by Steve Hale
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble, Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah"
( Psalm 46:1-3).
Psalms is a beautiful poetic book comprised of 150 poems. It is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament! Commonly called "the hymnbook of Solomon's Temple," its 150 poems are the height of Godgiven Hebrew poetry.
The Hebrew word ehillim literally means "praises." Its authorship may be broken down as follows: 73 chapters are attributed to David; 2 to Solomon ( Psalm 72, 127); 1 each to the wise men Heman and Ethan ( Psalm 88-89, cf. 1 Kings 4:31); 1 to Moses ( Psalm 90); 23 to the Levitical singing clans of Asaph ( Psalm 50, 73-83) and Korah ( Psalm 42-49, 84-85, 87-88); with others anonymous.
Psalms is a very old book as only Genesis through Ruth are older. Among the poems of the Levitical clan of Korah is Psalm 46. As you read the opening words of this Psalm, your mind immediately goes back to the Flood, the faith of Noah, and God's utter dependability!
The world had grown horribly violent and wicked (Gen. 6:5-7). While His wrath would cause "...the earth to be removed...the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...its water roar and be troubled...the mountains shake with its swelling," God would be the refuge for Noah and his family.
Noah and his family would not fear for the LORD was "a very present help in trouble." As Moses succinctly wrote: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen. 6:8). By this grace, Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives, eight people in all, were spared from the dynamic Deluge!
As surely as God's grace by means of the ark saved Noah and his family, God offers His grace to us today. Salvation is not through means of the ark, but baptism ( 1 Peter 3:20-21). As the world groans from sin and violence, we look for refuge from the storm. Our God is that refuge!
We grow weary from hearing it: Gay Pride Day at Disney World; Pornography in bookstores and on the internet; Metropolitan Nashville's new murder record of more than 105 this year; brutal murders at Taco Bell in Clarksville, Captain D's in Donelson, and McDonald's in Hermitage; drug busts in local schools, etc. We cry out for refuge and relief. It comes from a personal relationship with God through His Son and His spiritual family, the "-" church. Come to God for refuge!