God Our Refuge

When surrounded by enemies, physical or spiritual, God’s people take great comfort in knowing that God is our refuge. Psalm 46, one of the songs of Zion (compare Psalms 48, 76, 84, 87, 122), highlights God’s protective presence among His people. It was the basis for Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” According to the psalm title, Psalm 46 was written by the sons of Korah, a musical Levite family, and presented to the director of temple worship. The title also indicates that this psalm was to be sung according to “alamoth,” an uncertain term that’s closely related to the Hebrew word for a young maiden and therefore may refer to a high pitched, soprano voice. The psalm divides nicely into three distinct sections, each ending with “selah,” a term that seems to merely indicate a pause. The content of Psalm 46 reminds God’s people that we need not fear, that we will not fall, and that we can anticipate a peaceful future. God’s powerful presence brings peace.