Sons of Korah
Psalm 46
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.
Scripture (KJV)
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Summary
Psalm 46 is a confident hymn of trust that inspired Martin Luther’s "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." The sons of Korah declare that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, so that even if the earth is removed and mountains fall into the sea, there is no fear. A river whose streams make glad the city of God flows through the psalm, and God is in the midst of her, so she shall not be moved. The heathen rage and kingdoms shake, but God utters His voice and the earth melts. The beloved verse 10 is the heart: "Be still, and know that I am God." The psalm closes as it began, with the refrain: "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."
The major themes are refuge, strength, stillness, God’s presence, and peace. Practically, the psalm teaches that the stillness of faith is not passivity but active trust in a God who makes wars to cease. The great lesson is that the LORD of hosts is with us.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 46
God, You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains fall into the sea. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God; You are in the midst of her, and she shall not be moved. When the heathen rage and kingdoms are moved, You utter Your voice and the earth melts. Help me to be still and know that You are God. You will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with me; the God of Jacob is my refuge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1What does it mean that God is "a very present help in trouble"?
- 2How can I be still and know that He is God in my current circumstances?
- 3Where do I see the river that makes glad the city of God?
- 4How does the refrain "The LORD of hosts is with us" anchor my faith?
Related Psalms
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
The beloved shepherd psalm: provision, guidance, comfort, and eternal dwelling.
Read morePsalm 27
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Courage from seeking God’s presence and waiting patiently on Him.
Read morePsalm 48
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.”
A hymn to Zion, the city of the great King, secure forever.
Read morePsalm 62
“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.”
Rest in God alone, my rock and refuge; pour out your heart to Him.
Read morePsalm 91
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
God our refuge and fortress; under His wings we find protection and deliverance.
Read moreRelated Articles
Understanding Psalm 91
A close look at the psalm of protection—its promises, its conditions, and how Jesus Himself used it.
Read EncouragementTrusting God During Difficult Times
When life falls apart, where do we turn? The Psalms show us a trust that holds in the dark.
Read DevotionalsFinding Peace in Psalm 46
A refuge, a river, and a command to be still. How Psalm 46 teaches us the peace that holds when the world shakes.
ReadSupport BookofPsalms.org
If you find BookofPsalms.org helpful and would like to support the website, you may make a voluntary contribution through PayPal. Your support helps pay for the operation, hosting, maintenance, development, content, security, and continued improvement of BookofPsalms.org.
Independent Website & Contribution Disclosure
BookofPsalms.org is an independently operated, privately owned website. BookofPsalms.org is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or operated by any church, denomination, ministry, religious organization, charity, or nonprofit organization.
All funds contributed through BookofPsalms.org are received by the privately owned company that operates the website. Funds may be used by the company to support website hosting, maintenance, development, content creation, administration, advertising, technology, and other business and operating expenses.
Contributions are voluntary and are NOT tax-deductible charitable donations. BookofPsalms.org does not represent contributions as charitable donations or contributions to a nonprofit, church, ministry, or tax-exempt religious organization.
Receive weekly Psalms and prayers
A gentle Psalm, an original prayer, and a short reflection—delivered once a week.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.