Sermon

Psalm 46

September 1, 2024 Christ the King Church Sermons

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Well, Christ the King, it is so good to be worshiping with you all.
I think I said this the last time I was here, but it is such a wonderful reminder when we are all able to come together
and when you have a guest preacher or you have a guest group of people like the Grove Church Launch Team, which is up front here.
It is just such a good reminder of how big the kingdom of God is and how big the church is.
So this morning we are going to be preaching from Psalm 46, but I'd like to start by telling a story of my week this week.
On Thursday night, I sat in my bed and it was 3 a.m.
I was wide awake and I was staring into the darkness of my room and I was petting my dogs.
My chest felt tight and my mind was racing with questions.
A million what-ifs.
What if I let my team down?
What if I'm not a good enough leader?
What if the Grove Church fails?
What if I can't finish this sermon by Sunday?
What if I can't pay my bills?
What if my wife or children fall ill?
What if?
The weight of worry pressed down on me at that moment.
Now, funny enough, I don't struggle with anxiety typically.
But similar when you pray for patience in preparation of preaching this sermon, I had gotten more than I asked for.
What happened to me from Thursday through Friday is not unique.
In fact, it's alarmingly common.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States.
They affect 40 million Americans.
That's nearly 18% of the population.
This struggle is shared by many.
Our world today is one of constant connectivity.
We all know this to be true, but it comes with a never-ending barrage of information, demands, and expectations.
The average American checks their phone 96 times a day.
That is once every 10 minutes.
And each glance brings a new reason to worry.
Whether it be breaking news or the comparisons that we make on social media between,
Am I doing as well as that person?
Oh, it's been a while since I was able to take my family on a vacation.
Or our work emails or a personal to-do list that just keeps expanding, growing and growing, never really being finished.
Not able to shrink.
The result is a society that is more anxious and stressed than ever before.
You do not need to know the stats to understand this.
In fact, could you just do me a favor in this moment?
I want you to answer a question in your head.
How are you doing?
How are you doing?
Now, how many of you included something in your answer about your level of busyness and or productivity?
And if you didn't this morning, how many would typically would answer that question Monday through Friday?
Well, I'm pretty busy, but this is what I'm getting done.
Every single one of us would do that.
Nearly 80% of adults are feeling significant stress over the future of our nation.
Shocker.
It's an election year.
Financial pressures, health concerns, political division, the relentless pace of our modern life,
all have contributed to what many are calling an epidemic of anxiety.
And it's not just affecting our adults.
Our children and teenagers are feeling it too.
Many more schools than ever are reporting the troubles of our youth with the pressure of academic achievement,
social media, and the feeling of an uncertain future.
In moments like the one that I had on Thursday,
when the weight of worry feels unbearable,
the world offers many solutions.
We've all seen the self-help books.
We've all seen meditation guiding apps.
Heck, one of Apple's features, new features a few years ago,
was a reminder on an Apple Watch to take a moment and breathe.
Even our technology knows that there's something wrong.
And deep down we know that we are not going to find true peace
in temporary distractions or surface-level solutions.
We need a solution that addresses the depth of our soul's distress.
We need something, someone stronger, steadier, and more secure.
In this broken world, we need Jesus, our Christ, our God.
Psalm 46 speaks directly to our anxious hearts.
God calls us to be still and know that I am God.
It's exactly what this morning is.
It's an opportunity to be still and know that He is God.
He will hold and He does hold the world and our lives in His very hands.
This passage is a reassurance that God is our refuge and strength.
He is ever-present as a helper in our trouble.
And when everything feels unstable, God is our fortress.
He is in control and the one that we can rely on.
This morning we will be still and work through Psalm 46.
We will discover how this song of praise exposes a reprieve and a deep abiding peace
that only comes from knowing God and trusting in His unshakable presence.
Amid our anxious society, amid money problems, amid losing your job, losing your significant other,
physical pain or illness or relationship difficulty, amid leaving a perfectly healthy church to plant a new church,
like the Grove Launch Team is doing,
Psalm 46 reminds us that we are not alone and that we find our true and lasting security in God.
Did you catch that?
God is our true and lasting security.
Now with our minds on the weight of anxiety that presses down on so many of us,
we turn to the words of Psalm 46.
The sermon is going to be in three major sections and each time we come into a section,
I'm going to read the text associated with that.
So for the first reading, we have Psalm 46, 1 through 3.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear through the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Psalm 46 begins with an affirmation.
It says, God is our refuge and strength.
Our refuge or our refuge is a place of safety,
where people flee when danger threatens.
It is a place of security where the enemies of our world,
the enemies of Christ, of the way we believe and think and feel,
they cannot reach us.
Anxiety in your mind cannot be reached either.
The psalmist used this imagery to convey that God is the place of safety for His people.
When life's storm rages,
when the pressures of the world become too much to bear,
God is our refuge.
He is the one we can run to,
knowing that within His protection we are secure.
God is not just a place of safety.
He is also our strength.
God empowers us to face the challenges ahead.
We all need to hear this.
God is not just a place we retreat to.
He is our refuge, yes.
But He also provides the strength we need to move forward.
In our strength, we often find ourselves overwhelmed,
paralyzed by fear, and unsure of what to do next.
But God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.
And when we feel like we can't go on,
God's strength enables us to persevere,
to push on,
to push through.
The verse goes on to describe God as a very present help in trouble.
This phrase is packed with meaning.
God is not distant or detached.
He's not some lofty God that we don't know,
that's not available,
that's not there for us truly.
He is very present.
He is with us amid our struggles,
not just as a passive observer,
but as an active helper.
Everyone here has that friend.
I don't want you naming names,
so just think them in your head.
Has that friend that says,
you know what,
you need something,
let me know.
I'm available,
I can help,
I can do whatever it is you need me to do.
And yet,
anytime we reach out to them,
they happen to already be busy.
There's already something going on in their life,
and they actually can't come and help.
That is not what is being said about God.
God is our very present helper.
He isn't just available,
he is present with us in real time,
offering his help and strength
exactly when we need it.
Whether the trouble we face is a crisis
that has come out of nowhere,
like it was for me at three o'clock in the morning on Thursday,
or is a persistent struggle
we've been battling for years.
God is present and ready to help.
With this understanding of God as our refuge and strength,
the psalmist boldly declares in verses two to three,
therefore we will not fear,
though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Here the psalmist paints a vivid picture of natural disaster,
events that are entirely outside of human control.
The imagery of the earth giving way,
mountains falling into the sea,
the waters roaring,
convey a sense of total chaos and destruction.
These are the kind of events
that strike terror into the hearts
of anyone experiencing them.
Just the image, the idea.
Yet in the face of such overwhelming forces,
the psalmist declares,
we will not fear.
This is not some naive denial of reality,
but rather a profound statement of trust in God.
It is subtle, but you need to recognize
he is not saying,
because God is present,
you do not need to fear.
That's not what he's saying.
He is saying,
he is boldly speaking,
the reality of God's presence
and how we will live in that presence.
It is not a call,
it is not a command,
but it is a description of our reality.
We will not fear.
The psalmist's confidence is rooted
not in the stability of the earth or the mountains,
but in the unshakable nature of God.
God remains steadfast.
He is the one constant,
the one refuge that cannot be moved.
No matter how turbulent
the world around us becomes,
he will not move,
and he is ultimately the one that controls
that turbulence.
For us today,
these verses speak directly
to our own experiences.
Our mountains may be
financial crises,
health problems,
relationship struggles,
societal unrest,
all of the things of anxiety
that have already been talked about this morning.
The roaring waters
might be the overwhelming flood
of information,
responsibilities,
expectations
that are threatening
to drown us
each and every single day.
It could also be
the very real natural disasters
that we experience in this world,
our earthquakes
and tidal waves,
volcanic explosions,
and tornadoes.
Yet like the psalmist,
we can declare
we will not fear.
not because we are strong
in ourselves,
but because God
is our refuge
and strength.
He is with us
and he is greater
than anything
that can come against us.
In a world
where so much
feels uncertain
and out of control,
Psalm 46
calls us to anchor our hearts
in the truth
of who God is.
He is our refuge,
our strength,
our ever-present help.
When we trust him,
we can face
even the most terrifying
of circumstances
with a peace
that defies understanding.
This is the peace
that is promised by Jesus.
The peace
that the world
cannot give
and it's ours
when we take refuge
in our mighty God.
God is not only
a protector
but also deeply present
with his people.
And the psalmist
further explores
God's presence
in verses 4 through 7.
Let me read that
again for us.
There is a river
whose streams
make glad
the city of God,
the holy habitation
of the Most High.
God is in the midst
of her.
She shall not be moved.
God will help her
when morning dawns.
The nations rage,
the kingdoms totter.
He utters his voice.
The earth melts.
The Lord of hosts
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.
Verse 4 introduces us
to a serene
and life-giving image.
The psalmist invites us
to imagine
a peaceful river
flowing through
the city of God
representing God's
dwelling place
among his people.
In a world
where roaring seas
and mountains
falling into the sea
symbolize chaos
as we've seen
in the previous verses
this river
represents calm,
stability,
and life.
Rivers are often seen
as a source of life
and prosperity.
They water the land,
they sustain crops,
and they provide
for the needs
of the people
that are around it.
The river symbolizes
God's provision
and blessing
to his people.
In this river,
this is not just
a physical source
of life,
but it is a representation
of spiritual nourishment
and the joy
that comes
from God's presence.
The city of God
is made glad
by the river
because it is a reminder
that God is there
sustaining
and blessing
his people.
The significance
of this image
deepens in verse 5
where we see
God is in the midst
of her.
She shall not be moved.
God will help her
when morning dawns.
The city's stability
is not due to its walls,
its defenses,
or any human effort,
but because God
is in the midst
of her.
His presence ensures
that the city
shall not be moved.
No matter what threats
arise,
the city remains unshaken
because God
is in the midst of it.
This verse
powerfully reminds us
of God's presence
in our lives,
bringing stability
and peace
and when God
is in our midst,
when we are rooted
in his presence,
our lives are grounded
no matter the circumstances.
The morning here
could be symbolizing
a new beginning
after a night of fear
or struggle
like the one I had,
emphasizing that God's help
is timely and faithful
just as,
some of you guys
might remember this,
just as when the morning
came and the Red Sea
swallowed the armies
of Egypt.
The morning came
and the seas closed
on the armies.
The psalmist
then contrasts
the tranquility
of God's presence
with the state
of the nations.
We see here
in 6-7
that the nations
rage,
the kingdoms totter,
and he utters his voice
and the earth melts.
The psalmist
acknowledges
the reality
of political upheaval
and instability.
The nations rage
and kingdoms totter
paint a picture
of a world
in constant turmoil
where power struggles
and conflicts
are the norm.
Does that sound familiar
to anyone right now?
The psalmist
quickly shifts
back to God's sovereignty.
Despite the raging nations,
God's mere voice
has the power
to melt the earth.
This is a vivid reminder
that God is present
with his people
and is in control
of the entire world.
The political powers
that seem so formidable
are nothing
before the Lord.
And with a single word,
he can bring an end
to all
of this turmoil.
I wasn't sure
if I was going to say this
this morning or not.
This might just be
my Facebook profile feed.
But I do ask,
are we
living out
in this political age
this truth?
Are we living
as if
God is in our midst
and he is in control
of everything?
Or are we
fearfully posting,
fearfully reading,
fearfully following
everything that is
happening around us?
I hope not.
And I pray that
moving forward,
we all know
that God is in control
and that we do not
need to be fearful.
Verse 7 brings us back
to this comforting refrain.
The Lord of hosts
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.
This refrain
serves as both
a declaration
and an escalation
of something
that we have already
been told.
The Lord of hosts
is referring
to God's command
over heavenly armies,
emphasizing his power
and authority.
This is often used
to point to
Christ,
who has authority
over all angels,
who rules
today.
The God of Jacob
highlights his personal
and covenantal
relationship with his people.
He is both mighty
and intimately involved
in the lives
of his people.
This refrain
is crucial
because it actually
connects the power,
his power,
and his presence.
The God who controls
the fate of nations
is the same God
who is with us,
protecting us,
and sustaining us.
He is our fortress,
a place of safety
that cannot be breached.
In a world
where nations rage
and kingdoms
totter,
where the news
is often filled
with reports
of conflict
and instability,
this truth
brings a profound
comfort.
We are not
at the mercy
of the world's chaos
because the Lord
of hosts
is with us.
Jesus Christ
has come
and died
on the cross
for us.
For believers today,
these verses
offer a powerful
message of hope.
No matter how
unstable the world
may seem
or how chaotic
our personal lives
might become,
God is in our midst
and he brings
peace.
Where is God?
He is with us.
He is with us
this very morning.
It's what we just
prayed for
in our call to worship.
And we all know
the passage in Matthew 18
that says,
where two or more
are gathered
in my name,
I am there.
Right?
There's more than two.
He is present
with us this morning.
Right?
So one sure place
that you can always
feel the presence
of God
is right here
with your church
body
at Christ the King.
He is present.
He is with us.
He is in our midst.
We are being still
and we are knowing God.
Each and every single week
when we gather
to worship Him,
where else do we know
that God dwells now?
In the Psalm of Praise,
we know that He is
in the Holy City.
He is in the temple.
What does 1 Corinthians 3
tell us?
Do you not know
that you are God's temple
and that God's Spirit
dwells in you?
Brothers and sisters
in the Lord,
the very Spirit of God,
our very present helper,
our refuge,
our strength,
our river of peace
and life,
dwells in you.
He's in you.
He is in our midst,
ensuring that we shall
not be moved.
Now listen,
I tried really hard
not to do this illustration,
but I see Lord of the Rings
illustrations all throughout
this whole text.
I'm only going to do one.
This is going to be
the only one I promise.
So listen up.
When Gandalf stands
on the bridge
and he says,
you shall not pass.
And he drops his staff
and the bridge breaks
and the Balrog
and him fall down
into the depths.
He had to leave
those he was trying
to protect.
He had to leave
their presence
and sacrifice himself
and separate from them
in order to protect them.
And yet,
we have a Savior
that has always been
in our midst.
We have the presence
of God
who says,
we shall not be moved.
We will not be moved.
And for the Lord
of the Rings book lovers,
in the presence of God,
we cannot be moved.
Fun fact,
if you didn't know,
you shall not be moved
was a blooper.
It's supposed to be,
I cannot be moved.
Or you shall not,
you cannot pass.
That's what I was trying
to say.
You cannot pass.
And when the nations rage,
we can rest in the assurance
that God's voice,
God's will,
is sovereign over all.
Our refuge is not
in earthly powers
or personal strength,
but in the God
who is with us
and above all.
Amid anxiety
and uncertainty,
Psalm 46,
4-7
calls us to anchor ourselves
in the presence of God.
To find our peace
in the one
who is with us
and controls all things.
When we do,
we can experience
a peace
that is not dependent
on circumstances,
but rooted
in our sovereign God's
unshakable presence.
He is our true
and lasting security.
We come to
Psalm 46,
8-11.
Let me read that
for us here.
Come behold
the works of the Lord,
how He has brought
desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow
and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariot
with fire.
Be still
and know that I am God.
I will be exalted
among the nations.
I will be exalted
in the earth.
The Lord of hosts
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.
There are two calls
or commands
in this text
and they are both found
in this section
of the song.
We are called
to behold the works
of the Lord,
that is Yahweh here,
which is a different word
from the word translated
as God
that we have already seen
in this text.
I am not going to butcher
the Hebrew text
in front of my former
Old Testament professor,
Eric Tully.
You will just have to believe me
and your Bible translators
here.
Then we are called
to respond
with stillness
and trust.
This is the pivotal point
of the psalm
where the focus shifts
from describing
God's protection
and presence
to a direct call
for us to respond
to Him
in faith.
Come,
behold
the works of the Lord,
how He has brought
desolations
on the earth.
Here the psalmist
calls us to come
and behold,
to recognize
and witness
what God has done.
This isn't some
passive observation.
It is an active call
to pay attention
to God's mighty works
in the world.
I can't think of
any mightier work
to pay witness to
than the death
of Jesus Christ
on the cross.
The defeat of sin.
The defeat of death.
The term desolations
might initially
seem unsettling,
but it points
to God's ability
to bring about
significant change,
often by removing
what is evil
or oppressive.
In the historical context,
this likely is referring
to God's interventions
in history
where He delivered
Israel from
certain doom,
usually through
some dramatic
and decisive acts
in the final moments.
For example,
the deliverance
of Jerusalem
from the Assyrian army
in the time
of King Hezekiah
could be one such work
of the Lord
that the people
were encouraged
to remember.
Verse 9
continues this theme
by describing
God's power
to end conflicts.
He makes wars
cease to the end
of the earth.
He breaks the bow
and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots
with fire.
These are vivid images
of God bringing
an end to warfare
and destruction.
The bow, spear,
and chariot
were the most advanced
weapons of time.
Think of
our assault rifles,
our tanks,
our nuclear weapons,
our drones,
all being destroyed
by the snap
of a finger
or by the same voice
that makes the earth
melt.
All weapons of war
melt.
Yet God
effortlessly destroys
all of them
bringing peace
where conflict
once existed.
This part of the psalm
reminds us that
God is not only
a refuge
in times of trouble
but the ultimate
peacemaker.
He has the power
to end wars
and to bring about
peace on a global
scale.
And when we look
at the turmoil
of our world today,
the ongoing conflicts,
the political strife,
and the social unrest,
these verses
remind us
that God
is in control.
He is at work
even when we
cannot see it.
He is at work.
Then comes
one of the Bible's
most well-known
and beloved verses.
In fact,
I just saw it
on a wall
earlier this week.
Be still
and know
that I am God.
This command
is as profound
as it is simple.
While describing
God's powerful acts,
the psalmist relays
God's direct command
to us.
Be still.
Stop striving.
Stop trying
to control everything.
Stop trying
to save yourself.
Stop and surrender
all things
to me.
God is
our true
and lasting security.
This is an invitation
to let go
of our need
to manage
every detail
of our lives
and to trust
that God
is in control.
This stillness
is not merely
about a physical rest,
but a deep
spiritual rest
that comes
from trusting
in the sovereignty
of God.
The second part
of the verse
says,
Know that I am God.
It is not simply
enough to stop
and rest.
We must recognize
and acknowledge
who God is.
He is the one
who is exalted
above all nations.
He is exalted
in the earth.
He is the one
that speaks
with His voice
and the earth
melts away.
He is the one
that is very present.
To know God,
we must live
lives of worship
and pursue
a deep understanding
of Him.
This knowledge,
though,
is not just
intellectual.
It does not
stop at the mind.
It must be
experienced
and brought
to your heart.
We are called
to know God
deeply,
to experience
His presence
and power
in our lives,
and to rest
in the assurance
that He is
indeed
in control.
My assumption
is that none
of this
is new information
to you.
And yet,
I know we all
need this very
reminder
that God
is in control.
In our anxiety
driven culture,
where busyness
is often glorified
and control
seems elusive,
this command
to be still
is challenging
and countercultural.
But it is also
profoundly liberating.
It frees us
from the tyranny
of our efforts
and invites us
to a peace
that can come
only from knowing
and trusting God.
The psalm closes
with this refrain
in verse 11.
It's the same one
we've already
encountered.
The Lord of hosts
is with us.
The God of Jacob
is our fortress.
This repetition
serves to solidify
the psalm's central
message in our hearts.
It's as if
the psalmist
wants to leave us
with this final
resounding declaration.
No matter what happens,
no matter how chaotic
the world may become,
the Lord of hosts
is with us
and we are secured
in His presence.
God is our true
and lasting security.
Jesus Christ
is our true
and lasting security.
security.
There is nothing
we can do
to rid ourselves
of our sin.
There is nothing
we can do
to rid ourselves
of the anxiety
and pressures
of the world.
It is only through
the Son of God,
Jesus Christ,
that we will see
our true
and lasting security.
Remember me
just a couple nights ago
sitting on my bed
staring into the darkness
overwhelmed by the weight
of worry and anxiety.
That single evening
of struggle
mirrors the experience
of countless others
in our anxious society.
Remember,
40 million Americans,
adults,
suffer from anxiety disorders.
It is clear
that we are a people
in desperate need
of security.
We seek it
in our careers,
our money,
our bank accounts,
and even in our abilities.
But these things
as we have seen
are ultimately unstable
and unreliable.
Psalm 46
offers a radically
different version
of security.
Not based on the
transient and fragile
things of this world,
but on God's
unshakable nature.
We have explored
how God is our
refuge and strength,
a very present
help in trouble.
He is not just
a temporary shelter
in times of crisis,
but a constant
enduring fortress
where we can find
true and lasting peace.
He is our true
and lasting security.
The psalmist shows us
that in the midst
of chaos,
whether it be
the tumultuous
forces of nature
or politics
or the raging nations,
God,
is present
in us
and with us,
bringing peace
and stability.
His presence
is like a calm,
life-giving river
that sustains us
even when everything else
is falling apart.
In the end,
God calls us
to be still
and know
that I am God,
urging us
to cease
our frantic efforts
to control our lives
and instead
to trust
fully
in Him.
that's the call.
Be still.
Know that I am God.
The application
is clear
for all of us
who follow Christ,
for my dear brothers
and sisters
that are in these pews.
We must regularly
return to this truth
and allow it
to anchor
our souls.
We are invited
to find our true security
in God alone
in a world
that constantly
bombards us
with reasons
to fear and worry.
this means
making time
to be still
before Him,
to seek His presence
and to remind ourselves
daily that He is
our fortress
no matter what challenge
we are facing.
But to those
that aren't yet
our brothers and sisters
in Christ,
to those that do not
call themselves Christ,
do not claim
Christ as their Savior,
do not know
that they are sinners
in need of a Savior,
if you resonate
with me a couple nights ago
overwhelmed,
anxious,
and searching
for something
solid to hold on to,
know that God
is inviting you
to discover the peace
and security
that can only be found
in Him.
The invitation
to be still
and know that I am God
is also for you.
It's an invitation
to stop striving
on your own
and to find rest
in God,
in the God
who created you,
loves you,
and desires for you
to be safe
in life's storms
and safe
from the judgment
of your own sins.
In a world
where everything else
can and will fail,
where we cannot
save ourselves
from the trouble
of our lives,
God alone
is our true
and lasting security.
Whether you are
a believer
who needs to remember
this truth,
or you are someone
seeking stability
in an unstable world,
the message of Psalm 46
is the same.
Turn to God,
our refuge
and strength.
In Him
you will find
the peace
that the world
cannot give,
a peace
that is deep,
abiding,
and eternally secure.
Let us pray.
Father,
we come before You
with grateful hearts
for the truth
You've spoken to us
through Psalm 46.
Lord,
You are a refuge
and strength.
You are an ever-present
help in trouble.
We ask that You
would plant this truth
deep in our hearts today.
In a world
that often feels
chaotic and overwhelming,
help us be still
and know that You are God.
Teach us to rely on You
as our fortress,
to find our peace
and security
in Your unshakable presence.
For those of us
who are struggling
with anxiety,
fear,
or uncertainty,
remind us
that You are with us
and that Your presence
is the source
of our stability.
Help us to trust
in Your sovereignty
over all things
and to rest
in the peace
that only You can give.
Lord,
we pray that as we
leave this place,
we will carry this truth
with us,
living each day
confidently that You
are our true
and lasting security.
May our lives
reflect this trust in You
and may we be witnesses
of Your peace
to a world in need.
In the powerful name
of Jesus,
we all pray.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.