In Contrast With The Raging Waters Which Seek To Shake Them God Is To Be Seen As Like A Peaceful River Making Glad His People (Psalms 46:4-7).
‘There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the dwellingplaces of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; She shall not be moved,
God will help her, and that right early.'
We can compare with this Isaiah 33:21, where it says, ‘there (in Zion) YHWH in majesty will be for us, a place of broad rivers and streams'. Permanent rivers and streams where what men in Palestine dreamed of so that they might not be so dependent on the rain. We can compare the fruitfulness of Eden with its great river (Genesis 2:10). This is therefore a picture of full provision. (Compare the similar picture in Ezekiel 47). And the promise is that to us God will be such a River, through His Spirit, a river that will satisfy our hearts and will also flow out from us to others (John 7:37-38). And it will flow to all of God's people, to ‘the city of God'.
Note the description of the city of God. It is ‘the holy place of the dwellingplaces of the Most High'. For Israel that was because it was there that the Temple was among them, with its inner and outer sanctum, and its storage and utility rooms, the place where God met with them and dwelt among them. For us it is because we are ourselves are together the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1Co 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; Ephesians 2:19-22), so that God's River flows in, and through, and from us continually (John 7:38).
Note also the description of God as ‘the Most High'. This title is regularly used in relation to the nations. It is a reminder that God is over all. See, for example, Genesis 14:22; Numbers 24:16; and compare Daniel 3:26; Daniel 4:2.
And because God in the midst of her is over all, nothing can move or shake her. For while she trusts in Him God will always help her, and that without delay (right early). In the same way because God is in the midst of us we too, if we trust in Him, will not be moved. We too can be sure that we will know His prompt and powerful help.
‘And that right early.' Literally, ‘when the morning appears' (compare Exodus 14:27). Thus it is saying that His assistance will come once the night is over and morning appears, without our being made to wait until later in the day.
‘The nations raged (or ‘roared'), the kingdoms were moved,
He uttered his voice, the earth melted.
YHWH of hosts is with us,
The God of Jacob is our refuge.' [Selah
This confidence that we have in God is in spite of the activities and efforts of the world in its enmity against God. The nations might rage and roar against God's people, the kingdoms might move against them, but they can be confident that when God utters His voice the earth and all that is within it melts. And where will they be then? We can compare with this Isaiah's beautiful words, ‘in quietness and in confidence will be your strength' (Isaiah 30:15).
And this is because YHWH of hosts, YHWH the God of battle and lord of the heavenly hosts, is with us. It is because the God of Jacob (Israel) is our stronghold. Knowing that God is with us and is our stronghold is sufficient to bring peace in the most devastating of situation.
In the original instance Israel had seen the raging and roaring nations melt away as the Assyrians withdrew hastily from Judah once God had uttered His voice. But the promise is to all believers whatever troubles they have to face. Note how the same words ‘roar' and ‘moved' are used as in Psalms 46:2. It reminds us that those whose trust is in God need fear neither natural phenomena, nor the activities of men. For God is in control over all.
The second section again ends with Selah, ‘think of that'.