God's Presence: Our Fortress in Chaos

Psalm 46 offers a chorus of hope that resounds through the ages: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” This refrain is not just poetic, but a deep well of assurance for God’s people in every generation. The psalm was likely written during a time of great threat, when the Assyrian army surrounded Jerusalem. In that moment of fear and uncertainty, the people of God were reminded that their security did not rest in their own strength, but in the presence and protection of the Lord. God’s presence is not a vague comfort, but a covenant promise—He is Emmanuel, God with us, and He keeps His word to His people.

The psalm unfolds in three stanzas, each marked by the word “Selah,” inviting us to pause and breathe in the truth of God’s faithfulness. The first stanza proclaims God as our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Even when the world seems to fall apart—when mountains crumble and chaos reigns—God’s people need not fear. The second stanza shifts to the image of a river, a symbol of God’s life-giving presence flowing through the city of God, bringing gladness and peace even as nations rage and kingdoms totter. The third stanza calls us to behold the works of the Lord, who brings wars to an end and shatters the weapons of violence. At the heart of this stanza is the invitation: “Be still, and know that I am God.” True stillness is not passivity, but a deep trust that God is at work on our behalf, even when we cannot see it.

This chorus of hope finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus embodied God’s protection by bearing our sin, and His resurrection is the guarantee of God’s power and presence with us forever. In the storms of life, we are called to listen for the Father’s voice, to be still, and to remember that our hope is anchored in the unchanging character of God. No matter the chaos around us, the Lord of hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Presence Is Our Anchor The promise that “the Lord of hosts is with us” is not a fleeting comfort, but the foundation of our faith. God’s presence is woven throughout the story of Scripture, from His covenant with Jacob to the coming of Jesus as Emmanuel. In every season, especially when we feel surrounded or threatened, we are invited to rest in the assurance that God is truly with us and will never abandon us. [27:41]
• 2. God’s Protection Flows from His Covenant Faithfulness Calling God “the God of Jacob” reminds us that He is a covenant-keeping God. His protection is not arbitrary; it is rooted in His unbreakable promises to His people. Just as a fortress shields those within its walls, God’s faithfulness is our defense against the storms and assaults of life, and we are called to trust in His steadfast love. [30:06]
• 3. Stillness Is an Act of Trust “Be still and know that I am God” is more than a call to quietness; it is a summons to radical trust. True stillness requires surrendering our need to control and believing that God is actively working for our good. In a world that prizes striving and self-sufficiency, stillness becomes a spiritual discipline that opens us to the peace and hope found only in God. [35:20]
• 4. Hope Is Found in the Midst of Chaos The psalmist does not deny the reality of chaos—mountains fall, waters roar, nations rage. Yet, hope is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in the midst of it. We are invited to look beyond our circumstances and anchor our hope in the God who brings order out of chaos and peace out of turmoil. [32:44]
• 5. Christ Fulfills the Chorus of Hope Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the hope proclaimed in Psalm 46. On the cross, He bore our sin and secured our protection; in His resurrection, He assures us of God’s power and presence forever. Our ultimate hope is not in our ability to weather life’s storms, but in the finished work of Christ, who is our refuge, our fortress, and our peace. [36:36]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [21:22] - Opening Hymn and Prayer
• [22:28] - Gospel Reading: The Narrow Door
• [23:45] - Confession of Faith and Introduction
• [24:29] - Singing the Wrong Chorus
• [25:43] - Psalm 46: The Chorus of Hope
• [26:23] - Three Stanzas of Psalm 46
• [27:02] - The Lord of Hosts: God’s Presence
• [28:17] - Historical Context: Hezekiah and the Assyrians
• [30:06] - The God of Jacob: Covenant and Fortress
• [32:05] - Stanzas of Protection and Presence
• [33:21] - The River: God’s Life-Giving Presence
• [34:37] - The Power of God and Our Trust
• [35:20] - Be Still and Know
• [36:36] - Christ, the Fulfillment of Hope
• [37:16] - Hearing the Father’s Voice in the Storm
• [38:31] - Closing Affirmation and Creed
• [39:21] - Prayers and Intercessions
• [45:07] - Announcements and Welcome
• [48:45] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Reading

Psalm 46 (ESV) — God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 46, what repeated phrase forms the “chorus of hope,” and where does it appear in the psalm? ([27:02])
2. What images does the psalmist use to describe chaos and security? How do these images help us understand the situation the people of God were facing? ([32:44])
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of calling God “the God of Jacob”? ([30:06])
4. What invitation does God give in verse 10, and how does the sermon describe what it means to “be still”? ([35:20])

Interpretation Questions

1. The psalm was likely written during a time when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Assyrian army. How might this historical context shape the meaning of the psalm’s message about God’s presence and protection? ([28:17])
2. The sermon says that God’s presence is not just a vague comfort but a covenant promise. What does it mean for God’s presence to be a “covenant promise” rather than just a feeling? ([27:41])
3. The river in the second stanza is described as making glad the city of God. What does this river represent, and how does it contrast with the chaos described earlier in the psalm? ([33:21])
4. The phrase “Be still and know that I am God” is described as a call to radical trust, not just quietness. What does it look like to practice this kind of stillness in the middle of life’s storms? ([35:20])

Application Questions

1. The psalmist does not deny the reality of chaos—mountains fall, waters roar, nations rage. When you face chaos or uncertainty in your own life, what is your first instinct? How might you remind yourself that “the Lord of hosts is with us”? ([32:44])
2. The sermon says God’s presence is our anchor and that He will never abandon us. Can you recall a time when you felt surrounded or threatened? How did you experience (or struggle to experience) God’s presence in that season? ([27:41])
3. “Be still and know that I am God” is described as surrendering our need to control. What is one area of your life where you find it hard to let go of control? What would it look like to trust God with that area this week? ([35:20])
4. The sermon points out that God’s protection flows from His covenant faithfulness, not from our own strength. Are there ways you try to “protect yourself” apart from God? How can you shift your trust to His faithfulness instead? ([30:06])
5. The river in the psalm is a symbol of God’s life-giving presence. Where do you see God’s “river” bringing gladness or peace in your life right now? Where do you long to see it more? ([33:21])
6. The ultimate fulfillment of this hope is found in Jesus, who is our refuge and fortress. How does remembering Christ’s finished work on the cross help you face the storms of life differently? ([36:36])
7. The sermon shares a story about hearing the father’s voice in the storm. What helps you hear God’s voice when you are anxious or afraid? Is there a practice (like prayer, Scripture, or worship) you want to lean into more this week? ([37:16])