A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 46
PSAL. XLVI. To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, a song upon Alamoth.
After some notable delivery of the Church from the enemies, the Lords people do confirm themselves in their resolution to trust in God, and not to be afraid of trouble, because of his comfortable presence among them, which is like unto a river of continual refreshment, as late experience did give evidence, ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. and do exhort all men in the world to observe this his late work, and make use of it for their humiliation, ver. 7, 8, 9, 10. as the Church doth make use of it for confirmation, ver. 11.
Ver. 1. GOD is our refuge and strength: a very present help in trouble.
2. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed: and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea.
3. Though the waters thereof roar, and be troubled: though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
FRom by-gone experience of Gods defending his Church, the Lords people do strengthen themselves in the faith of Gods word, concerning the care of his people; and from this ground do guard their heart against the fear of all possible trouble in time coming. Whence learn, 1. Faith in Gods word and the profession of it, is made much more vigorous and lively after felt-experience of the verity thereof; for the Church did believe this truth before this late delivery, but now after this fresh experience they are animated to set to their seal to it more confidently, saying, God is our refuge. 2. Albeit the Church were destitute of all humane strength within her self, and were forsaken; yea and pursued by all Kings and Princes, yet hath she God for a retiring place, and for furnishing of what is sufficient for her subsistence; God is our refuge and strength. 3. Albeit the Lord will not exempt his people from trouble, yet he will be near them in trouble; and when their weakness is discovered to them, then he will help them, and will not delay his help too long, but will give help in time of need effectually; for God is to his people, A very present help in trouble. 4. Nothing can guard the heart of Gods people against the terror of possible, or imminent troubles, sa…e faith in God; for here the Lords people having fixed their faith, do make this inference, Therefore will we not fear. 5. The terrour of apparent trouble, is the touchstone of confidence in God, and then is faith fixed, when it doth look upon the greatest dangers and troubles that can be imagined, with resolution to adhere to God and to that truth that persecuters do oppose, whatsoever may come. We will not fear, though the earth be removed. 6. Albeit the whole frame of the world were changed, and the work of creation were either dissolved or confounded, which shal be in effect at the last day; yet faith findeth footing and ground to stand upon in God himself, We will not fear, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Ver. 4. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God: the Holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High.
5. God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The Church doth look upon the Lords word and ordinances joyned with the blessing of his Spirit among them, as upon a sufficient consolation against whatsoever trouble can be imagined. Whence learn, 1. Although there be many particular persons in the Lords Church militant, & many particular Congregations as there were many habitations in Ierusalem, and many tabernacles at the time of the solmn feast, when all the Lords people were gathered together to the keeping thereof; yet are they all one Church universal, one kingdom of God, one City compact together in the union of one sealed Covenant, one true faith and Spirit▪ The plurality of the Tabernacles of God doth make but one City of God here. 2. Albeit trouble without comfort may fall on men who know not God; yet to believers within the Church there can no trouble come, wherein the true Citizens may not finde consolation and joy to uphold them against all causes of sorrow, There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the City of God. 3. The consolat…ons which God furnishes to all who wil make use of them within the Church, are not like the consolations which the world can afford, which are in all respects insufficient to overcome trouble; but the consolations of God are abundant, constantly running, ready at hand, and able to make a man a conquerour over trouble effectually, and to make him rejoyce in the Lord in the midst of …ouble; for this is imported in the similitude of refreshing water; There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad th… City of God. 4. God will never forsake his people who seek after him, but where they are following his ordinances in any measure of sincerity, there will he be; God is in the midst of her, 5. As the consolation of the Church, so also the stability of the Church, and continuance of it from generation to generation, dependeth upon Gods setled residence therein; God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. 6. Gods presence among his people will not exempt them from trouble, but from perdition in trouble: he will not exempt the bush from burning, but from being consumed, For God shall help her. 7. Albeit the Lord do not appear at the point of time when we would, yet shall he come and help in time of need most timeously, God shall help her, and that right early.
Ver. 6. The heathen raged, the kingdomes were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7. The LORD of hosts is with us: the God of Iacob is our refuge. Selah.
He cleareth the doctrine delivered, by a late experience of Gods taking order with the enemies of the Church, at the time when they in great confluence and power made assault against her. Whence learn, 1. It is no small indignation which the world doth bear against the Lords Kingdome, his people, and work among them: nor is it any mean power from which the Church is in danger to suffer hardship, but fury in the height of it, and force in the farthest extent of it, may she expect to encounter with; The heathen raged, the Kingdoms were moved. 2. It is not the worldly power of the Lords people which can sustain the assault of their raging enemies, but God himself must prove party to her oppressors; therefore here the Lord doth interpose himself for his people; The Lord uttereth his voice. 3. It shall not cost the Lord any business to dispatch the enemies of his people; let him shew himself a little, let him but say the word, and they are gone; as Snow before the Sun, or fat cast into the fire, so are they consumed; He uttered his voice, the earth melted. 4. Any one experience of the Lords working for his church may suffice to confirm the faith of his people concerning his perpetual presence in his church, for assistance of his people in their difficulties; for from this one experience he draweth the inference; The Lord of hosts is with us. 5. What the Lord is in wisdom, power, and other attributes, that may the church apply to her self, and be sure to have the fruit of it as her need requireth; if hosts of heathen and huge great Armies of whole Kingdomes he against his church, yet still we may be sure God the Lord of Armies will stand up against them, and for his church, The Lord of hosts is with us. 6. The covenant of God made with the church in former ages is good enough security to the church in after ages; for obtaining whatsoever benefit his covenant includeth; The God of Iacob is our refuge▪ yea the rights made to the incorporation of the church, is as good security for the use of every particular believer, as if it were made personally to every member by name; and therefore as wise citizens do reckon whatsoever they can claim by their town-charter, no less to belong to them then their own private possessions: so whatsoever the believer can claim by vertue of the great charter made to the church, he should reckon it as sure to be his as if his proper name had been specified in the promises; for, The God of Iacob is our refuge, is thus much; because God is undoubtedly the God of Iacob, and his childrens refuge; he must undoubtedly be our God, who are members of that incorporation, and our refuge.
Ver. 8. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9. He maketh the wars to cease unto the end of the earth: he breaketh the bowe, and cutteth the spear in sunder, he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen: I will be exalted in the earth.
11. The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Iacob is our refuge. Selah.
In the latter part of the Psalm, he exhorts all men to make use of this deliverance given to the Church for their humiliation, confidence in God, and consolation. Whence learn, 1. When God doth work works of wonder in favour of his Church, most men mark not the Lords doing; such is the dulnesse and stupidity, ingratitude, mis-belief & perverseness of men, either thinking little of his work, or ascribing the praise to instruments, or some other thing besides God; so that there is need to call unto men, and set them to their duty; Come and behold the works of the Lord. 2. Wonderful calamities doth God pour out upon the enemies of his people, when he entreth in judgement with them; for what they intended to do to his people, he doth unto them, Behold, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 3. When it seemeth good to the Lord, he can give peace universally to his Church, and a whiles breathing from the trouble of outward enemies, He maketh wars to cease to the ends of the earth. 4. Long preparations for war, arms and amunition which have been made with great labour and expences against his Church, the Lord can soon give a short accompt of them, and make them useless when he pleaseth, He breaketh the …ow…, and cutteth the spear in sunder, he burneth the Chariot in the fire. 5. Because men cannot understadd what they are doing, or what is their duty so long as their passions are aloft, so long as their mindes are tumultuous, busied about many things, and distracted from what is most necessary; it is good for people from time to time to gather in their straying thoughts, to silence their passions and perturbations, and humbly compose themselves for observation of whatsoever God requireth of them, Be still, and know that I am God. 6. It is better for men to be wise and acknowledge the Lord by the words of his instruction, then to leave their lesson to be learned by doleful experience and danger of destruction, Be still, and know that I am God. 7. There is not so ready a way for the Lords people to quiet their minde against the fear of trouble and persecution of men, as to settle their faith about Gods taking care of his people and of his own cause, and of his minde declared against his and their enemies; Be still, and know that I am God. 8. The Lord will not be at a loss by the opposition of his enemies, he will not fail to enlarge his glory, the more that men go about to suppress it; he will make an inrode upon his adversaries lands, and make them know himself to be God, either to their conversion or confusion and destruction; I will (saith he) be exalted among the heathen. 9. How little notice soever be taken of the Majesty of God oft-times in the visible Church, and always without the Church he be misregarded, yet will he see to his own glory, not only in the Church, but also among the enemies of the Church; and not only among such as have actually invaded his people, but also among them far and neer that have taken no notice either of him or of his people; I will be exalted in the earth. 10. Whatsoever manifestation of Gods power be made in the world by his judgement against his enemies who know him not; yet he is ever doing for his Church, and not against her; The Lord of hosts is with us. 11. The Church of God or belivers, need not care how many be against them seeing they have moe for them then can be against them; to wit, God and all the creatures at his command, The Lord of hosts is with us. 12. The strength of the Church stands in her renouncing her own, and fleeing into Gods strength, and not in opposing their enemie by strong hand, but by betaking of themselves to God; The God of Iacob is our refuge. 13. We have need to make God the ground of our confidence, and to make our communion with God the ground of our comfort; for God is sufficient for us against every evil, and God is sufficient unto us for furnishing every good; and we have need to fix and settle our grounds, by oftner subscription of this truth, and oftner avowing of it, The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Iacob is our refuge, is repeated.