WEBVTT

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 46.

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 The title of the song is

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 To the Choir Master of the Sons of Korah,

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 according to Alamoth, a song.

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 It's a beautiful song.

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 It's a very

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 helpful song, an encouraging and strengthening song.

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 I'm eager to share it with you all.

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 I think it'll be encouraging for us all.

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 So Psalm 46, I'll read the first 11 verses.

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 God is our refuge and strength,

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 a very present help in trouble.

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 Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way,

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 though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

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 though its waters roar and foam,

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 though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

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 Selah.

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 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

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 the holy habitation of the Most High.

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 God is in the midst of her.

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 She shall not be moved.

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 God will help her when morning dawns.

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 The nations rage.

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 The kingdoms totter.

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 He utters his voice.

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 The earth melts.

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 The Lord of hosts is with us.

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 The God of Jacob is our fortress.

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 Selah.

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 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

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 how he has brought desolations on the earth.

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 He makes war cease to the end of the earth.

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 He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.

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 He burns the chariots with fire.

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 Be still and know that I am God.

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 I will be exalted among the nations.

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 I will be exalted in the earth.

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 The Lord of hosts is with us.

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 The God of Jacob is our fortress.

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 Selah.

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 In Wittenberg, Germany,

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 which is called the birthplace of the Reformation,

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 because that's the place where Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis

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 on the door of the chapel church,

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 sparking debate into the practices of the Catholic Church

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 that needed to be reformed.

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 And we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation next month,

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 so it's even more apt.

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 And if you look on the top,

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 and I've not been there,

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 but I've heard this,

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 that on the tower of the castle church,

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 at the very top around it is written in German

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 the phrase,

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 a mighty fortress is our God.

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 That's the title of Luther's most famous hymn that he wrote.

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 And it's often called the battle hymn of the Reformation,

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 because it strengthened him.

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 And historians record that Martin Luther,

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 well, Martin Luther was excommunicated by the Pope, right?

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 So he was opposed by the Catholic Church,

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 which is one of the most powerful institutions of that time.

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 And he was also outlawed by the Holy Roman Emperor.

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 And so he was,

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 and because of his role in the Protestant Reformation.

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 And as he was doing that,

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 he's basically being pursued on all sides

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 and by the two of the most powerful institutions

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 in the world at the time.

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 And he was often basically discouraged and fearful.

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 And in his worst days,

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 it is said that he often turned to his friend,

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 Melanchthon,

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 who was another Protestant reformer,

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 and said to him,

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 let's sing the 46th

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 and let the devil do his worst.

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 And it's a song that he turned to for comfort,

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 for faith,

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 to be built up in trust in God

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 amidst all the things,

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 even all the things around him seem to be crumbling.

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 And none of us have the world's two most powerful authorities

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 and institutions after us at the moment,

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 but we all experience our share of trouble, right?

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 To varying degrees.

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 And Psalm 46 can help us too.

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 They could teach us that we can rest securely in the midst of any trouble

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 because God is our immovable fortress.

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 That's really the main point of the psalm.

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 And so it,

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 first,

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 verses 1 to 3 talks about God's protection.

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 Verses 4 to 7 about God's presence.

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 And then verses 8 to 11,

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 we see God's pronouncement.

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 So God's protection, presence, and pronouncement.

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 And verse 1 is the thesis statement of the entire psalm.

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 It says,

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 God is our refuge and strength,

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 a very present help in trouble.

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 So God is our refuge.

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 Such a comforting image.

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 He's our shelter.

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 So imagine yourself in the field of battle, right?

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 Just bombs and bullets raining down on you.

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 And you flee to a bunker.

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 And all of a sudden,

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 immediate relief.

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 That's refuge, right?

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 Or imagine yourself in a storm.

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 You're caught up in a storm.

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 And pouring rain and howling winds.

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 And all of a sudden,

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 you enter your house and shut the door behind you.

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 And it's quiet.

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 And immediate relief.

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 That's refuge, right?

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 God is our refuge.

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 And He's also our strength.

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 It says God doesn't merely protect us.

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 He also empowers us, that means, right?

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 He's not just our refuge.

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 He's also our strength.

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 He empowers us for whatever we are facing.

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 And in this way,

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 God is a very present help in trouble.

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 And this phrase can be more literally translated

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 as a help in need that is surely found.

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 That's what it literally says.

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 A help in need that is surely found.

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 In short, it's telling us that God's not far off, right?

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 He's not aloof in times of our need.

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 He's not distant or unapproachable

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 or indifferent to our troubles.

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 But He's very present.

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 He can be found.

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 He can surely be found in our times of need.

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 That's what that means.

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 He's a very present help.

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 And so God is for us and He is always with us.

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 And therefore, verses 2 to 3 continue,

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 we will not fear though the earth gives way,

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 though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

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 though its waters roar and foam,

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 though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

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 Selah.

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 So therefore, that's the reason why we can have this, right?

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 So because God is our refuge and strength,

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 because God is our very present help,

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 we will not fear, right?

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 The psalmist is saying.

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 And then he describes a pair of cataclysmic,

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 literally cataclysmic events, right?

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 It's the mountains be moved into the heart.

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 The earth gives way and the mountains be moved

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 into the heart of the sea.

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 So that's, he's describing a huge earthquake,

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 basically so big and so widespread

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 that it seems like even the mountains themselves

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 are crumbling into the sea.

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 And then usually when there is an earthquake like that,

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 especially near the sea,

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 tsunamis follow, right?

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 So that's, and then he describes the waves.

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 The waves, waters roar and foam.

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 The waves breaking.

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 Though the mountains tremble at the swelling of the waves.

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 So this is like, he's describing a pair of events

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 that basically is the worst thing

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 that could possibly happen

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 in terms of a natural disaster, right?

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 It's, I mean, it's particularly relevant

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 as we think about this in the hurricane season.

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 And so what he, the reason why he chooses these examples

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 is he wants to show us that even in the most extreme cases,

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 even in situations that seems to be

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 completely out of our control,

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 and it seems to be utterly devastating,

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 that we can rest securely

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 because God is our immovable fortress.

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 And that's why he picks these extreme examples

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 to tell us that even in the midst of this,

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 we will not fear.

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 And so then we can ask ourselves,

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 what is our trouble at the moment, right?

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 What is our need, right?

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 And is it, it could be a natural disaster

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 for some people, right?

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 It could be a professional disaster, right?

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 It could be an interpersonal disaster,

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 maybe relationships that are strained

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 with family or friends.

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 And no matter how bad the situation is,

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 he's saying that God is our refuge and strength,

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 a very present help in trouble.

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 And then having reminded us of God's protection,

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 the psalmist turns to God's presence

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 in verses 47 of Psalm 46.

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 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

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 the holy habitation of the Most High.

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 God is in the midst of her.

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 She shall not be moved.

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 God will help her when morning dawns.

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 The nations rage.

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 The kingdoms totter.

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 He utters his voice.

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 The earth melts.

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 The Lord of hosts is with us.

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 The God of Jacob is our fortress.

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 Selah.

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 There's a contrast of imagery here

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 between verses 3 and 4.

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 In verse 3, we see the destructive raging seas.

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 And in verse 4, we see this nourishing,

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 calming, refreshing, peaceful river.

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 And the difference between those two images

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 is the presence of God, right?

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 The reason why we have protection

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 is because of God's presence.

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 Because God dwells in the city of God.

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 It's the holy habitation of the Most High.

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 God is in the midst of her.

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 And this image of the river really is,

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 it's something that occurs throughout the Old Testament.

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 So the original image, of course,

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 is the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2.10,

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 which is described as,

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 now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, right?

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 So Eden represents the presence of God.

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 And so later, when Prophet Ezekiel prophesies

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 about the fulfillment of the kingdom of God,

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 he describes it as the new temple

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 as having a river that flows out of it, right?

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 So it's this mention of the river

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 whose streams make glad the city of God

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 is a reference to that,

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 the presence of God that nourishes and calms.

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 And that's why the city of God,

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 it says in verse 5,

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 shall not be moved.

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 God will help her when morning dawns.

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 It's, I wonder what morning dawns means.

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 It could, of course, simply mean

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 that when a daybreak will soon come

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 and things will get better.

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 But I think it's more specifically

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 an allusion to the Exodus.

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 Because in Exodus 14.27,

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 the exact same Hebrew phrase,

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 when morning dawns,

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 is used to say that the Red Sea,

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 which was split in two

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 to let the Israelites cross,

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 came, caved back into itself

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 and drowned the Egyptians.

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 And because he routed them

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 and gave the Israelites the victory

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 and let them leave.

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 And it happened when morning dawned.

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 And so it's,

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 it's hearkening the memory

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 of the Israelites and saying,

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 remember God delivered you

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 at the 11th hour.

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 Remember you were hemmed in

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 on both sides

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 with seemingly,

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 seemingly impassable waters

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 ahead of you

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 and the seemingly

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 invincible Egyptians behind you.

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 And then God's saying,

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 but when morning dawned,

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 God delivered you.

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 Right?

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 And saying,

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 so when morning dawns,

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 it's,

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 her help will come from the Lord.

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 And the city of God

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 shall not be moved.

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 And there's a very insightful wordplay

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 here in verse five

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 when it says,

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 she shall not be moved.

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 The word move actually occurs

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 three times in this psalm.

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 The first time is in verse two.

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 It says,

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 though the mountains be moved

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 into the heart of the sea.

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 And then again in verse six

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 where it says,

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 the nations rage,

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 the kingdoms totter.

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 It's actually the same Hebrew word

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 that's translated earlier as move.

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 So what it's,

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 it's drawing a contrast here.

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 Even when the mountains are moved,

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 the mountains,

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 seemingly immovable mountains are moved.

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 Even when seemingly

00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.160
 invincible kingdoms are moved,

00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:20.620
 the city of God

00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:22.019
 will not be moved

00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.340
 because God will help us

00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:24.240
 when morning dawns.

00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:26.639
 There's another wordplay

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.940
 going on in verse three and six.

00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.820
 It says that the waters roar

00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:31.639
 and the nations rage.

00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.600
 Same words in the Hebrew.

00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:35.480
 And so our circumstances

00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.220
 in our lives,

00:11:36.280 --> 00:11:37.220
 the troubles that we face,

00:11:37.300 --> 00:11:38.220
 the needs that we have

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:40.400
 might roar and rage against us.

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.340
 But then notice the contrast

00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.019
 in verse six

00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:44.179
 has simply says,

00:11:44.819 --> 00:11:46.379
 God utters his voice,

00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:47.779
 the earth melts.

00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:49.740
 Literally just makes a sound

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.419
 and the earth melts.

00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.559
 Everything around us

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.679
 might be raging and roaring,

00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:54.840
 but God's not panicking.

00:11:54.939 --> 00:11:56.199
 He doesn't have to roar or rage.

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.539
 He simply utters a sound

00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.220
 and the earth melts.

00:11:59.319 --> 00:12:00.100
 That's his power.

00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.740
 That's why the city of God

00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.579
 cannot be moved.

00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:05.039
 And that's why verse seven

00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.079
 praises God in this way.

00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:09.660
 And it's a refrain

00:12:09.660 --> 00:12:11.340
 that occurs again later in the psalm.

00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.900
 The Lord of hosts is with us.

00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:16.620
 The God of Jacob is our fortress.

00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:20.139
 The Lord of hosts literally means

00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:21.300
 Lord of the armies.

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:24.180
 He is the Lord of the armies.

00:12:24.540 --> 00:12:25.780
 He's a warrior God.

00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:28.240
 And it just reminds me

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.700
 of the scene in 2 Kings 6

00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:32.540
 when the king of Aram

00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:34.520
 plots to kill Elisha,

00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.120
 the prophet,

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.819
 and sends a whole army

00:12:36.819 --> 00:12:38.279
 to kill this one prophet.

00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.899
 And this prophet

00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:43.519
 is just with his attendant.

00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.100
 And when the army comes,

00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.699
 his attendant sees the army

00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.579
 and he's fearful.

00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.399
 And he says in verse 15,

00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:51.439
 Now when the attendant

00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.360
 of the man of God

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.519
 had risen early and gone out,

00:12:53.579 --> 00:12:54.819
 behold, an army with horses

00:12:54.819 --> 00:12:56.319
 and chariots was circling the city.

00:12:56.659 --> 00:12:58.460
 And his servant said to Elisha,

00:12:58.819 --> 00:12:59.819
 Alas, my master,

00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.019
 what shall we do?

00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:01.340
 Right?

00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.899
 This is often how we feel

00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:03.579
 in our lives, right?

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.959
 We feel outnumbered,

00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:07.319
 outmatched, outmaneuvered.

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:10.399
 And then Elijah responds this way,

00:13:10.459 --> 00:13:11.379
 Do not fear,

00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.659
 for those who are with us

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.860
 are more than those

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:15.819
 who are with them.

00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.439
 Then Elijah prayed and said,

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.600
 O Lord, I pray,

00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:20.939
 open his eyes that he may see.

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.159
 And the Lord opened

00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.019
 the servant's eyes

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.720
 and he saw,

00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.319
 and behold,

00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.740
 the mountain was full of horses

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.500
 and chariots of fire

00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:30.480
 all around Elijah.

00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.600
 That's what Psalm 46

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.659
 is trying to do for us,

00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.659
 to open the eyes

00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:36.259
 as God did for that servant.

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.600
 When we feel overwhelmed,

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.519
 when our circumstances

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.440
 seem bad

00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:41.460
 and we feel in trouble

00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.879
 and we're in desperate need,

00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:44.180
 to remember that

00:13:44.180 --> 00:13:45.320
 the Lord of hosts,

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.620
 the warrior God

00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:47.340
 and his armies

00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:48.740
 is all about us,

00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:49.580
 is for us

00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:50.360
 and with us.

00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.240
 And so the God of Jacob

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.440
 is also our fortress,

00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:53.779
 right?

00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:55.300
 It's this unassailable,

00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.480
 inaccessible fortress

00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:58.320
 perched atop

00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.060
 an imposing mountain range.

00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:01.119
 We are safe with him.

00:14:01.239 --> 00:14:02.079
 We're secure with him.

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.119
 That's why we can rest securely

00:14:04.119 --> 00:14:04.839
 in the midst

00:14:04.839 --> 00:14:05.819
 of any trouble

00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:06.359
 because God

00:14:06.359 --> 00:14:08.239
 is our immovable fortress.

00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:09.959
 And then,

00:14:10.119 --> 00:14:11.259
 having seen God's protection

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.879
 and having seen

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.179
 his presence with us

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:15.419
 in the concluding section

00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.779
 in verses 8 to 10,

00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.099
 God makes a pronouncement,

00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:20.099
 a final authoritative pronouncement.

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.059
 I'll read verses 8 to 10 with me.

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.319
 It says,

00:14:23.359 --> 00:14:25.579
 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:27.099
 how he has brought desolations

00:14:27.099 --> 00:14:27.659
 on the earth.

00:14:27.979 --> 00:14:29.319
 He makes wars cease

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.300
 to the end of the earth.

00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.260
 He breaks the bow

00:14:31.260 --> 00:14:32.480
 and shatters the spear.

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.240
 He burns the chariots

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.879
 with fire.

00:14:35.040 --> 00:14:35.760
 Be still

00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:37.560
 and know that I am God.

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.680
 I will be exalted

00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.460
 among the nations.

00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.340
 I will be exalted

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.740
 in the earth.

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.540
 This is a very

00:14:43.540 --> 00:14:46.820
 frequently quoted verse,

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:47.120
 right?

00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:47.740
 Be still

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.700
 and know that I am God.

00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.320
 Often we think of it

00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.440
 and we imagine ourselves,

00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:51.780
 you know,

00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.600
 by a calm beach

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.280
 and meditating

00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:55.060
 or something like that.

00:14:55.140 --> 00:14:56.140
 Be still, right?

00:14:56.180 --> 00:14:57.300
 Know that I am God.

00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.939
 But it's,

00:14:59.859 --> 00:15:00.459
 the nuance

00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:02.079
 in the original context

00:15:02.079 --> 00:15:03.139
 is actually quite different

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:05.059
 because it's not

00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:06.079
 a calming assurance.

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.219
 It's a command.

00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:09.579
 It's be still, right?

00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.659
 It's a strong word.

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.479
 It's the same word

00:15:11.479 --> 00:15:13.199
 that's used in Exodus 5

00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:14.639
 to describe Moses'

00:15:15.099 --> 00:15:16.219
 demand of Pharaoh

00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:16.679
 to say,

00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:18.139
 let the Israelites go.

00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:19.120
 Let them go.

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:20.120
 That's the same word

00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:20.620
 that's used here.

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.979
 Let loose.

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:22.899
 Let it go.

00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:23.979
 Seize.

00:15:24.719 --> 00:15:25.199
 Desist.

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.520
 That's really

00:15:26.520 --> 00:15:27.000
 what he's saying.

00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:28.940
 It's not just

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.879
 be still.

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.840
 It's be still.

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.520
 Stop it.

00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.620
 Stop trying to

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.879
 maneuver everyone

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.640
 and manipulate everything.

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.759
 Stop being so tight-fisted

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.480
 with your life

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.220
 trying to maintain

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.060
 desperate control

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:42.300
 of everything around you.

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.540
 Cease.

00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:45.220
 Stop.

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.040
 Be still.

00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:48.480
 And know that I am God.

00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.320
 That's what he's saying.

00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:50.700
 So that you might have

00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.360
 a lot of problems

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:51.879
 in your life

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.920
 but nothing is bigger

00:15:52.920 --> 00:15:53.320
 than God.

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:53.820
 You might have

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.379
 a lot of enemies

00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:54.879
 in your life

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.860
 but no one is stronger

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.400
 than God.

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.360
 And so he says,

00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.200
 be still

00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:00.140
 and know that I am God

00:16:00.140 --> 00:16:01.060
 and I will be exalted

00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:01.840
 among the nations.

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.660
 I will be exalted

00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:03.540
 in the earth.

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:06.320
 And this is...

00:16:07.760 --> 00:16:09.720
 And so...

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.360
 And then he repeats

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:10.879
 the refrain

00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.620
 in verse 11

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.480
 and concludes,

00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.760
 the Lord of hosts

00:16:13.760 --> 00:16:14.660
 is with us.

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.040
 The God of Jacob

00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:16.920
 is our fortress.

00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.120
 Selah.

00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:20.200
 And so if this psalm

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:20.580
 is true

00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:21.860
 then we can rest securely

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.480
 in the midst

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.100
 of any trouble

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.740
 because God

00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.399
 is our immovable fortress.

00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.100
 Unless

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:32.139
 we're not on God's side.

00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:34.720
 Because

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:36.639
 then the whole story changes.

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.800
 If we sin against him,

00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:40.100
 if we rebel against him

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.899
 and live according

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:42.000
 to our will

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.700
 and not according

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.399
 to his will,

00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:44.340
 then of course

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.759
 God is not with us.

00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.820
 He is against us.

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:48.659
 And the Lord of hosts

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:50.300
 himself opposes us.

00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:52.459
 And that alone

00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:53.939
 is a fearful prospect

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.639
 from which there is

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.139
 no escape.

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.459
 No one else can be

00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:57.819
 a comfort and help to us.

00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.099
 And the truth is

00:16:59.099 --> 00:16:59.879
 that we've all sinned

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.399
 against God

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.259
 and we've all rebelled

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:01.819
 against him.

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.159
 And God who is holy

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.259
 can't be with

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.200
 what is profane.

00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.279
 He who is righteous

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:07.019
 can't be with

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.019
 what is unrighteous.

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.200
 And so God has to.

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.639
 He must oppose

00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:11.899
 us and our sins.

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.339
 And so the God

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.180
 who breaks the bow

00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.119
 and shatters the spear

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.940
 who burns the chairs

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.960
 with fire

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.440
 now opposes us

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.100
 in his just

00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:20.820
 and fiery wrath.

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:21.920
 And to whom

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.100
 then can we turn

00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:24.920
 for refuge

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:26.140
 if God

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.620
 was supposed

00:17:26.620 --> 00:17:27.140
 to be a refuge

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.620
 himself

00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:29.519
 is opposing us.

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.799
 And in the midst

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.799
 of this cosmic

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:33.220
 divine trouble

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.120
 not just trouble

00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:34.880
 with nature

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.539
 not just trouble

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.100
 with nations

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:36.920
 but this cosmic

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.740
 divine trouble

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.519
 in the midst

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.480
 of an eternal need

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.279
 that we could never

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.100
 hope to meet

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:42.680
 our God proves himself

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:44.019
 to be a very present

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.500
 help

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.380
 even in the midst

00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:45.720
 of that.

00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.720
 And in love

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.920
 he sends his only son

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.119
 Jesus Christ

00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.619
 to save us

00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.880
 and Jesus became a man

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:52.640
 and he knew

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.460
 all our infirmities

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.640
 he lived a perfect life

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.160
 of obedience

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.640
 and died a sinner's death

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.859
 in our place

00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:59.039
 bearing God's wrath

00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.259
 and our sins

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.200
 were imputed to him

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.000
 and his righteousness

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.279
 was imputed to us

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.259
 so that we can be

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.160
 reconciled

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.079
 to God

00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.559
 and that's why

00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.859
 Isaiah prophesied

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.660
 in chapter 7

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.759
 verse 14

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.279
 of Isaiah

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.599
 about Christ

00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:13.240
 saying therefore

00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.480
 the Lord himself

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.400
 will give you

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.019
 a sign

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.440
 behold a virgin

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.240
 shall conceive

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.120
 and bear a son

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:19.799
 and shall call

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.579
 his name

00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.740
 Emmanuel

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:23.579
 which translated

00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.140
 means

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.019
 God

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.779
 with

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.680
 us

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:28.880
 that phrase

00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:29.299
 is found

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.019
 in this psalm

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:32.319
 twice in the refrain

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.920
 when he says

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:34.279
 the Lord of hosts

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.380
 is with

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.079
 us

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.039
 Emmanuel

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:38.240
 means with

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.860
 us

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.700
 Emmanuel

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:41.019
 is God

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.839
 with

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.360
 us

00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:43.559
 it's

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:43.779
 because

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:43.959
 of

00:18:43.959 --> 00:18:44.479
 Christ

00:18:44.479 --> 00:18:45.240
 because

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:45.479
 we're

00:18:45.479 --> 00:18:45.699
 in

00:18:45.699 --> 00:18:46.179
 Christ

00:18:46.179 --> 00:18:46.539
 we can

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:46.679
 be

00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:47.159
 assured

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:47.839
 of the

00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.179
 promises

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.419
 of

00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:49.119
 Psalm 46

00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:49.759
 once again

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.419
 that God's our protection

00:18:51.419 --> 00:18:52.319
 his presence

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.059
 is with us

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:54.479
 and that we can be

00:18:54.479 --> 00:18:55.740
 still in the midst

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.859
 of the raging seas

00:18:56.859 --> 00:19:01.659
 we can rest

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.119
 in him

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:02.759
 in the midst

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.299
 of any trouble

00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:03.899
 because God

00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.579
 is our immovable

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.479
 fortress

00:19:05.479 --> 00:19:06.859
 with that

00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:07.659
 let's turn to

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.559
 prayer

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.899
 maybe we could sing

00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.459
 another song

00:19:11.459 --> 00:19:11.979
 great

00:19:11.979 --> 00:19:12.279
 yeah

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.399
 sure

00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:13.900
 thank you

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.540
 thank you