This page will always be as the title suggests.  This section will be where I will publish thoughts and testimony, to share from the Bible and encourage.

 

I am going to start leaving the previous month's blog up and as well as the current month.  I am trying to find out how I can have a page where I can leave a link to all previous issues or perhaps last few months at least - watch this space!

 

Psalm 46 - God our Refuge

The title of this Psalm is a very familiar theme in most of the Psalms - God our refuge and our strength.  It also says, 'a helper who is always found in times of trouble.  Always found - God is always with us, always present, always available.  God is there and with us in the good, the bad and the ugly.  Perhaps our senses are a bit more heightened and we seek out God more when in difficult times and hear Him, but He is always there.  God is never distant from us.  Our feelings and emotions may try and tell us different at times, but there are not the truth.

In v 2-3 we read a description of natural disaster.  There is a tendency to feel fearful when we see natural disasters.  The news can be overwhelming when we look at our TV screens each day hear about a famine, a earthquake, etc.  In Luke 21 we read scriptures telling us about all these things that will happen.  It is not pleasant, but those who know God can can be forewarned of all that will take place.

The things are frightening, overwhelming and destructive.  This is actually a description of the great tribulation into the Millennial - the thousand year reign of Christ.

From here we move to a totally different scene in v 4-7.  We read about the city of God

  • A river - it's streams delight the city of God

  • It is the Holy dwelling place of the Most High

  • God is within her - she will not be toppled

  • God will help her

Is this Jerusalem?  In the OT, the dwelling place of God was Jerusalem, however Jerusalem has no rivers.  The nearest river is the Jordan river, which is 20 miles awa to the east.  This psalm tells us Jerusalem will be made glad by a river.  Therefore, taking up the Millennial reference in this Psalm, it is looking forward to Jerusalem in the Millennium.  Scripture talks of a river twice in Jerusalem, the Millennial Jerusalem and the new Jerusalem.

The city of God: The connection is clearly with Jerusalem, the location of the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. At the same time, the title “The City of God” lifts the concept to God’s ideal, perfect city – the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12 and 21:2).

We can find the River in Millennial Jerusalem in Ezekiel 47 v 1-12

The prophet is being led around by an angelic figure and shown a future temple.

Solomon's temple was in the past.  

This was not the temple constructed by exiles on return from Babylon, this was not temple construced by Herod the Great.

In v 1-3, this is 1,500ft east of of the temple mount which would be right at the Mount of Olives. In v 4, about 3,000ft east of the temple mount, is a spot where tourists stop to take a look at the temple mount from high spot of mount of olives.

How does water flow up mountains??

At the end of the Tribulation, Zech 14 v 4, Jesus feet will touch the mount of olives and split it in two west to east making a huge valley.  That is how this water will flow out of the temple

Water coming from the temple in the Millennium will go east through the new valley hewn into the mount of olives past where it currently starts to descent toward  the Rad sea and will make the water non-salty.  The dead sea is currently one of the worlds saltiest bodies of water.  This makes it a harsh environment in which plants and animals cannot flourish.  The river running from the temple here will bring life.

The City of God - is glad because life-giving water is always present.

The City of God - is glad  because the river has many streams, [perhaps connected o Garden of Eden.  (Gen 2 v 10-14)

The City of God - is glad because a reiver is sometimes a picture of peace.  (Is 48 v 18, 16 v 12)

The City of God - is glad because it is secure.

God is in her midst, she shall not be moved.  All the blessing and provision of the city of God comes because of God's presence and is more firm than the earth which can move and shake.

Psalm 46 v 10  'Be still and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.

                         'Stop your fighting, and know that I am God.........

This is not an invitation to stop all activity and just stand in one place.  This is an invitation to trust in God  This is an invitation to decide to trust Him, despite what we see and hear.  God is our refuge.   

 

The LORD of hosts is with us: We can have the confidence that the same God exalted in all the earth is with us.

 

 

 

Endnote:

CSB Bible - Holman Bibles

Enduring Word Commentary

explainingthebook.com