When the world is in turmoil, it is natural for people to feel afraid. Psalm 46 describes those times when instability and conflict reign. Let’s take a look at our verse together with the two that follow it:
God is for us a refuge and strength, a help with troubles, very present. Therefore we will not fear, when the earth is transformed and the mountains collapse into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging, Selah – Psalms 46:2-4
The strength to face troubled times
Our verse does not declare only that God protects us, saving us from troubled times. This verse takes God’s providence in times of crisis beyond mere protection. The verse states that God is our “refuge and strength.” The Hebrew word for strength, oz, means much more than physical strength. Oz implies strength of spirit as well, what we would call boldness and courage.
This is not a small point. The entirety of Psalm 46 speaks of God’s mastery over history. Times of turmoil and insecurity make us all uneasy. These are times of historical transition. Our verse teaches us that faith in God gives us the confidence, optimism, and strength of spirit to face such challenging times. As people of faith in the God of the Bible, we know that the end of the story of humanity is ultimately good. The dark times are temporary. Most importantly, we also know that we have a role to play. God is not only a refuge. He is also our strength, our boldness. Faith in God empowers us to fight the good fight when the world becomes a dark place.
God helps us
But it’s not just that God protects us and gives us confidence and strength. He is also a “help.” In other words, he doesn’t just empower us, leaving us to do all the work. He helps us as well. The Hebrew word for “help,” ezra, always implies a partnership. God emboldens and empowers us to act. When we do, He works alongside us, assisting us in battle.
This is an important point. It is not we who are helping God, but God who helps us. Obviously, God could solve all of humanity’s problems in an instant. God could reveal Himself to the world as He did with the Ten Plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea in Egypt. He could perform signs and wonders and do all the work for us. But that is not what God wants from His kingdom. God wants us to fight evil. He wants us to steer history in the right direction. He protects. He empowers. He assists. But it is we, people of faith, who must fight and win the battles between truth and falsehood, good and evil.
Very present
Finally, the verse ends with an unusual statement about God. In Hebrew, the final words of the verse are nimtza me’od. Nimtza means “present” or “found.” Me’od means “very.” The most accurate translation of these two words is “very present.” Many translations render this phrase “ever-present.” This is slightly incorrect. “Ever” means “always.” In Hebrew this would be tamid, not me’od. As stated, me’od means “very” not “ever.” What does this mean?
To say that God is “ever-present” means, simply, that He is always there. While true, this is not the point of the end of our verse. Our verse describes God as “very present” in times of trouble. What does it mean to say that God is “very” present?
Times of crisis reveal God
I’d like to suggest that this phrase is not referring to the extent of God’s protection or assistance during troubled times. The fact that God is with us, strengthening, protecting, and helping, has already been covered by the beginning of the verse.
After this opening verse, Psalm 46 goes on to describe God’s mastery over history. For example:
When times are stable and the world proceeds normally, it is easy to forget that God is in control. God has a plan for history, but with our limited perspective, we rarely see that plan in action. Times of trouble, war and instability reveal God. When nations rise and fall, God’s plan becomes clearer and more visible. I believe that this is the intent of the end our verse. God is “very present” when the world is in crisis. Of course, God is always present. But we don’t always feel His presence so clearly. But when times get tough, when nations are rising and falling and the world is in crisis, God becomes more visible. He becomes “very present.”
God protects us and empowers us. He wants us to take the initiative to enter the field of battle in times of crisis. He is with us and will assist us. And as we experience historical upheaval, as we fight for truth and good, God’s presence becomes even more present and perceptible.
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