strengthens them when fears are inside.

The Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, has been with us, is with us, and will be with us. He has been, is, and will be our refuge. The original words include all three times, and that is why “Selah” fits so well here.

Mark this well and take comfort from it. Then say, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)