Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Dear God, the actual “Verse of the Day” for Bible Gateway was verse 10 (He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”). The first thing I did after I read it was to read the whole psalm to see what the context of this oft-quoted verse is, and then I read to see who wrote it. The NLT says, “For the Director of Music. Of the sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.” After reading that I had a thought I’d never had before—this song was written by brothers.

I saw in Wikipedia some theories about why this psalm was written, but I don’t necessarily trust that and I don’t need to go there with it. I just like the idea of some brothers coming together to write you a song. Maybe it was after a military victory. Maybe they led singing in the temple regularly. Maybe it was something else. Whatever the case may be, the men had enough worship in their hearts for you to work together to write it down and share with others.

So, what did they have to say?

• You are our refuge and help.
• We won’t be afraid even though everything around us looks impossible to survive.
• God lives in our city, and it will not fall.
• There is a lot going on with other nations, but God is in control.
• He is so much bigger than anything men do.
• God is powerful. He is our fortress. Just look at what he’s done.
• God stops war through bringing victory to his people.
• God says to be still and know who he is. (Isn’t it interesting that they integrate being “still” as part of this?).
• God says he is in charge of all of the nations whether they know it or not.
• This same God is with us.

Father, help me to sing with these brothers today and every day. Help me to remember exactly who you are, exactly who I am, and exactly who others are around me. Bring you will and your kingdom into earth, and do it through me and anyone else you need to use.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen