1.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Title. A Song. Hebrew. shir . One of the "Songs" referred to in Isaiah 38:20 (though not the same word). See App-65 . Doubtless Hezekiah's during Sennacherib's siege. No other period of Israel's history suits it. Not celebrating a victorious campaign, but a successful defense. See notes below. Psa 46:47 , Psa 46:48 a Trilogy referring to the same event. See note on "Selah", Psalms 46:11 .
our refuge. Figure of speech Cycloides ( App-6 ), because repeated in Psalms 46:7 and Psalms 46:11 . See Structure above.
refuge: to which one flees. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 . Not the same word as verses: Psalms 46:7 , Psalms 46:11 .
very present = found (near); masculine refers to God (help is feminine)
2.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
be removed = quake. Same as "moved", Psalms 46:6 .
carried = moved.
midst = Hebrew heart. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). App-6 .
3.
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
waters thereof roar. Figure of speech Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ), implying the raging of the Assyrian host without.
roar. Same word as "raged" (Psalms 46:6 ).
Selah. Connecting the roaring of the waters without with the silent flowing river in the rock-cut channel beneath Zion, and contrasting the boastings of the enemy with the secret purposes of God. No refrain "dropped out" here, as some suggest. See the Structure above, and App-68 .
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.
river. Hebrew. nahar. a constantly flowing river (not nahal, a summer wady) . It flows beneath Zion, filling En Rogel and supplying Siloam. See App-68 .
streams = channels. Hebrew. palag. See note on Genesis 10:25 .Genesis 1:3 , i.e. the rock-cut channels beneath Zion. See App-68 . All other water-supplies cut off. Compare 2 Chronicles 32:30 . 2 Kings 20:20 . See App-68 , and Ecc 48:17 .
The holy place of the tabernacles of the MOST HIGH. Septuagint and Vulg, render this "The Most High hath hallowed His habitation". See note on Exodus 3:5 .
tabernacles = the great habitation. Plural of majesty, implying greatness of glory, not of size. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 .
MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. App-4 .
5.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
in the midst = in the middle, not the same as Psalms 46:2 .
moved. Same word as "carried", in Psalms 46:2 .
and that right early. Hebrew at the turning of the morning: i.e. when the morning dawns. See 2 Kings 19:31-35 .Isaiah 37:35 , Isaiah 37:36 . Compare Exodus 14:27 .
6.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
heathen = nations.
raged. Same word as "roar", Psalms 46:3 .
were moved = moved. Same word as in Psalms 46:5 .
7.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
The LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .
refuge = an impregnable place. Hebrew. misgab. Not the same word as in Psalms 46:1 .
Selah. Connecting this assured confidence in God's promise with its fulfilment in the deliverance of Zion from Sennacherib ( App-66 .).
8.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
behold = gaze on.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . But some codices, with first printed edition and Syriac, read "Elohim", God. Compare Psalms 66:5 .
9.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
bow . . . spear . . . chariot. The weapons of war, corresponding with the preceding line war. See the Structure above.
10.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Be still = Desist; cease your efforts. Hebrew. rapha.
exalted. Hebrew. rum, so most frequently rendered.
11.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
The God of Jacob. See notes on Psalms 146:5 ; and compare Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 .
Selah. Connecting Psalms 46 with Psalms 47 and 48, all three referring to the same events. See App-66 . To the chief Musician. See App-64 .