Stronghold

Hang in there, friend. No matter how menacing, dark and corrupt the world looks, and it’s bad right now, followers of Yeshua (Jesus) should consider Psalm 46. Basically it’s God saying: Don’t sweat it. I have you covered:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The Hebrew word for refuge, mahseh, can imply stronghold, secure height or place of escape. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament elaborates: “The idea of taking refuge may well derive from the common experience of fugitives or of men at war, for whom the adjacent hills provided a safe height or strong rock to which the helpless defender could hurry for protection.” David understood this as he was pursued by Saul in Old Testament times. The commentary continues, “David could view the cave to which he fled as a stronghold, whereas others would see it as a trap.”

What kind of trouble is Yeshua, our rock, protecting us from? The Hebrew in our passage describes it as distress or straits. It indicates an intense inner turmoil or anguish of a people besieged by an enemy. The psalm tells us how to respond to a crisis or threat:

We will not fear, even though the earth be removed.

The Hebrew renders “removed” as give way, alter or change. That describes our broken world system. At 60, I hardly recognize the America I knew as a youth. Good is called evil, and evil good (Isaiah 5:20). No one blushes at sin anymore.

God calls us to be fearless. If we fail at that, verse 10 suggests this:

Be still, and know that I am God.

Either way, He has us covered.

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